how to transfer to alpine region

I intend to travel from Tokyo by JRpass to visit the following areas: 5 lakes kawaguchiko district, karuizawa, Matsumoto, Toyoma, Kanazawa, takayam, Nagoya, Nagano and Hakone for a total of 5 nights 6 days stay, then enroute to Osaka/Kyoto. Please recommend the prefer and convenient route. Cheer!!

Open PASS web map(PDF),Google map and each sightseeing guide web access info page.

No JR rail around Hakone.

You have 9 destinations which are apart from each other, so I think it will be too much for your limited traveling time. Further most of the scenic places in this district are far from train stations so you must get on something other than JR trains. If I were you, I would take the following route, which might even too much for many travellers.

Tokyo to Kawaguchiko to Matsumoto (stay 1night).

Get Three-Star route Ticket.
https://www.alpico.co.jp/access/ticket/pdf/mitsuboshiroute2014[1].pdf
Matsumoto to Hirayuonsen (to Kamikochi and back: you need to buy tickets separately) to Takayama (Stay 1 night).
If the weather is not good, skip Kamikochi and use your time in Matsumoto and Takayama.

Takayama to Shirakawago to Kanazawa (Stay 1 night).

Kanazawa to Karuizawa to Nagano (Stay one night). You might better skip Karuizawa to lengthen your time in Kanazawa and Nagano.

Get Tateyama Kurobe Option ticket.
http://www.jrtateyama.com/e/
Nagano via "Tateyama Kurobe Alpen route" to Toyama (Stay 1 night).

Thank you very much fo your suggestion and recommendation.

By the way, is it appropriate or possible to travel to these places during winter in mid December.

If not, I will certainly appreciate it if you could suggest an alternate route around these areas.

Once again, thank you very much.

Cheer
Thomas

In December, Kamikochi and Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route are closed, so I would recommend the following route.

1. Tokyo to Odawara by Shinkansen and then to Hakone via private rail and bus. Stay one night.

2. Hakone to Kawagichiko by bus. Fujikyu train to Otsuki and then take JR limited express to Matsumoto. Stay one night.

3. Matsumoto to Nagano by JR limited express, then to Karuizawa to Nagano by Shinkansen. Stay one night.

4. Nagano to Toyama by Shinkansen and then JR limited express to Takayama. Stay one night.

5. Takayama to Shirakawago by bus, and then to Kanazawa by bus. Stay one night.

6. Take JR limited express from Kanazawa to Kyoto/Osaka.

December is the best season to see Mt. Fuji, because of relatively fine weather and you will be able to enjoy snowy scenery among Alpine district. Matsumoto, Nagano and Kanazawa are "cities" so you can easily find hotels with self (coin-operated) laundries. Use them and travel light. Enjoy winter trip in the mountains.

Thank you very much for your fine recommended itineraries .

If I wish to stay one or two extra nights, which place or places will you recommend (amongst those that you have recommended earlier).

Once again, thank you very much.

Cheer
Thomas

Hi,

If I wish to stay one or two extra nights, which place or places will you recommend

Maybe some onsen places.

Thouth I have not been there, Okuhida onsen seems to be nice place, which is close to Shin-Hotaka ropeway.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5942.html
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5943.html

Or you may want to go to Yudanaka onsen with the snow monkey park.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6025.html

If you want to see snow mountains, Okuhida should be better (of course, depends on the weather. You must be prepared for the very cold weather even if the weather is fine: It should be -10 to -20��C.). If you prefer snow monkey, then Yudanaka should be your choice.