2 days itinerary check by car - 23-24 Dec

Hi! Planning to spend 2 days for Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama and shiwakarago(village) using car and would love for any feedback and advice since it will be my first time going to Nagano and driving in winter!

Day 1:

1. Arrive in Nagano station to pick up our rental car (8.30am)

- want to ask if winter tires is enough of do we need snow chains?

2. Snow monkey park (lunch there)

3. Matsumoto area to have dinner/chill and spend the night there.

Day 2:

1. Togakushi Shrine
- Park at lower shrine to hike to the upper shrine

2. Takayama
- Old town and explore the area

3. Shirakawa village

4. Back to Nagano to return the car.


Would also like to have advice on driving in winter as it will be my first time! Would also appreciate if there is any recommendations.



Thank you so much!

Day 2 is way too much. Driving in Japan is slow and it gets dark early.
Day 2 needs at least 2 days in itself.

Also Togakushi shrine is close to Nagano not to Matsumoto where you have spent the night of Day 1.

I would either do
Day1 Nagano- snow monkeys - Tokaguchi , sleep Nagano (even this might be hard to fit all in 1 day. The hike up to the upper shrine takes time. Maybe 1,5 h or so.
Day 2 Matsumoto, castle and back to Nagano

Or Day 1 Matsumoto castle and drive to Takayama. Sleep Takayama
day 2 Shirakawa , maybe an onsen in Hirayu and then back to Matsumoto

Noted on the replies, thank you for the info! If i make it a 3 days drive, would it be possible?

And i noticed i looked at the wrong togakushi haha, thanks for pointing out!

So rough sketch will be

Day 1:
Nagano-> snow money park -> zenkoji->dinner/chill

Day 2: Nagano -> Togakushi -> Matsumoto -> Matsumoto castle/dinner/chill

Day3: Matsumoto -> takayama -> Shiwakara -> Nagano (return car)

Day 1 & 2 look doable and nice. Day 3 has 6 hours of driving!!! That doesnft assume any winter road conditions , time to look for parking or anything.

Assuming that at the end of Day 3 you still need to take a train back from Nagano to Tokyo this is not going to work. Even if youfd stay the night in Nagano this is a hell lot of driving if also you are doing sightseeing.

Any chance to drop off the car in Toyama? And take Shinkansen from there back to Tokyo. Is still a long day driving but looks marginally more doable.
(I know that drop off fees will apply, but I donft see how you can make Day 3 work otherwise. )