Travel from Nagano to Takayama by train?

Hi, I am trying to find out if I can travel from Nagano or Matsumoto to Takayama by train. If so would it be a JR line or local line.

I have looked at a Honshu / Nagano Ken map and it looks not possible. Maybe I have to Toyama then south to Takayama on Takayama line ? Maybe this is only way ?

I see the highway 158 gpes to Takayama from Shin-Shimashima Station.... Is it possible to travel from Nagano to Matsumot to Shin-Shimashima by rail then use highway 158 and take a bus?

Is this the best way?

I then want to travel from Takayama to Tokyo and then go to Kamakura, I think I can not travel to Kamamura ftom Takayama without traveling to Tokyo first.....

Sorry for many questions, if my travel plan is not possible maybe it would be easier to hire a car from Nagano and make jpurnry from Nagano to Matsumoto to Takayama then return to Nagano then train to Tokoto then to Kamakura

I have about 3 weeks to make the round journey.

I can buy JR pass is required or I can drive in Japan because I have driven in Japan before and am familiar with the roads and have correct licence....

Any help even if small and little will be appreciated.....

Reagards

The best way is to take the non-JR bus between Matsumoto and Takayama (or drive along the same route). By train, it requires a big detour either around the north via Joetsu and Toyama or around the south via the Nagoya (or Tajimi and Mino-Ota).

More details:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5908.html?aFROM=5900_6050

You can look up train routes and timetables on the following website:
http://www.hyperdia.com/

Train from Nagano to Matsumoto is not a problem. From there you'll have to the the bus to Takayama.
I took this excact trip last year and the scenery from the bus was fantastic.

Train is JR by the way.
Bus isn't.