Hi All, I'm planning a 10 days road trip with Toyota Rent-a-car from Tokyo to Kanazawa and the surrounding area in April. I have booked all the stays and rented a car and I would like to check here for a few things.
I have been to Japan a few times and I want to experience the alpine and rural Japan so this is my first time driving in Japan. I have obtained an international driver license, ETC card with full coverage package from Toyota Rent-a-car. I plan to bring a car charger for the phone and car holder. Please do let me know if there is any tips or advise around driving.
The main purpose is the Takayama Festival on April 14 and Ghibli Park on April 15 and I have some specific questions around those days!
Since I can't post detailed trip in Japan Travel Tips, here is the repost from that sub.
Any advice or suggestions are most welcome, thank you very much!
# Matsumoto – Kanazawa – Takayama (April 7-16)
* **April 07 – Matsumoto – Day 1**
* Morning: Toyota-rent-car and depart from Tokyo (9AM – 4h drive)
* Noon: Lake Kawaguchi stop for Mount Fuji viewing
* Evening: check-in then visit Matsumoto Castle and walk around, dinner
* **Questions**: **do you have any recommendations for a pit-stop from Tokyo to Matsumoto drive?**
* **April 08 – Matsumoto – Day 2**
* Morning: Gofuku-Ji temple
* Day trip: One of these options
* Nagano day trip (2h drive) to [Snow Monkey Park](https://www.snowmonkeyresorts.com/smr/snowmonkeypark/spring/) and [Shibu Onsen -Nagano](https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1339/),
* Narai-Juku day trip (1h drive)
* [**Matsumoto Sakura**](https://en.hoshinoresorts.com/guide/area/chubu/nagano/matsumoto/sakura2/) locations (drive around Matsumoto area)
* **Questions**: **I’m leaning toward a Nagano day trip since I’ll be in Magone/Tsumago Juku on the way back. However, from the research April is the childbearing time of the monkey so I’m not sure if they will be around? Should I just focus on the Cherry blossom sightseeing instead?**
* **April 09 – Kanazawa – Day 1**
* Morning: Matsumoto to Kanazawa (4h drive)
* Noon: Lunch somewhere along the way
* Evening: Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen Garden at night
* **Questions**: **do you have any recommendations for a pit-stop from Matsumoto to Kanazawa?**
* **April 10 – Kanazawa Day 2**
* Morning: walk around samurai district and old town
* Noon: chill day
* Evening: nice dinner somewhere
* **April 11 – Kanazawa Day 3**
* Day trip to Noto peninsula (1.5h drive)
* Point of interests: driving along the coastal line, Wakaru Onsen
* **April 12 – Shirakawa-Go**
* Morning: Kanazawa to Shirakawa-Go (2h drive)
* Noon: Explore and take time going through [**Hakusan Shirakawago White road**](https://www.snowmonkeyresorts.com/activities/hakusan-shirakawa-go-white-road/)
* Evening: check-in at a Guessho house with full meal plan
* Point of interest: Japanese custard pudding, [**Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village**](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5955.html)
* **April 13 – Gero Onsen – Takayama Festival Day 1**
* Morning: drive to Takayama (1h drive)
* Noon: check out Takayama before the festival day
* Evening: Go to Gero Onsen (1h drive)
* Point of interest: Hida Waygu beef on stick, Hida Folk Village, Hie shrine (Your Name)
* **April 14 – Gero Onsen – Takayama Festival Day 2**
* Morning: Gero Onsen to Takayama (1h drive/train)
* Noon: main festival day stay until late night
* Evening: back to Gero Onsen (1h drive/train)
* **Questions**:
* **Any recommendation to book for a lunch restaurant in Takayama during first day of festival?**
* **Would it be wise to take the train from Gero Onsen to Takayama instead of driving because of the crowds? We want to see the night festival progression so we want to stay late into the night and having a card would be easier. However, I'm quite worried about the parking situation during the festival and research seems to show different opinions on this.**
* **April 15 – Magome and** [Ghibli Park](https://ghibli-park.jp/)
* Morning: Drive from Gero Onsen to Ghibli Park
* Noon: Ghibli Park at 11AM
* Evening: stay the night at Magome
* Point of interest: [Square ENIX PopUp CAFE](https://paselabo.pasela.co.jp/square-enix-popup-cafe/topics/on\_ff\_pixelremaster/?\_gl=1\*qovccy\*\_ga\*MTIzMjAyNTE5MS4xNzcxMjk3MTY2\*\_ga\_M6BS5LQQLG\*czE3NzEyOTg2NTUkbzEkZzEkdDE3NzEyOTg4MzMkajI4JGwwJGgw)
* **April 16 – Tokyo**
* Morning: [Nakasendo trail](https://www.japan-guide.com/ad/nakasendo/) from Magome Juku to Tsumago Juku
* Noon: drive back to Tokyo (5h drive)
* Evening: return car by 8pm
* **April 17 – Home bound**
* Morning: pack and chill
* Noon: fly back at 3pm
by PyratBoy
1 comment
If you have never driven in Japan before, you might not want to start in Tokyo. It may be easier to take the JR express train from Shinjuku St to Matsumoto and pick up a car there – gives you a chance to get used to driving where there is less traffic. Also check your routes on Google with dates, some mountain roads might still be closed. The area you are going to is almost all mountains, so it’s a lot of switchbacks and narrow steep winding roads. You might not be be achieving google time estimates, so leave some slack in your schedule. Why are you staying in Gero Onsen and driving back and forth an hour each way to Takayama? On often steep winding roads, and in the dark? If you primarily want to be in Takayama for the festival then suggest you stay there overnight (and park at you hotel), or stay in Hida which is closer and easier via train or car. You can always stop at a day onsen if you want. Most onsen towns are pretty much closed after 5pm and before 10am – if you aren’t really doing the in house meal and baths then not a lot of reason to stay overnight. After Ghibli Park you could stay in Nagoya instead of forcing in Magome for a last min hike with long drive to Tokyo right afterwards. You could also drop off the car in Nagoya and take train back to Tokyo. The one way car rental fees will largely be evened out by avoiding Tokyo tolls. Whatever you decide drive safe and have a great trip!
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