Central Honshū
Central Honshū is the region between Tokyo and Kyoto where travelers go for the Japan Alps, Matsumoto Castle and the old merchant streets of Takayama.
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Central Honshū is the region between Tokyo and Kyoto where travelers go for the Japan Alps, Matsumoto Castle and the old merchant streets of Takayama. Matsumoto Castle is one of twelve original castle keeps still standing in Japan. Takayama's Sanmachi Suji streets keep wooden merchant houses, and Kanazawa, on the Sea of Japan coast, is known for its Kenroku-en garden. Nagoya, the largest city in the area, is a major rail hub for the region.
Go in spring for cherry blossom or in autumn for the leaves, the two seasons the region is most reliable. The high country is snowbound in winter. In the mountains, people come for walks, hot springs and the Alpine route. Give the region at least four days for one mountain base and one old town, or a week if you want to cross the Alps on the way to Kyoto.
Central Honshū in five
- Pick the route before the townsYou can run Tokyo to Nagoya and Takayama, or Tokyo to Matsumoto and Takayama, then finish at Kanazawa. Both give a Japan Alps crossing instead of the shinkansen corridor.Tokyo to Kyoto via the Alps
- Use Matsumoto as the Alps gatewayJNTO lists Matsumoto at 2 hours 40 minutes from Shinjuku, 2 hours from Nagoya and 50 minutes from Nagano, with a highway bus to Takayama in about 2 hours 30 minutes.Matsumoto travel guide
- Check the Alpine Route season firstThe Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route lists operation from 15 April to 30 November in 2026. Outside that window the loop over the mountains is closed, so plan the rest of the trip around it.Alpine Route guide
- Book Takayama early for festival daysJNTO says Takayama is busiest during its spring and autumn festivals and that rooms can be hard to find, so book ahead if you want to be in town for either.Takayama travel guide
- Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to KanazawaKanazawa is about 2 hours 30 minutes from Tokyo Station on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. From Kyoto or Osaka, JNTO lists the Thunderbird to Tsuruga and a shinkansen transfer, about 2 hours in total.Kanazawa travel guide
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in Central Honshū, the full guide
Nagoya
- Best for: Late arrivals, Takayama by train
- To airport: 1 hr 40 min from Tokyo, 35 min from Kyoto by shinkansen
- Price band: $–$$
- Business hotels around the station
- Trains to Takayama take about 2 hr 20 min
- Castle and food, little mountain feel
Skip if you want to wake up in the mountains.
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Matsumoto
- Best for: Kamikochi, castle, onsen
- To airport: 2 hr 40 min from Shinjuku by JR Chuo Line
- Price band: $$
- Matsumoto Castle in the center of town
- Local train and bus toward Kamikochi
- Highway bus to Takayama in about 2 hr 30 min
Skip if your route stays on the shinkansen line.
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Takayama
- Best for: Old streets, ryokan, Shirakawa-go
- To airport: 2 hr 20 min from Nagoya, 1 hr 30 min from Toyama
- Price band: $$–$$$
- Sanmachi district and two morning markets
- Shirakawa-go about 50 min by bus
- Festival weekends fill up early
Skip if you want a big-city evening scene.
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Nagano
- Best for: Winter trips, Zenkoji, Obuse
- To airport: 80 min from Tokyo by Hokuriku Shinkansen
- Price band: $$
- 80 minutes from Tokyo on one train
- Snow monkeys and ski resorts nearby
- Obuse chestnut sweets and sake close by
Skip if you are heading straight for Takayama.
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Things to do in Central Honshū
See all attractions in Central Honshū
Need to know
- Getting there
- Nagoya 1 hr 40 min from Tokyo by shinkansen; Kanazawa about 2.5 hr
- Getting around
- Shinkansen, limited express trains and highway buses over the Alps
- Best base
- Matsumoto for the Alps, Takayama for the old town, Kanazawa for gardens
- Time needed
- 5 to 7 days for a Tokyo to Kyoto loop
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuarySnow, skiing
- FebruarySnow, snow monkeys
- MarchLate snow
- AprilBlossom, festival
- MayGreen, Golden Week
- JuneRainy season
- JulyHot, rain showers
- AugustHot, Obon
- SeptemberTyphoon risk
- OctoberAutumn color
- NovemberAlpine season ends
- DecemberCold, first snow
Right now in Central Honshū
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 87%
- Wind
- 9 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Central Honshū
05:37 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today22°11°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 22°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed21°11°40%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 21°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 40%.
- Thu21°14°88%Thursday: Rain. High 21°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 88%.
- Fri20°12°26%Friday: Rain. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 26%.
- Sat14°6°12%Saturday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sun15°6°2%Sunday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Mon17°5°2%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 17°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 2%.
Updated 01:43 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Every year
- MarHōnen MatsuriNagoya, a day trip
- Apr–OctTakayama FestivalTakayama, a day trip
- MayTado FestivalNagoya, a day trip
- JulOwari Tsushima Tennō FestivalNagoya, a day trip
- AugIshidori MatsuriNagoya, a day trip
Day trips by train
Day trips from Central Honshū, the full guide- Shirakawa-goabout 50 min by bus from TakayamaThe UNESCO World Heritage village of thatched farmhouses.Read the guide
- Kamikochiabout 2 hours from Matsumoto by train and busA highland valley closed to private cars, reached from Shin-Shimashima.Read the guide
- Jigokudani snow monkeysfrom Nagano by train and busMacaques bathing in a hot spring, best in winter.Read the guide
Before you go to Central Honshū
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Rules for Central Honshū, checked
- Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route operation is listed as 15 April to 30 November 2026. Same-day tickets exist, but some can be restricted at peak times.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- Private cars are not permitted in the Kamikochi area. Reach it by bus from Shin-Shimashima, or on direct night buses from Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
All Central Honshū guides
ItineraryTokyo to Kyoto via the Japan Alps: a 7-day route with train timesWhere to stayWhere to base in Central Honshū: five towns, from Nagoya to NaganoHow toTateyama Kurobe Alpine Route: tickets, direction and how long it takes
How toSnow monkeys at Jigokudani: how to get there from Nagano
How toTakayama and Shirakawa-go as a day trip: buses and booking
How toKamikochi day trip from Matsumoto: season, buses and walks
How toGhibli Park tickets: how to buy them and plan the visit
Things to doWhere to see Mt Fuji without climbing: best viewpoints and monthsCentral Honshū FAQ
How many days do you need in Central Honshū?
Five to seven days covers a loop such as Matsumoto, Takayama and Kanazawa between Tokyo and Kyoto. Four days works if you drop the Alpine Route and keep to one side of the Alps.
Is Takayama or Matsumoto the better base?
Matsumoto for Kamikochi and Alpine day trips. Takayama for the old town and Shirakawa-go, which JNTO puts about 50 minutes away by bus. The two are linked by a highway bus of about 2 hours 30 minutes.
How do you get from Tokyo to Kanazawa?
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station, about 2 hours 30 minutes according to JNTO, with stops at Nagano and Toyama. It is the simplest way to reach the Sea of Japan side.
When does the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route open?
The official site lists 15 April to 30 November for 2026. It sells web tickets with a boarding time, same-day tickets and an area pass, so confirm the current year's dates before you book.
Can you travel Central Honshū without a car?
Yes. JNTO lists trains from Nagoya and Toyama to Takayama, highway buses from Matsumoto, and the Shinano Express through the Kiso Valley. Kamikochi bars private cars anyway, so public transport is the norm.