The Japanese Alps with Kids: A 2-Day Matsumoto & Kamikochi Itinerary

If you're planning a family trip to Japan, don't make the mistake of only visiting the big cities! We loved escaping the busy streets of Tokyo and spending a day exploring the Japanese Alps as part of our 10-day Japan itinerary.

Kamikochi is a beautiful mountain valley surrounded by towering peaks, crystal-clear turquoise rivers, and some of the prettiest walking trails we've ever seen. It feels completely different from the rest of Japan, and it's surprisingly doable with kids!

We worked Kamikochi into our itinerary as a stop between Tokyo and Osaka, spending half a day exploring Matsumoto before heading into the mountains the next morning. It was a great way to break up the travel between cities and experience a completely different side of Japan.

My recommendation? Plan one night in Matsumoto and spend the following morning exploring Kamikochi. You don't need a ton of time in either place, and you can easily fit this into a larger Japan itinerary if you want to change up the big city scenery. Another option is to head into Matsumoto early in the morning, store luggage, and head straight to Kamikochi (you take the bus straight there from Matsumoto).

The place we stayed in Matsumoto was really modern and clean. It had traditional tatami mat style beds and the walls slid to make larger living spaces. There was also a little yard in the back. It was a short taxi ride from the train station.

Here's exactly how we did it with our four kids, ages 4–11, including transportation, what to see, how much time to allow, and a few things I'd do differently!

Day 1: Half Day in Matsumoto

Matsumoto is a smaller Japanese city and is a great stopping point before visiting Kamikochi. You don't need a full day here, so I'd recommend spending your morning in Tokyo (if you're coming from there like we were. Be sure to check out our other itineraries: Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto), taking the train to Matsumoto, and exploring the city for a few hours in the afternoon. The main attractions are all within walking distance of each other, which makes it easy to see the highlights without spending too much time getting around. 

1. Matsumoto Castle

Our first stop was Matsumoto Castle, and this was definitely one of the highlights of our time in Matsumoto!

Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan's few surviving original castles, known for its beautiful black exterior. Unlike some Japanese castles that have been reconstructed, this one still has its original wooden interior, and you can actually climb through the different levels. We reserved tickets ahead of time.

The kids thought this was really cool! You're climbing steep wooden stairs, walking through narrow passages, and exploring the castle pretty much as it was centuries ago. You'll need to remove your shoes before going inside, and the wooden staircases are extremely steep and narrow, so be prepared to help littler kids.

We spent around an hour here, which was plenty of time to explore the castle and take photos outside.

2. Nawate Street

Getting there: Approximately a 5–8 minute walk from Matsumoto Castle.

Nawate Street was another favorite stop for our family! It's a quirky little street filled with traditional shops, souvenirs, and Japanese snacks.

The entire street has a frog theme, so you'll notice frog statues, decorations, and souvenirs everywhere. It's fun to wander through, especially with kids who love looking at all the unusual little shops.

This is also a great place to try some local Japanese snacks. A few things to look for:

• Taiyaki: Fish-shaped cakes typically filled with sweet red bean paste or custard.

• Shinshu soba: Traditional buckwheat noodles that Nagano is famous for.

• Oyaki: A regional specialty made with dough stuffed with fillings like vegetables or mushrooms.

We really liked spending time here, and it's worth including even if you're short on time in Matsumoto.

3. Nakamachi Street

Just a few minute walk down the road is Nakamachi, a historic merchant district known for its traditional black-and-white storehouses.

Many of these old buildings have been converted into cafes, galleries, and small shops. It's a nice area to wander through, look for souvenirs, or grab something to eat.

Because Nakamachi and Nawate Street are so close together, it's easy to explore both without needing additional transportation.

Evening: Dinner and an Early Night

After exploring Matsumoto, grab dinner and head back to your hotel. You'll want to get an early start the following morning for Kamikochi, especially if you're hoping to enjoy the trails before they get busier.

Where to stay: I recommend booking something near Matsumoto Station. Since you'll be leaving early the next morning, staying close to the train station will make your day much easier. We really liked where we stayed. It was a short taxi ride to the train station.

Day 1 Notes

• Advance tickets: Matsumoto Castle timed-entry tickets are worth purchasing ahead.

• Luggage: If your accommodation can't store bags before check-in, Matsumoto Station has luggage lockers. This is what we did and it worked great.

• Optional alternative: If Matsumoto doesn't interest you, you can skip the overnight and travel directly to Kamikochi in the morning. Just allow enough time for the train and bus connections.

Day 2: Kamikochi — A Day Trip into the Japanese Alps

Recommended time: Approximately 4–5 hours in Kamikochi, plus transportation, but you could easily spend longer here!

Kamikochi is part of a National Park in the Japanese Alps. Picture huge mountains, beautiful forests, turquoise water, and peaceful walking trails. The scenery is incredible, and the best part is that there's lots of parts that are easy to hike with kids. We did one of the most popular walking routes through the valley.

You'll want to get an early start so you have plenty of time to enjoy Kamikochi.

We left our hotel around 5:55 AM (so early, but we only had a half day here, you could leave later if you don't have as tight of a schedule), took a taxi to Matsumoto Station, and caught the early train to Shin-Shimashima.

The train ride takes approximately 30 minutes. At Shin-Shimashima Station, you'll transfer to a bus that takes you into Kamikochi. It was all pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.

Our transportation schedule:

• 6:29 AM — Train from Matsumoto to Shin-Shimashima

• 7:10 AM — Bus from Shin-Shimashima to Kamikochi

• 8:05 AM — Arrive at Taisho Pond

The bus ride takes approximately one hour and winds through some beautiful mountain scenery. Bring dramamine if you or your kids get motion sick!

Important: Book your Kamikochi bus transportation in advance when reservations are available or required. We had reserved our bus tickets ahead of time and brought printed ticket confirmations (it mentioned specifically they had to be printed)

Start at Taisho Pond and then head to Tashiro Marsh, Azusa River, and end at Kappa Bridge. 

This took about 2 hours with the kids. It was totally flat which made it an easy walk. The distance from Taisho Pond to the Bridge is about 2.5 miles. If you don't want to do the longer hike, you could stay on the bus until the main Kamikochi Bus Terminal.

If you don't need to bring a stroller, I'd recommend this pond route for families with kids who are comfortable walking a few miles because it allows you to experience so many beautiful areas of the park without having to hike back to your starting point. If you start at Kappa Bridge, it's paved which is nice, but you'll have to start and end from there.

Taisho Pond, Tashiro Marsh, & Azusa River

Taisho Pond is one of Kamikochi's most recognizable spots. It's a beautiful pond with mountain reflections everywhere. On a clear morning, the scenery is incredible. This is a great place to stop for photos before continuing along the trail.

Continue along the walking trail toward Tashiro Marsh, where you'll pass through forested areas and beautiful wetlands with mountain views.

The landscape changes as you walk, which makes the trail really interesting for kids. There are wooded sections, little bridges, and open areas where you can enjoy the scenery. The walk itself isn't technically difficult, but it is a few miles long, so younger kids may need breaks along the way.

One of my favorite parts of Kamikochi was walking alongside the Azusa River.

The water is this incredible blue-green color, with huge mountains surrounding the valley. It's one of those places where photos almost don't do it justice.

We also has a fun experience along the trail right before we got to Kappa Bridge and we saw a whole group of wild monkeys. They were pretty entertaining to watch and seemed pretty content doing their own thing, and we hung out and watched them for a while. The kids loved watching all the baby monkeys hopping around and climbing and jumping from tree to treeLunch & exploring at Kappa Bridge

We ended our hike at Kappa Bridge, one of the most famous landmarks in Kamikochi. Since we were only doing a half day here, this timing worked out well.

The wooden bridge crosses the Azusa River, with some of the most beautiful mountain views in the park. This is also the main visitor area, so you'll find restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, and bathrooms nearby. Make sure to grab some apple ice cream and apple pie from the shop across the river called Trois Cinq! Nagano Prefecture is famous for its apples. Make sure to bring cash. They don't accept cards.

I really liked ending our hike here instead of starting here because we could finish our walk, enjoy the scenery, and have lunch without needing to retrace our steps.

Our kids loved playing down by the riverbed and stacking rocks into towers. It was a great spot to just let them play and unwind and slow down a bit.

When you're finished exploring, walk about 5–10 minutes from Kappa Bridge to the Kamikochi Bus Terminal. We booked an afternoon return bus so we could make our train connections to Osaka that evening. Our return trip included a bus back to Shin-Shimashima, followed by the train to Matsumoto Station. 

Important: Make sure you reserve your return transportation in advance. And be sure to get to the bus before your scheduled departure time. Busses are very exact on the times they depart.

After returning to Matsumoto, we collected our bags from the train station and continued to Osaka. Be sure to check out our other itineraries for Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto! 

Day 2 Notes

• Advance reservations: Reserve bus transportation, particularly your return journey.
  
• Stroller: I would avoid bringing one for the full Taisho Pond hiking route.
• Luggage: Leave larger bags in lockers at Matsumoto Station or arrange luggage forwarding to your next hotel.

What I wish I knew before visiting Matsumoto & Kamikochi

You Don't Need a Full Day in Matsumoto

Unless there are additional attractions you're specifically interested in, I think a half day in Matsumoto is plenty. We planned a full day and it just wasn't really needed. I felt like we got to experience enough in a half day without adding in other spots with lots more travel. Matsumoto Castle, Nawate Street, and Nakamachi are close together and can comfortably be explored in an afternoon.

The main reason I'd recommend staying here is that it makes visiting Kamikochi the following morning much easier.

Book Your Kamikochi Transportation in Advance

Kamikochi is a protected mountain area, and private vehicles aren't allowed into the central park area. From Matsumoto, the most common transportation route is: Matsumoto Station to Shin-Shimashima Station to Kamikochi. The train takes around 30 minutes, followed by approximately an hour on the bus.

Check current schedules, reservation requirements, and ticket instructions before your visit. I especially recommend securing your return bus seats ahead of time since the buses can get busy and departures are limited.

Leave the Stroller Behind if You're Hiking from Taisho Pond

This is probably my biggest piece of advice for families with young kids! We brought our stroller thinking it might be helpful for our youngest during the hike. Unfortunately, there were quite a few sections of the trail where we had to fold it up and carry it. The Taisho Pond route includes natural walking paths, uneven surfaces, and wooden boardwalks. Although the hike itself is relatively easy, it's not ideal for pushing a stroller.

If I did it again, I would leave the stroller in a locker at Matsumoto Station and plan for a walking day.

If you really need a stroller, stay on the bus until the main Kamikochi Bus Terminal instead of getting off at Taisho Pond. From there, it's only a short walk to Kappa Bridge, where you can enjoy the views, restaurants, and central visitor area. You can explore the more accessible sections without committing to the longer nature trail.

Just know that not all the paths around Kamikochi are paved, so even around Kappa Bridge, you may need to turn around when the paths become too rough.

Plan for Cooler Mountain Weather

Even if it's warm in Tokyo or Osaka, the weather can be significantly cooler in Kamikochi because of the elevation. We visited in September and the kids were all cold in the morning (we made a rookie mistake and didn't bring their windbreakers. Thank goodness it warmed up, otherwise we'd be buying sweatshirts for everyone from the gift shop). I would definitely pack layers, especially if you're arriving early in the morning. 

Figure Out Your Luggage Before Arriving

If you're working Kamikochi into a larger Japan itinerary, you'll probably have luggage with you.

You have two good options:

Option 1: Forward your large suitcases to your next hotel. Japan has convenient luggage delivery services that allow you to send bags ahead while traveling with just a smaller overnight bag. Be sure to confirm delivery timing and that your receiving hotel can accept the shipment.

Option 2: Store your luggage at Matsumoto Station. This is what we did because we were staying in a vacation rental that couldn't store our luggage for us. The station has coin lockers, but availability and sizes can vary. Arrive with enough time to find storage before catching your train.

Bring Cash for Food and Small Purchases

Japan is increasingly credit-card friendly, but we still found a few places where cash was necessary. It's a good idea to keep some yen with you for smaller food stands, snacks, and purchases, especially in the mountains.

Don't Wait Until Matsumoto to Recharge Your IC Card

We found that recharging our Welcome Suica cards wasn't always as convenient as we expected once we left the larger cities. If you're traveling with a Welcome Suica or another transit IC card, I recommend checking your balance and topping it up while you're still in Tokyo. You can also often recharge cards at participating convenience stores, including 7-Eleven, but not every station or service accepts every IC card.

Kamikochi Is Seasonal

Unlike Tokyo or Kyoto, Kamikochi isn't a year-round sightseeing destination. The main visitor season generally runs from mid-April through mid-November, and transportation services don't operate normally during the winter closure. Spring, summer, and fall each offer different scenery. Fall is especially popular for the colorful leaves, while summer is a great time to escape the heat of Japan's cities.

Make sure you check seasonal opening dates and transportation schedules before planning your trip.

Can You Visit Kamikochi Without Staying Overnight in Matsumoto?

Absolutely! You can head straight to Kamikochi from Matsumoto if you don't want to spend time exploring the city, and there are also direct bus options from some larger cities on select dates.

However, for families traveling between Tokyo and Osaka or Kyoto, breaking up the journey with a night in Matsumoto made it feel less rushed.

Is Kamikochi Worth Visiting with Kids?

Absolutely! Kamikochi was one of the most beautiful places we visited in Japan, and I'm so glad we made time for it. We loved visiting Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, but getting away from the cities for a day and experiencing Japan's incredible mountain scenery made our trip feel so much more well-rounded.

And while the hike was definitely one of the longer walking stretches of our trip for the kids, the scenery made it completely worth it.

If you're planning a Japan itinerary with kids and have an extra day or two, I highly recommend adding Matsumoto and Kamikochi to your route. It's a unique way to experience a different side of Japan without needing to plan an entirely separate trip.

Planning your own family trip to Japan? Be sure to check out our other Japan itineraries (Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto) and travel tips for more kid-friendly experiences, places to visit, and everything we learned traveling Japan as a family of six.