4 Days Across the Japanese Alps Road Trip

June 3, 2026

Travel

Exploring Central Japan: From Osaka to the Alpine Route & Kamikochi

If you’re looking for a Japan road trip that combines family friendly attractions, beautiful nature, traditional towns, scenic drives, and mountain views this is perfect for you! This is also a perfect way to who want to explore more places beyond Tokyo & Osaka.

Our Route :
Osaka → Fukui → Kanazawa → Toyama → Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route → Takayama → Kamikochi → Osaka

Accommodation

May 17 : Kanazawa

🏨 Hotel Mystays Premier Kanazawa

The hotel is average overall, although personally I wasn’t a huge fan of the blanket material. Other than that, it was fine for the price. Affordable and decent for a road trip stopover.

Things To Note:

• Around 5–7 mins walk from Kanazawa Station
• Convenience stores nearby
• One of the more spacious hotel rooms in Japan compared to typical business hotels
• Easy access to Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya District, and Kenrokuen Garden by car

Cost about ¥11,538 per night

Overall: good 👍

May 18 : Toyama

🏨 Hotel Enoe Toyama

This is one of our favorite hotels from the whole trip! The hotel had just opened in 2025, very clean and modern.

The triple room was spacious, the beds were comfortable, and having a convenience store nearby made everything even more convenient. Definitely a hotel I'd recommend in Toyama.

Things To Note:

• Free alcohol & coffee bar (hot chocolate was amazing)
• Spacious triple room
• Spacious triple room & comfortable beds
• Convenience store nearby

💰 ¥13,432 per night

Overall: very good 👍

May 19 : Takayama Airbnb

🏨 Wat Resort

We booked an Airbnb for our last night before returning to Osaka. We love this villa, for 4 adults with 1 kid, this place is spacious and comfortable enough for us. We bought some snacks and breakfast before coming here, so we just prepared a simple meal for our breakfast.

We love that they include basic amenities here, will be good for a longer stay. But sadly we only booked for a night and have to head back home the next day.

Things To Note:

• 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms with a kitchen and backyard with plenty of outdoor space
• The backyard comes with a small stream, perfect for some outdoor fun in the summer
• Washing machine is included
• They also provided basic toiletries

A night cost about ¥32,820

Overall: also good

Itinerary

🚗 May 17 : Osaka → Fukui → Kanazawa

Day 1 : Welcome to Japan’s Dinosaur Kingdom - Fukui

We departed from Osaka in the morning and drove toward Fukui.

While driving through Fukui, we made a quick stop at a highway R&R (Rest & Relax area) and were surprised to spot a giant moving Brachiosaurus dinosaur.

Fukui is famous for dinosaur fossils discovered in the region, and the prefecture is home to one of Japan’s largest dinosaur museums. It’s a nice little stopover if you’re doing a road trip through Central Japan, especially for families traveling with kids.

Then we head on to Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum 福井県立恐竜博物館

It is actually one of the top dinosaur museums in the world, and one of the biggest in Japan too. Don't miss this if you're a dinosaur fans!

🎟️ Entrance Fees
• Adults: around ¥1,000
• Students: around ¥800
• Children: around ¥500

🚨 There’s also a separate “Outdoor Dinosaur Museum / Field Station” experience, which requires an additional ticket and advance reservation. It includes a guided bus tour and fossil digging experience.

⏰ Recommended Time: 3-5 hours

The museum features more than 40 dinosaur skeletons, and many of the fossils on display are real discovered in Fukui itself including Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus, which were named after the prefecture.

The museum itself is not extremely huge, but the exhibition design is surprisingly immersive and creative, especially for children. Even adults can enjoy it too. There's also English explanation on the display. If your child loves dinosaurs… prepare for them to go completely crazy 😂

There's also an open park spaces around the museum, more dinosaur statues, photo spots and playground for kids. We had a blast here. Highly recommend to visit if you're around.

We originally planned to visit Tsukiusagi no Sato (Rabbit Farm) next but departed Osaka too late and couldn’t make it. If you have extra time, it looks like a cute stop for families with kids.

We booked a hotel in Kanazawa and drove over from Fukui, which takes around 1.5 to 2 hours by car depending on traffic. For dinner, we went for sushi around Kanazawa Station. Honestly, you don’t really need to rush to hunt for expensive sushi restaurants right away, there are plenty of affordable and decent options near the station itself. The real highlight is actually the seafood market the next morning, which is much more worth it if you want a fresher and more local experience.

After dinner we decided to called it a night and checked into Hotel Mystays Premier Kanazawa.

🚗18 May : Kanazawa → Toyama

Day 2 : Fresh Seafood, Traditional Tea Ceremony, Historic Streets & Ocean Views

Omicho Market > Kenroku-en Garden > Higashi Chaya District > Amaharashi Coast > Kurehayama Park Observatory

Our first stop of the day was Omicho Market, and it was definitely worth the visit. The atmosphere is lively, the seafood looks amazing, perfect for breakfast or lunch.

We went to Omicho Ichiba Sushi and honestly, everything was good. The sushi was fresh, the miso soup was comforting, and even the chawanmushi was very good.

Next, we visited Kenroku-en Garden, one of the most famous gardens in Japan.

Even if you're not usually a "garden person", it's a really pleasant place to walk around. The paths are easy to follow, there are beautiful ponds and traditional Japanese landscaping everywhere, and the whole place feels very calm.

We spent around 1–2 hours strolling around at a relaxed pace.

We also tried the matcha experience inside the garden. It included a bowl of matcha, a small Japanese sweet, and a brief explanation from the sensei.

The matcha was good, but honestly, the real highlight was the view from the tatami room. Sitting there quietly while looking out at the garden was probably more memorable than the tea itself.

💰 Around ¥1,000 per person

We then visited Higashi Chaya District. Known as "Little Kyoto", it has similar old-Japan atmosphere but with fewer crowds. It's a popular spot with local and tourist alike, especially in the summer.

Known as "Little Kyoto", this area is lined with beautifully preserved wooden teahouses and traditional shops. We spent some time wandering around, trying snacks, visiting cafés, and taking photos of the old wooden buildings.

It was such a hot day that the ice cream tasted even better than usual. Definitely a refreshing treat after walking around!

🚗 Transfer to Toyama In The Evening

Amaharashi Coast turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the trip. Not many people talk about it, but the scenery here is incredible!

We stopped at Cafe ISOMI TERRACE and went up to the second floor, which has the best viewing spot.

We took many nice photos. Sharing a tips here, try using about 6.5x zoom on your phone. You'll be able to fit the train, beach, and snow-covered mountains into one frame! Thanks me later 😂

We wanted to make one final stop at Kurehayama Park Observatory before calling it a day and check into our hotel at Hotel Enoe Toyama. I heard they have one of the best sunset view overlooking Toyama city, but we didn't make it. Highlight recommend to checkout if you have the chance.

🚗19 May : Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Day 3 : The Iconic Snow Wall

Before making our way to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, we stopped by Komeda's Coffee for breakfast.

Their morning set was simple, affordable, and a great way to start the day.

This was one of the places we were most excited to visit during the trip. One of Japan's most famous mountain sightseeing routes, known for its spectacular alpine scenery and the iconic Snow Wall.

🎫 Ticket Price = ¥16,480 × 4 pax
Tateyama Station ↔️ Kurobeko Round Trip

We booked online in advance but only managed to get a 1pm entry slot.

If you're planning to visit, I strongly recommend booking an earlier time slot. We didn't have enough time to complete the full route. Only managed to visit Murodo and the Snow Wall before catching the last departure cable car back.

Even so, seeing the massive Snow Wall in person was absolutely worth it!

👉 Detailed Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route guide coming up in my next blog. Follow along if you'd like to see more!

We were so hungry after that and went for dinner at Hida Beef Conveyor Belt Yakiniku "Nikudoko". This was such a good dinner, especially after that. The beef was tender and overall we were happy with it. Afterwards we stopped by a Donki and called it a night and check into our Airbnb at Wat Resort.

🚗20 May : Kamikochi Day Tour → Osaka

Day 4 : Kamikochi, the Swiss Alps of Japan

One of the most beautiful nature destinations in Japan and a must-visit if you're in the Japanese Alps.

We drove about 50 minutes from Takayama to Hirayu, parked at Shiei Akandana Parking Lot and take a shuttle bus into the park. It's a protected area, so private cars are not allowed. Keep that in mind if you're planning to drive there yourself!

🎫 Bus Ticket Round Trip = ¥2,800 per person

The moment you walked into the valley it's easy to understand why it's such a popular spot. Even in summer, the air feels cooling, the view of the mountains against the clear water... simply magnificent. It looks exactly like the pictures you see online. The trail was mostly flat and easy to walk, even with children and elders. It is prohibited to swim in the river, so we just dipped our feet into it and enjoy the views.

👉 I'll be sharing a detailed guide in my next blog, covering everything from ticket booking to route planning. Follow along so you don't miss it!

🚗 Return to Osaka

We stopped half way and watch the most beautiful sunset before going back to Osaka. That's also one of the reason I like road trip with a private car like this. More flexible and less rush. It's really a perfect way to end this trip.

If you are looking for private car with driver to travel around Japan , consider using Hippo Travel Japan for their services! It's super convenient especially if you're travelling with kids and elders.

🚙 Licensed Private Car Booking
📍 Custom Itinerary Planning
🏨 Hotel Arrangement
📌 Restaurant and Ticket Reservation

Thank you for being here, I'll share more about trips like this in the future. Follow along if you're interested in content like this! See you again 🙂

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A post shared by Evon イーボン 🇲🇾🇯🇵 (@nicobon_in_japan)

Coming Soon! Follow our adventure 😊

4 Days Across the Japanese Alps Road Trip

Exploring Central Japan: From Osaka to the Alpine Route & Kamikochi

If you’re looking for a Japan road trip that combines family friendly attractions, beautiful nature, traditional towns, scenic drives, and mountain views this is perfect for you! This is also a perfect way to who want to explore more places beyond Tokyo & Osaka.

Our Route : Osaka → Fukui → Kanazawa → Toyama → Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route → Takayama → Kamikochi → Osaka

Accommodation

May 17 : Kanazawa

🏨 Hotel Mystays Premier Kanazawa

The hotel is average overall, although personally I wasn’t a huge fan of the blanket material. Other than that, it was fine for the price. Affordable and decent for a road trip stopover.

Things To Note:

• Around 5–7 mins walk from Kanazawa Station • Convenience stores nearby • One of the more spacious hotel rooms in Japan compared to typical business hotels • Easy access to Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya District, and Kenrokuen Garden by car

Cost about ¥11,538 per night

Overall: good 👍

May 18 : Toyama

🏨 Hotel Enoe Toyama

This is one of our favorite hotels from the whole trip! The hotel had just opened in 2025, very clean and modern.

The triple room was spacious, the beds were comfortable, and having a convenience store nearby made everything even more convenient. Definitely a hotel I'd recommend in Toyama.

Things To Note:

• Free alcohol & coffee bar (hot chocolate was amazing) • Spacious triple room • Spacious triple room & comfortable beds • Convenience store nearby

💰 ¥13,432 per night

Overall: very good 👍

May 19 : Takayama Airbnb

🏨 Wat Resort

We booked an Airbnb for our last night before returning to Osaka. We love this villa, for 4 adults with 1 kid, this place is spacious and comfortable enough for us. We bought some snacks and breakfast before coming here, so we just prepared a simple meal for our breakfast.

We love that they include basic amenities here, will be good for a longer stay. But sadly we only booked for a night and have to head back home the next day.

Things To Note:

• 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms with a kitchen and backyard with plenty of outdoor space • The backyard comes with a small stream, perfect for some outdoor fun in the summer • Washing machine is included • They also provided basic toiletries

A night cost about ¥32,820

Overall: also good

Itinerary

🚗 May 17 : Osaka → Fukui → Kanazawa

Day 1 : Welcome to Japan’s Dinosaur Kingdom - Fukui

We departed from Osaka in the morning and drove toward Fukui.

While driving through Fukui, we made a quick stop at a highway R&R (Rest & Relax area) and were surprised to spot a giant moving Brachiosaurus dinosaur.

Fukui is famous for dinosaur fossils discovered in the region, and the prefecture is home to one of Japan’s largest dinosaur museums. It’s a nice little stopover if you’re doing a road trip through Central Japan, especially for families traveling with kids.

Then we head on to Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum 福井県立恐竜博物館

It is actually one of the top dinosaur museums in the world, and one of the biggest in Japan too. Don't miss this if you're a dinosaur fans!

🎟️ Entrance Fees • Adults: around ¥1,000 • Students: around ¥800 • Children: around ¥500

🚨 There’s also a separate “Outdoor Dinosaur Museum / Field Station” experience, which requires an additional ticket and advance reservation. It includes a guided bus tour and fossil digging experience.

⏰ Recommended Time: 3-5 hours

The museum features more than 40 dinosaur skeletons, and many of the fossils on display are real discovered in Fukui itself including Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus, which were named after the prefecture.

The museum itself is not extremely huge, but the exhibition design is surprisingly immersive and creative, especially for children. Even adults can enjoy it too. There's also English explanation on the display. If your child loves dinosaurs… prepare for them to go completely crazy 😂

There's also an open park spaces around the museum, more dinosaur statues, photo spots and playground for kids. We had a blast here. Highly recommend to visit if you're around.

We originally planned to visit Tsukiusagi no Sato (Rabbit Farm) next but departed Osaka too late and couldn’t make it. If you have extra time, it looks like a cute stop for families with kids.

After dinner we decided to called it a night and checked into Hotel Mystays Premier Kanazawa.

🚗18 May : Kanazawa → Toyama

Day 2 : Fresh Seafood, Traditional Tea Ceremony, Historic Streets & Ocean Views

Omicho Market > Kenroku-en Garden > Higashi Chaya District > Amaharashi Coast > Kurehayama Park Observatory

Our first stop of the day was Omicho Market, and it was definitely worth the visit. The atmosphere is lively, the seafood looks amazing, perfect for breakfast or lunch.

We went to Omicho Ichiba Sushi and honestly, everything was good. The sushi was fresh, the miso soup was comforting, and even the chawanmushi was very good.

Next, we visited Kenroku-en Garden, one of the most famous gardens in Japan.

Even if you're not usually a "garden person", it's a really pleasant place to walk around. The paths are easy to follow, there are beautiful ponds and traditional Japanese landscaping everywhere, and the whole place feels very calm.

We spent around 1–2 hours strolling around at a relaxed pace.

We also tried the matcha experience inside the garden. It included a bowl of matcha, a small Japanese sweet, and a brief explanation from the sensei.

The matcha was good, but honestly, the real highlight was the view from the tatami room. Sitting there quietly while looking out at the garden was probably more memorable than the tea itself.

💰 Around ¥1,000 per person

We then visited Higashi Chaya District. Known as "Little Kyoto", it has similar old-Japan atmosphere but with fewer crowds. It's a popular spot with local and tourist alike, especially in the summer.

Known as "Little Kyoto", this area is lined with beautifully preserved wooden teahouses and traditional shops. We spent some time wandering around, trying snacks, visiting cafés, and taking photos of the old wooden buildings.

It was such a hot day that the ice cream tasted even better than usual. Definitely a refreshing treat after walking around!

🚗 Transfer to Toyama In The Evening

Amaharashi Coast turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the trip. Not many people talk about it, but the scenery here is incredible!

We stopped at Cafe ISOMI TERRACE and went up to the second floor, which has the best viewing spot.

We took many nice photos. Sharing a tips here, try using about 6.5x zoom on your phone. You'll be able to fit the train, beach, and snow-covered mountains into one frame! Thanks me later 😂

We wanted to make one final stop at Kurehayama Park Observatory before calling it a day and check into our hotel at Hotel Enoe Toyama. I heard they have one of the best sunset view overlooking Toyama city, but we didn't make it. Highlight recommend to checkout if you have the chance.

🚗19 May : Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route

Day 3 : The Iconic Snow Wall

Before making our way to the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, we stopped by Komeda's Coffee for breakfast.

Their morning set was simple, affordable, and a great way to start the day.

This was one of the places we were most excited to visit during the trip. One of Japan's most famous mountain sightseeing routes, known for its spectacular alpine scenery and the iconic Snow Wall.

🎫 Ticket Price = ¥16,480 × 4 pax Tateyama Station ↔️ Kurobeko Round Trip

We booked online in advance but only managed to get a 1pm entry slot.

If you're planning to visit, I strongly recommend booking an earlier time slot. We didn't have enough time to complete the full route. Only managed to visit Murodo and the Snow Wall before catching the last departure cable car back.

Even so, seeing the massive Snow Wall in person was absolutely worth it!

👉 Detailed Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route guide coming up in my next blog. Follow along if you'd like to see more!

We were so hungry after that and went for dinner at Hida Beef Conveyor Belt Yakiniku "Nikudoko". This was such a good dinner, especially after that. The beef was tender and overall we were happy with it. Afterwards we stopped by a Donki and called it a night and check into our Airbnb at Wat Resort.

🚗20 May : Kamikochi Day Tour → Osaka

Day 4 : Kamikochi, the Swiss Alps of Japan

One of the most beautiful nature destinations in Japan and a must-visit if you're in the Japanese Alps.

We drove about 50 minutes from Takayama to Hirayu, parked at Shiei Akandana Parking Lot and take a shuttle bus into the park. It's a protected area, so private cars are not allowed. Keep that in mind if you're planning to drive there yourself!

🎫 Bus Ticket Round Trip = ¥2,800 per person

👉 I'll be sharing a detailed guide in my next blog, covering everything from ticket booking to route planning. Follow along so you don't miss it!

Our Route :
Osaka → Fukui → Kanazawa → Toyama → Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route → Takayama → Kamikochi → Osaka

• Around 5–7 mins walk from Kanazawa Station
• Convenience stores nearby
• One of the more spacious hotel rooms in Japan compared to typical business hotels
• Easy access to Omicho Market, Higashi Chaya District, and Kenrokuen Garden by car

• Free alcohol & coffee bar (hot chocolate was amazing)
• Spacious triple room
• Spacious triple room & comfortable beds
• Convenience store nearby

• 2 bedrooms + 2 bathrooms with a kitchen and backyard with plenty of outdoor space
• The backyard comes with a small stream, perfect for some outdoor fun in the summer
• Washing machine is included
• They also provided basic toiletries

🎟️ Entrance Fees
• Adults: around ¥1,000
• Students: around ¥800
• Children: around ¥500

🎫 Ticket Price = ¥16,480 × 4 pax
Tateyama Station ↔️ Kurobeko Round Trip

🚙 Licensed Private Car Booking
📍 Custom Itinerary Planning
🏨 Hotel Arrangement
📌 Restaurant and Ticket Reservation