The easiest way to get around in Kiso Valley is by car, since many of the major sights and attractions are not accessible by public transportation. Though, since the area is part of the historical Nakasendo Trail, many visitors chose to hike through large parts of the area. If you decide to rent a car, it is advised to do so from the nearest airport in the vicinity. You can use our car rental widget in the FAQ menu below. 

Public transportation: 

To get from Nagoya to Kiso Valley by public transportation, travelers need to take a train and a bus. Detailed instructions are as follows:

• Take the JR Chuo Main Line from Nagoya Station to Nakatsugawa Station. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.

• From Nakatsugawa Station, take a bus to Magome or Tsumago in the Kiso Valley. The bus journey takes about 30 minutes.

Nearest airport: 

The nearest and most convenient airport is Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport. 

• by car: approximately 1 hour

• by public transport: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes

Car rentals:

We recommend staying here between between two and three days. 

Hiking:

The hiking season in this area typically runs from Summer until Autumn

Scenic rides:

• Komagatake Ropeway: click here for the official timetable

• Mitake Ropeway: click here for the official timetable

Winter sports: 

Ski resorts in Japan typically run from January until April. Though this can differ from year to year, depending on the amount of snow.

There are several festivals here throughout the year. Please be advised that the following list is based upon previous entries of those festivals and that the dates might have changed slightly in the following year. It is also possible that the entire festival is cancelled in the case of heavy rainfall or a natural disaster. Please check with the official organisers' website for the most up-to-date information. 
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For the exact location of any of the festivals listed here, you can consult our map above by clicking on the icon in the upper most corner of the map to open the map legend. Festivals are hidden by default but can be made visible by clicking on the "Festivals" checkbox in the map legend.

• Mizunashi Annual Shrine Festival

  • Date: July 22nd until July 23rd

  • Time: 12:00 - 23:00  (fireworks between 19:15 - 21:00)

• Kisogawa Genryu Summer Festival

  • Date: August 3rd

  • Time: 16:00 - 20:30

• Tenryu Kappa Festival

  • Date: August 24th

  • Time: 11:00 - 21:00 (fireworks from 19:00 - 21:00)

The nearest and most convenient airport is Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport. 

• by car: approximately 1 hour

• by public transport: approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes

We recommend the following options for staying connected in Japan:

• Sakura Mobile Travel Sim (data only)
• Sakura Mobile Travel Sim (data + voice)
• Sakura Mobile Unlimited Wifi / Pocket Wifi