Japan Trip 2018: 10D9N in Nagoya, Matsumoto, Toyama, Takayama & Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
Sorry for updating this late and sorry that once again, I am going to brush up the blog with more write up and photos on my japan trip. I hope this won’t bore you guys.
I have just come back from my trip about 2 weeks ago; a new achievement unlocked with another few prefectures checked. This round I headed over to Chubu region and explored a few area from there.
Chubu region is in the middle of Honshu and consists of nine prefectures, namely Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuaka, Toyama and Yamanashi. Of these 9 prefectures, I covered five of them this round and … I managed to “climb” the Japanese Alps from one end to another end using Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route! *that’s the main mission of this trip* Well, it’s not like real climbing but it’s actually walking and taking many transports such as ropeway, cable car, train, trolley bus along this route.
What’s the best way to get all the transportation covered if you are on Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route?! That will be this JR Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Area Tourist Pass! Just look at the map below, it covers all my 5 days transportation on JR railway including the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route (you know, the 1 day ticket running on the Alpine Route is already cost at ¥ 15,500 departing from Takayama)!!!
I got my Tourist Pass (in exchange ticket form) at ¥ 17,500 (around RM 639) from KLOOK in KL (they sent in by registered post!!! Hassle free!). Then I exchanged it into the JR Travel Pass at Tourist Information in Chubu Centrair International Airport (or you may do it in JR Ticket Office in JR Nagoya Station). At the same time, I reserved the seats with my preferred travel time for every passenger who was travelling with me (so that our seats on train were secured!).
Alternatively, you may also get the JR pass (in exchange ticket form) from agents such as JTB or HIS; or another hassle-free method I would highly recommend, that’s on the JR Pass Website (select regional type –> Alpine-Takayama-Matsumoto Tourist Pass).
Wanna know more of my stories? Stay tune, I will try to update as soon as possible but meanwhile, here are the highlights of my trip along with the itinerary and my total spending (exclude shopping). We spent a lot on transportation this round as compared to any of my previous Japan trip.
Nagoya, Matsumoto, Takayama, Toyama & Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route
| Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In | KL/ Tokyo/ Nagoya | Nagoya | Matsumoto | Matsumoto/ Alpine Route/ Toyama | Toyama/ Takayama |
| Breakfast/ Brunch | Hotel Breakfast | Konbini | Hotel Breakfast | Hotel Breakfast | |
| See Shop | JAL KL > Narita > Nagoya | Asahi Breweries Nagoya Factory | Tenjin Matsumoto Fukashi Jinja Ishii Miso | Departed to Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route | Toyama castle Fugan Canal Kansui Park Toyama Starbucks Ferver Ice Cream |
| Lunch | Hakata Noodles Mentatsu @ Chubu Airport | Misokatsu Yabaton @ Meitetsu Department Store | Ishii Miso | Tateyama Restaurant | Konbini Lunch |
| Tea See Shop | Osu Osu Kannon Sakae/ Terminal 21 | Nabana no sato | 松本市美術館 Genchi well Nakamachi-dori Parco Shopping Mall Nawate-dori Café & Pancake Gram Matsumoto castle | Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route | Kokubunji Takayama Old Street (Kamisannomachi Preservation Area) |
| Dinner | Sekai No Yamachan | Nabana no sato | 中華そばキマルキ商店 | 回転とやま鮨 | 中華そば Le Midi |
| See Shop | AEON Maxvalu マックスバリュ太閤店 Drug Store Daiso | Nabana no sato | Supermarket | ||
| Supper | 丸八寿司 Konbini | Yonaki Night Soba Service in Dormy Inn | Hida Sake and Snack | ||
| Stay | Hotel Wings International Nagoya | Hotel Wings International Nagoya | Ace Inn Matsumoto | Dormy Inn Toyama | Takayama Country Hotel |
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| Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In | Takayama | Takayama/ Nagoya | Nagoya | Nagoya | Tokoname/ KL |
| Breakfast/ Brunch | Konbini | Hotel Breakfast | Hotel breakfast | Hotel Breakfast | Hotel Breakfast |
| See Shop | Shin-Hotaka Ropeway | Shirakawago | Yanagibashi central market Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima | Nagoya Castle Osu Oasis 21 Don Quijote Sakae | JAL Tokoname > Narita > KL |
| Lunch | Nishihotakaguchi Station | ちとせ Chitose | Nagashima Kitchen | あつた蓬莱軒 | |
| Tea See Shop | Takayama Old Street Eat all the goods here! | Train to Nagoya | Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima | Noritake Garden | |
| Dinner | Green Door Buffet | Yoshidamen ESCA Branch | Ippudo Ramen | 大衆酒場 やまと | |
| See Shop | Hot Spring Bath | Nabana no sato | AEON Maxvalu マックスバリュ太閤店 | ||
| Supper | Hot Spring Bath | Konbini | |||
| Stay | Takayama Green Hotel | Nagoya Ekimae Mont Blanc | Nagoya Ekimae Mont Blanc | Comfort Hotel Chubu International Central |
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Best travel buddy ever! It is very handy to have one when you are travelling, for GPS location, google translation, for area, restaurants and shops information. Also, you will be able to spam your Instagram or facebook feed when you have nothing to do in train or bus. It is super convenient to have one in your hand. Priced very affordable too. Remember to book at Visondata / Samurai Wifi and collect yours before travelling.
What I love most on Visondata’s device:
– Small and handy, I can just put in my pocket.
– UNLIMITED data at just Rm 20/day!!!
– Super long lasting battery; I hardly rely on the powerbank.
– Sharing up to 5 pax.
– The line was super smooth and fast! Love it max that we kept spamming the Instagram stories
– Wide coverage! I went up the mountain and I was still able to connect. I didn’t find any disruption at all throughout my trip.
– Collect and return at convenient spots such as KLIA, KLIA2 and Mid Valley.
Highlight of the trip
1. Taste the freshly brewed Asahi Beer from the brewery factory!
Nagoya Brewery
318 Nishigawara-cho, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi
Tour hours from 9.30am to 3pm
Entrance fee: FOC
2. Walk through the stunning Brilliant Road in Nabana no Sato
READ: Japan’s Coolest Winter Illumination
Nabana no Sato
Mie Prefecture, 511-1144 , Kuwana city, Nagashima cho, Komae Urushibata 270
Opens from 9am to 9pm
Entrance fee:
¥ 2,300 During Winter Illumination (includes ¥ 1,000 shopping vouchers)
¥ 1,600 Rest of the year
3. Learn about Shinshu Miso in Miso Brewery
READ: Ishii Miso Brewery
Ishii Miso Co., Ltd.
1-8-1 Uzuhashi, Matsumoto City, Nagano 390-0813
Opens from 8am to 5pm (brewery and shop), 11am to 2pm (Lunch)
Entrance fee: FOC
4. Dive into the world of polka dot in Matsumoto Art Museum
Matsumoto City Museum of Art
4-2-22, Chuo, Matsumoto-shi, Nagano-ken
Opens from 9am to 5pm
Closed on Mondays
5. Check out the highest dam in Japan
You will be able to see the impressive high pressure water discharged from the dam between June to October.
6. Walk through the impressive Snow Wall
It was 17 meter high the snow wall during my visit. This is happening only in mid-April to May, just as the road is opened for visitor. After June, the snow wall will become shorter as summer arrives.
READ: The Roof of Japan, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route 立山黒部アルペンルート
7. Eat sushi in Toyama
Kaiten Toyama Sushi
1-4-9 Sakura-machi, Toyama City
Opens from 11.30am till 10pm
Getting there:
About 1 minutes’ wallk from Dentetsu Toyamaeki ESTA-mae
8. Check out the most beautiful Starbucks in the world
Now I understand why it is known as the world’s most beautiful Starbucks; it is located by the canal and also blessed with the stunning view of the Alps as the background (please observe closely), it is so unreal.
READ: Things to do in Toyama
Starbucks Toyama Kansui Park
5 Minatoirifunecho, Toyama, Toyama Prefecture 930-0805, Japan
Opens from 8am to 10.30pm
9. Eat hida beef at Takayama Old Town
10. Pay ¥ 300 to taste all kind of sake available
11. Take the only double decker ropeway in Japan
READ: GIFU: Shinhotaka Ropeway 新穂高ロープウェイ
12. Send higaki (postcard) from the highest mailbox in Japan
13. Turn yourself into a Japanese and off to onsen
14. Sleep in the most comfortable futon bed
Takayama Green Hotel
Japan, 〒506-0031 岐阜県高山市西之一色町２丁目１８０
15. Mesmerize into the fairy tale scene – UNESCO World Heritage Shirakawago
READ: Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO world heritage site
16. Shop till you drop in Mitsui Outlet Park Jazz Dream Nagashima
17. Eat the Nagoya Specialty – Hitsumabushi
Must eat the grilled eel on rice, it’s one of the Nagoya’s specialty! There are a few restaurants specialised in Hitsumabushi but I chose Houraiken as this place is highly recommended by my favourite sushi chef Ori-san and Japanese restaurant’s chef Koko-san!
READ: Atsuta Houraikenあつた蓬莱軒
Atsuta Houraiken Matsuzakayaten
10F South Wing, Matsuzakaya Nagoya Store
3-30-8 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya-shi,
Aichi 460-0008
Opens from 11am to 2pm (lunch); 4.30pm to 8.30pm (dinner)
Currently closed for renovation and reopens on 30 June 2018, try to check out other outlets.
18. Shopped for china bone tableware in Noritake
It’s totoro themed tableware, made in Japan!!! guess which one I bought???
19. Pray in Osu Kannon大須観音
Osu Kannon大須観音
２丁目-21-47 Osu, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture 460-0011, Japan
Opens everyday
Entrance fee: FOC
20. “hike” up the Spaceship Aqua at Oasis 21 and photo with Nagoya TV Tower
Oasis 21
1-11-1 Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya
Spaceship Aqua 10:00AM – 9:00PM
Shops 10:00AM – 9:00PM
Restaurants 10:00AM – 10:00PM(Business hours vary by shop)
Entrance fee: FOC
