Highlights

  • Bathe in thermal waters at onsen inns
  • Take in panoramic mountain views over the snow-covered Japan Alps
  • Experience a half day of guided snowshoeing, exploring frozen waterfalls, forests, and frozen lakes
  • Gain insight into the regional culture through a local culinary experience
  • Visit the engaging castle towns of Matsumoto, Hida-Furukawa and Takayama

Lying at the heart of Central Japan, the prefectures of Nagano and Gifu – originally called ‘Shinshū’ and ‘Hida’ respectively – have flourished since ancient times as a cultural crossroads between Eastern Japan and Western Japan. The region is also home to the Northern Alps, a range of 3,000-metre-high mountains often called 'the roof of Japan', and an area of great scenic beauty. Offering superb views, unspoiled natural winter landscapes, and some of Japan's best hot springs, the Japanese Alps also carry a long history as a destination for ascetic training for Buddhist monks.

Explore the feudal castle town of Matsumoto, then head into the Oku-Hida mountains to discover the biodiverse highlands and secluded onsen hot springs. Continue onwards to Hida-Furukawa and Takayama. This tour is sure to be an unforgettable winter experience!

What is included

  • 5 nights at accommodations
  • 5 breakfasts and 4 dinners
  • Train tickets from Tokyo or Nagoya to Matsumoto and train tickets ending in Takayama
  • Train tickets and pre-bookable bus tickets for intermediate journeys
  • Snowshoeing experience in the Northern Alps highlands with a fully-trained local instructor
  • Local culinary experience in Hida-Furukawa, with dinner
  • Detailed day-by-day itinerary
  • Local support by telephone
  • Our Preparing for Your Trip and Travelling in Japan guidebooks

What is not included

  • Flights
  • Airport transfers
  • Drinks and meals not included in itinerary
  • Local bus journeys which must be paid directly to the bus driver
  • Single room supplement(s) for solo occupancy
  • Daily luggage transfer

Japan Alps Winter 6 days: Nagano and Gifu

(subject to change until the booking has been finalized)

Day 1 Arrive in Matsumoto

Nestled between mountains in the heart of Japan, this feudal castle town serves as a gateway to the Japan Alps and is home to one of Japan’s best-preserved and most evocative castles. We supply train tickets for your journey from Tokyo or from Nagoya to Matsumoto, with scenic views along the way.

If arriving in Matsumoto earlier in the day, take the opportunity to visit Matsumoto Castle, also known as ‘Crow Castle’ due to its black exterior; the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints; and some of the back alleys and outlying areas of the town where you can still see much of its heritage from olden times.

For those who arrive later in the day, there will also be time for sightseeing in Matsumoto the next morning.

After exploring Matsumoto, spend the night at a hotel nearby.

Accommodation: Western-style hotel

Day 2 Travel into the Japan Alps

Enjoy the morning in Matsumoto before travelling onwards by local train and bus up into the Northern Japan Alps, viewing panoramic winter landscapes along the way.

This evening, stay at a lovely onsen ryokan set in a peaceful remote mountain village within the snow-covered region, surrounded by the area’s beautiful natural setting and backdrop of majestic mountains. The ryokan has lovely indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, and the waters here have long been revered for their therapeutic healing qualities.

Accommodation: Onsen ryokan (hot spring ryokan)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 3 Snowshoe in the Norikura Highlands

Today, explore pristine winter landscapes with a half-day of guided snowshoeing. The gentle scenic walk takes you through a serene snow-covered forest to views of frozen lakes and grand vistas of the surrounding alpine mountain range. Transportation from your inn, as well as snowshoes and walking poles, are provided.

No previous experience is necessary to enjoy this snowshoeing experience!

After your snowshoeing adventure, take a bus to Oku-Hida where you will spend the night.

Walking distance: 3 km / 1.8 mi
Elevation gain: 200 m / 656 ft of descent
Time: About 3 hours in total

Accommodation: Onsen ryokan (hot spring ryokan)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 4 Enjoy A Hida Cuisine Cooking Class in Hida-Furukawa

Today you will arrive in Hida-Furukawa, a former castle town whose white-walled storehouses and traditional buildings call forth images of the Edo Period. You’ll have a chance to walk alongside the town’s beautiful canals and take in its rural charm before the evening’s activities. For dinner, you will discover the secrets of the area’s cuisine with a culinary experience at the home of a local resident in Hida-Furukawa. Learn how to prepare dishes unique to the region, using the techniques that have been handed down through the ages!

Continue on to your accommodation for the evening, a beautiful machiya townhouse that utilises locally sourced materials for furniture and art, which is created by artisans from the Hida area. Your meals will use locally sourced ingredients, some even coming from a garden behind the property! Your stay here will allow you to fully take in the history and culture of Hida.

Accommodation: Machiya (traditional townhouse)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5 Explore Hida-Furukawa and Travel to Takayama

In the morning, sightsee around Hida-Furukawa, nicknamed ‘the back room of Takayama’, another old townscape that remains in Hida. Before heading onward this afternoon, you may wish to stop for lunch. Specialities here include authentic handmade soba noodles made with buckwheat flour from Hida City, and Hida beef, known for its mesh-like marbling and rich flavour.

In the afternoon, travel onwards by train to Takayama.

Accommodation: Onsen ryokan (hot spring inn)
Meals: Breakfast, dinner

Day 6 Explore Takayam, then Travel Onward

On the last day of your tour, you stroll through the elegant old streets in Takayama City. If time permits, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go with its traditional gassho-zukuri thatched-roof houses.

Meals: Breakfast

Tourists learning Hida Furukawa cuisine during a traditional Japanese cooking workshop
Snow-covered streets and traditional wooden houses in Takayama Old Town, Japan Alps
Snowshoeing adventure in Norikura Highlands, Nagano Japan Alps























    I consent to receive communications by email. I understand I may opt out at any time using the unsubscribe link provided in all communications *
    We are aware of our responsibility to protect your personal data. We act in accordance with the principles introduced by applicable legal regulations and the general principle on good faith in the processing of personal data.
    We determine clearly and precisely its legitimate and lawful purpose for processing personal data and process personal data to the extent necessary and in connection with the products and services we offer.
    We transfer your personal data in compliance with applicable laws and only when it is necessary. We take required technical and administrative measures to protect your personal data and also we ensure that Data Processors take administrative and technical measures regarding data security by signing non-disclosure agreements.