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Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/22 16:17
Hi everyone! I wld really appreciate your expert advice on my trip next month, in early June 2018. We will be flying in and out of Osaka.

We are a family of 4, my girls are 5 and 13. We just went to Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo less than 2 years ago so this time we want to do something different, namely a road trip/self-drive. And this will be our first time driving in Japan.

As of now, we are thinking of driving from Osaka to Toyama, stay 3 nights to visit Tateyama Kurobe Alpen Route and Kurobe Gorge, then return the car in Kyoto. Because we can't actually drive at these places, does it make sense to drive at all? Well it may, because it is cheaper than taking the trains, and we hope to venture to some off-the-beaten-path playgrounds with roller sides along the way (like this one http://regex.info/blog/2009-03-19/1165). But is there a better destination for self-drive from Osaka than Toyama?

We also wld like to visit these places:
Hirobun for nagashi somen
Cycling at Arashiyama (visit Gioji temple, Otagi Nenbutsuji temple)
Kyoto Station
Fushimi Inari Taisha
Kamogawa yuka terrace dining
I believe we don't need a car to there, right?

Thanks in advance!
by Grace (guest)  

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/22 17:47
Renting in Kyoto city is safer, bc less traffic volume.

Pls read and remember all traffic rules and basic info of driving.
http://www.hkd.mlit.go.jp/topics/toukei/chousa/h20keikaku/e/e_all.pdf
This is not enough as knowledge volume.
http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/for-overseas-drivers/driving-in-japan.htm

Because it is difficult to find a parking lot in Kyoto city, you should not use a car.
by Hagem (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/22 18:17
Honestly I don't recommend driving in this case. Even if you start from Kyoto, it will take 4+ hours by toll road and 6+ hours by non-toll road (confirm by yourself using Google Map) while by train you will reach in 2.5 hrs. Note that if it rains or at night driving will be very tiring. You can't do "off the beaten track" when you are on the toll road. And you must drive some part of Kyoto which will be not fun because of the heavy traffic these days (because of the tourism).

Well it may, because it is cheaper than taking the trains, and we hope to venture to some off-the-beaten-path playgrounds with roller sides along the way

Really? Have you checked the price of the rental car, toll fee, parking lot fee and the cost of gas? Have you checked the Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass?

http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_hokuriku/

You are considered as 3 adults and an infant so the total fare should be 45,000 yen.
by frog1954 rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/22 18:51
Thanks for the replies!

Could you suggest a better destination to do a road trip from Osaka please? The Kansai Hokuriku Pass sounds pretty good, but it's only valid for non-reserved seats, plus it means we have to carry our luggage everywhere we go. Getting them forwarded means more expenses.
by Grace (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/22 21:14
Driving in Japan is nice and convenient, but there are a couple of things I avoid like the plague. That is driving in major cities (such as Kyoto and Osaka) and the extra costs for highway tolls. Don't forget that there will also be an extra fee for dropping off the car at another location (Kyoto instead of Osaka).

When it comes to driving around Kyoto by car - I just say don't do it. On occasions walking is faster than catching a taxi. Then you need to find a car park.....
by mfedley rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/23 07:44
I would train it to Kanazawa and pick up and drop ofc car there. Or Fukui or Maibara.
by hakata14 (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/23 15:26
If your aim is to do a road trip from
Osaka and you donft care where you go, then Ifd go to Koya and Wakayama and Katsuura.
by Winter Visitor rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/23 22:26
Could you suggest a better destination to do a road trip from Osaka please?

Kanazawa, Wakayama prefecture have been suggested. I recommend to go to Mie prefecture including Ise, Toba and
Shima. To do this you should go by Kintetsu railway to somewhere in the area and then rent a car. Kintetsu Rail Pass

http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ticket/krp.html

or Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus

http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/ticket/krp_plus.html

might be useful.
by frog1954 rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/24 02:14
Thank you so much for all your replies! I will do more research on the areas you mentioned.

As for my planned visit to Tateyama Alpine Route and Kurobe Gorge, would 2 nights stay in Toyama be enough? We are only planning to go as far as Murodo snow wall from Tateyama, and the next day do a return trip on the torroko train at the Kurobe Gorge.
by Grace (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/24 02:44
In general, Ifd get a train to somewhere out of Osaka and rent a car from there - even if I was only going to e.g. Wakayama.
Driving out of a huge city is generally slow and boring, and even with a good gps itfs not always easy and relaxing keeping on the right route.
by Winter Visitor rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/24 12:19
As for my planned visit to Tateyama Alpine Route and Kurobe Gorge, would 2 nights stay in Toyama be enough? We are only planning to go as far as Murodo snow wall from Tateyama, and the next day do a return trip on the torroko train at the Kurobe Gorge.

Yes.

Calendar of waiting times.

https://www.alpen-route.com/en/transport_new/calendar.html

June in general is not so crowded so you can do smooth transfers.

Timetable

https://www.alpen-route.com/en/timetable/timetable.html

If you start DentetsuToyama at 8:13 you will arrive Murodo at 11:10, so it will take about 3 hours one way. Murodo is not so big place so you can see the snow wall and other sights within 2 hours at the most.

As for Kurobe Gorge, it will take less time but you can stay around longer, but you can do day trip easily.

You should take care of the weather since if it rains Murodo should be unpleasant. Cold and no scinery though you can see the snow wall even in the rain.

Live Camera of Murodo.

https://www.alpen-route.com/live_camera/murodou.html
by frog1954 rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/27 01:50
Thank you so much for all your replies!

I have decided to take trains and make use of an Area Pass instead of driving, as per frog1954's suggestion. Thank you!

There is another pass I came across on the JRWest website. Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. Would this be better if I want to visit Takayama? Or is driving between Toyama to Takayama be worth considering? Sorry about this seemingly stubborn idea to drive, but self-driving in Japan seems to be an "in" thing now :p
by Grace (guest) rate this post as useful

Re: Self-drive Osaka to Toyama 2018/5/27 09:14
If you want to drive in Japan, do it in the country side is a good idea. If you decided to take train to Hokuriku area, driving from Kanazawa or Toyama would be nice. It will take 1+ hour from Toyama or Kanazawa to Shirakawago. Early June is not so busy so you can drive rather easily. Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass is valid for 7 days so you will have sufficient time to do a drive tour. You might better stay at Takayama so that you can see many places in 2 full days of drive.

Alternatively you can do the Tateyama Kurobe and Takayama Shirakawago tour by using Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. You can use reserved seats, buy you need to buy it for your younger child, because if she take a reserved seat she must have valid ticket for herself. Another con for this ticket is that you can't go from Nagoya to Kyoto/Osaka by Shinkansen. After the Alpine rout you can go from Takayama to Shirakawago and then Kanazawa then Kyoto/Osaka for free though.

In any case the two passes and drive have own pros and cons. You may choose one you prefer. Enjoy your trip!
by frog1954 rate this post as useful

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