8 day itinerary - Jigokudani & Takayama

I am planning an 8 day itinerary for my family (wife + 8 yr old daughter + 3 yr old son) to Nagoya-Nagano/Jigokudani-Takayama. Will be arriving and leaving Japan via Nagoya Intl Airport. The information in this forum is great, especially info from Uji. Please give your advice & comments on the following plan:

Sat 8 Mar
0815 Arr Nagoya Intl Airport
1110 Bus to Nagano Terminal
1608 Arr Nagano Terminal
? Train to Yudanaka
? Check-in at Yudanaka Accomodation
Sun 9 Mar
Check-out butleave main luggage at Yudanaka ryokan and go to Kokurakan to check iin.
Mon 10 Mar
Check-out and return to Yudanaka ryokan to check in again.
Tues 11 Mar
Check-out and take bus from Nagano to Takayama via Matsumoto. Check in Takayama 2 nights.
Thurs 13 Mar
Check-out Takayama and go to Shirakawago for 1 night.
Fri 14 Mar
Check-out Shirakawago and check in Nagoya for 2 nights.
Sun 16 Mar
Dep from Nagoya Airport.

Big question I'm worried about is whether there is bus in the winter between Nagano and Takayama (on 11 Mar)?

The bus between Matsumoto and Takayama runs all the year round.
http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/matsumoto_takayama/in...

Train connection search between Nagano and Yudanaka:
http://www.jorudan.co.jp/english/

The bus timetable between Yudanaka and Kanbayashi-Onsen (30 minutes' walk to Jigokudani):

Yudanaka-Shibuonsen-Kanbayashionsen-Shibuonsen-Yudanaka
7:10 - 7:14 - 7:25 - 7:30 - 7:40 (Runs only weekdays.)
8:10 - 8:14 - 8:25 - 8:30 - 8:40
9:31 - 9:36 - 9:46 - 9:51 - 10:01
10:56 - 11:00 - 11:11 - 11:16 - 11:26 (Runs only weekdays.)
11:56 - 12:01 - 12:11 - 12:16 - 12:25
13:16 - 13:20 - 13:31 - 13:36 - 13:46
14:41 - 14:45 - 14:56 - 15:01 - 15:11
15:41 - 15:45 - 15:56 - 16:01 - 16:11
19:40 - 19:44 - 19:55 - 20:00 - 21:10 (Runs only weekdays.)

Thank you for your helpful answer. The timetables are very useful. I have to amend my itinerary as I can't get the tickets to Nagoya. So I'll be flying in and out of Tokyo instead. How can I get frin Tokyo to Yudanaka by bus, and from Takayama to Tokyo by bus?

How can I get frin Tokyo to Yudanaka by bus, and from Takayama to Tokyo by bus?

As to transport from Tokyo to Yudanaka, I'd suggest you to use trains. You might use the Jorudan site for connections.
From: Narita Airport
To: Yudanaka

Be sure to choose a connection via Tokyo and Nagano to avoid complications when you change trains.

In case you are inclinded to use the bus, change buses at Shinjuku.

Narita Airport to Shinjuku:
http://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/timetable/narita/shinjukust...

Shinjuku to Nagano:
http://www.alpico.co.jp/access/express/nagano_shinjuku/index...

From Nagano, you have no alternative but to take the Nagano Railway train.

From Takayama to Shinjuku (Tokyo):
http://www.2takayama.net/eng/kotsu/bus_shinjuku.htm

Happy travels.

You write that you are staying at 'kokurakan' from Yudanaka but I think you mean Korakukan ryokan?
Are you aware that you have to hike in to Korakukan - japaneseguesthouses.com says it's just over a mile; I'm not sure - on a fairly level but somewhat uneven (gravel/dirt) trail. In March, there may still be some snow or it may be very wet. It's not a hard walk at all, but with a three-year-old, it might present more of a logistics problem.
I have not been since February of 2005 so there could have been improvements, and I apologize if you are already aware & have kept it in mind, but if not you might want to check.

Thank you so much, Optimistk. The timetables are EXACTLY what i need! Dear Spendthrift, thank you for your concern. I anticipate having to carry the 3-year old all the way. I hope that is humanly possible :-p I really hope there is snow as the kids have never seen snow b4. I now intend to stay 2 nights in Yudanaka. Is there any mid-priced recomendations for a family affair?