tokyo to nagoya or nagano

Hi,
will be travelling to Japan for holiday on 26 Jan.Thinking using this route.Tokyo - Nagoya - Takayama - Shirakawago - Nagano and back to Tokyo. Have JR pass but need guide on how to go about. I need your help for route and your suggestion. Thank you
Lee

When you write Nagano, I assume you want to visit Nagano City (as opposed to somewhere else in the prefecture). Below is the most effective way of travel:

Tokyo - (JR Tokaido Shinkansen) - Nagoya - (JR Hida limited express train) - Takayama - (Hida Bus) - Shirakawago - (Hida Bus via Takayama to Matsumoto, then JR train to Nagano) - Nagano - (JR Nagano Shinkansen) - Tokyo

Note that the buses between Takayama and Shirakawago and between Takayama and Matsumoto are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Regular tickets for Tokyo - Nagoya - Takayama and Matsumoto - Nagano - Tokyo total about 24,000 yen, which compares to 28,300 yen for a 7-day Japan Rail Pass.

It would be possible to travel by JR trains from Takayama to Nagano, but it would take much more time than going there by bus via Matsumoto.