Travelling to Kamikochi on November 15 2023

Hello!

I have a question about how to get from and to Kamikochi. I plan to visit it the on the last day it's open in 2023, November 15th.

I would start early morning in Takayama and board a bus, then explore it and continue on to Matsumoto in the evening.

So here is my question:

Is there any website I can see the bus timetables Takayama - Kamikochi and Kamikochi - Matsumoto and reserve a seat on the busses? I sadly don't speak Japanese so it would have to be in English and not via phone call.

I am on a tight time limit so I can only visit Kamikochi on this day.

Thank you very much in advance for your help! :-)

Gooday! Be prepared for it to be very clod, you tend to get flurries that time of year. But then that makes the lunch there even better. This site should help https://www.kamikochi.org/plan/access

Takayama to Kamikochi (via Hirayu onsen)

https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route_bus/kamikochi-line-en/

No reservation required/allowed. Buy ticket at Nohi bus Takayama terminal close to JR Takayama station. If you take the first bus at 6:00 you will arrive Kamikochi at 7:25.

Kamikochi to Matsumoto

https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/timetable/kamikochi/r-matsumoto-kamikochi/

Reservation required.
The buses departing from Kamikochi can be reserved one month in advance.
Note that sunset at Matsumoto on 15th Nov. is 16:40 and earlier in Kamikochi, due to the mountain around.

Takayama to Kamikochi (via Hirayu onsen)

https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route_bus/kamikochi-line-en/

No reservation required/allowed. Buy ticket at Nohi bus Takayama terminal close to JR Takayama station. If you take the first bus at 6:00 you will arrive Kamikochi at 7:25.

Kamikochi to Matsumoto

https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/timetable/kamikochi/r-matsumoto-kamikochi/

Reservation required.
The buses departing from Kamikochi can be reserved one month in advance.
Note that sunset at Matsumoto on 15th Nov. is 16:40 and earlier in Kamikochi, due to the mountain around.

Thank you a lot for your answer!

I have read that the Alpico bus closes service at November 15, but I want to stay in Hirayu Onsen for 1 or 2 night after visiting Kamikochi. So just to be safe, the Nohi bus going from (Takayama - ) Hirayu Onsen - Matsumoto will not required reservation as well if I want to take it on November 16 or 17?

As you see, bus from Kamikochi to Hirayu onsen on 15th Nov. runs every 1 hour.

https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route_bus/kamikochi-line-en/

Of course, it does not run on after 16th.

From Hirayu onsen to Matsumoto, four buses/day are running throughout the year.

https://www.alpico.co.jp/en/timetable/matsumoto/r-takayama-matsumoto/

You don't need to reserve for both buses, but you should better buy tickets when you arrive the bus terminal: to Hirayu onsen at Kamikochi bus terminal and to Matsumoto at Hirayu onsen bus terminal.