Japanese Alps: Matsumoto with Kids
Bite-sized trip
Day 1 – Arrival in Matsumoto
Today, you will arrive in Matsumoto, a charming city with a relaxed atmosphere, surrounded by the Japanese Alps. If you’re coming from Tokyo, we can arrange a train for you and your family. You’ll be staying in a family-friendly hotel within easy reach of the city’s highlights.
Day 2 – Explore Matsumoto
Spend today visiting the iconic sights of Matsumoto, starting with Matsumoto Castle, which is one of Japan’s best-preserved castles and great fun for families to explore. With six different floors to discover, bridges to cross and a wide moat surrounding the property, there is plenty to keep to kids entertained. For a more active day, hop on a bus or train to the idyllic Kiso Valley, home to the atmospheric towns of Magome and Tsumago. Here, you can wander through the stone-paved streets of Magome, passing traditional wooden houses and waterwheels, and feeling as if you’ve stepped back in time. Next, you can take the walking trail to Tsumago, which takes around 2-3 hours and should be manageable for most families, as it’s mostly downhill, and then you can choose to catch the bus back.
Day 3 – Hiking in the Japanese Alps
Today, you’ll hop on a bus to Takayama, stopping along the way in Kamikochi, a small resort town with a picturesque mountain backdrop, often called one of Japan’s most beautiful natural landscapes. Kamikochi is part of the Chubu Sangaku National Park, where no cars are allowed, so it really feels unspoilt and perfect for families who want to spend some quality time in nature. There is a great mix of easy riverside walks and longer forest hikes, but all of them provide incredible mountain views, so you can select a trail that suits your family and still be immersed in the untamed wilderness of this beautiful region. In the afternoon, you will continue by bus to Takayama, where you’ll spend the next two nights in a small-scale hotel.
Kamikochi can only be visited between April and mid-November. The rest of this bite-sized trip is easily accessible all year round.
Day 4 – Free time in Takayama
After an adventure in the mountains, you’ll spend some time exploring this beautiful, preserved mountain town, often called Little Kyoto. Spend the morning visiting one of Takayama’s lively markets, passing vibrant stalls of fruit, pickles and handmade crafts, before wandering through the historic streets of the old town, where traditional wooden houses sit alongside sake breweries.
From Takayama, you can take a day trip to the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage village of Shirakawago, where you’ll see traditional Japanese houses with thick thatched roofs that can withstand heavy snowfall in winter. Take a walk to the Shiroyama Tenbodai viewpoint at the top of the village and enjoy the panoramic views over the town and lush green landscapes.
While you’re here, we can arrange a ninja experience or a food tour through Takayama. Find out more information below.
Day 5 – Departure from Takayama
Today, you’ll say goodbye to the Japanese Alps and continue on your journey in Japan. Head to the city of the samurai, Kanazawa, where you can step inside restored houses and stroll through some of the most beautiful gardens in the country. Or, for a change of pace, you could explore the cultural heart of Kyoto by bicycle.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Takayama - Ninja experience
Enter the world of the ninjas by visiting a real ninja cafe in Takayama, where your children will be kitted out with their battle gear and taught some traditional combat techniques. They’ll be shown how to throw a shuriken (ninja star) and try their hand at aiming darts with a meter-long blow gun.
The activities will be selected based on the children’s age to make sure they have a safe and engaging experience, but generally best for kids aged 3-10. Parents are welcome to have a go, but it’s not a requirement, and you can enjoy a good cup of coffee while you watch your children become warriors.
Takayama - Food tour
Stroll through the narrow alleyways of Takayama, where centuries-old crafts are still practised today. Alongside a local guide and a small group of fellow travellers, you’ll make your way through the streets, sampling delicacies such as Habo Miso, Hida beef, and other local bites, before ending the tour with a taste of sake (a treat just for the grown-ups).
This food tour is suitable for children aged 5 years+
