To Kamikochi

Only major stops are listed on this timetable.

(※) = The bus that departs from Shin-Shimashima station at 12:50, 14:10, and 15;30 is bound for Norikura. Please get off at K-20 Sawando Bus Terminal, then transfer to a shuttle bus to Kamikochi. You can check the bus timetable from Sawando to Kamikochi here.

(R) = Reserved bus. The direct buses that depart from Matsumoto bus terminal at 5:30  and 10:15 (aka National Park Liner) are reserved buses. You can reserve and buy the tickets online via JapanBusOnline.com or at the Matsumoto bus terminal.

(NR) = Non-reserved bus. Please buy a one-way ticket at the ticket window of the Matsumoto Bus Terminal or at JR Matsumoto Station.

Read more about how to travel between Matsumoto and Kamikochi >

To Matsumoto

Only major stops are listed on this timetable.

(R) = Reserved bus. From 17 April 2020, all buses departing from Kamikochi to Shin-Shimashima, Matsumoto Norikura Kogen and Shirahone Onsen will require a reservation. You can also purchase the ticket at Kamikochi Bus Terminal on the same day. However, please note that these buses can fill up, so we recommend making reservations in advance.

Bus Boarding Points (at Kamikochi Bus Terminal)

• Bus Stop No. 4: Bound for Shin-Shimashima / Matsumoto
• Bus Stop No. 6: Bound for Norikura Kogen / Shirahone Onsen

Read more about how to travel between Matsumoto and Kamikochi >

Important Info

Please read before making an inquiry:

1. For those opting to take the train from Matsumoto to Shin-Shimashima station and then transfer to a bus bound for Kamikochi, please note that you cannot purchase the ticket in advance, even one day prior. This is a non-reserved service. Please purchase the ticket on the day at the vending machine inside JR Matsumoto station.
2. For the direct bus (National Park Liner), it’s advisable to make a reservation in advance. Most of the time, tickets are sold out before the departure date.
3. The ticket for the bus/train from Kamikochi to Matsumoto is only available for purchase at Kamikochi Bus Terminal and online, not at Matsumoto Bus Terminal.
4. Please refrain from asking whether the bus will be full on specific dates, as we cannot provide a definite answer. Only one bus departs at each scheduled time. But during busy times, we usually add more buses departing from Shin-Shimashima station to accommodate all passengers, so this bus rarely gets full. Still, we cannot guarantee every seat. If you are concerned about seats filling up, we recommend arriving at the queue early.
5. This bus opens for reservations around early April, and you can make a reservation for the bus on the same day 1 month before your travel date.
6. We typically update this timetable in late March. If the schedule for next year is not yet available, please be patient for its release. We kindly ask that you refrain from inquiring about the release of the new timetable, as we cannot provide more details than what is available on the timetable page. The timetable is not expected to change significantly from last year, so please refer to the timetable from the previous year until the updated one becomes available.
7. This bus has a luggage compartment where you can stow your suitcases. There are no restrictions on the number or size of items.
8. This bus does not have a restroom onboard and there is no restroom break along the way.
9. When booking a ticket online from Kamikochi to Matsumoto, if you choose “Matsumoto Station” as your destination, it includes the train ticket from Shin-Shimashima to Matsumoto.
10. Due to the bus’s design, it’s not possible to ride in a wheelchair. Please fold and place the wheelchair and put it in the bus trunk. Please also note that non-foldable or motorized wheelchairs cannot be accepted.
11. You cannot use any JR Pass or any IC card (suica, pasmo, etc.) to take the Kamikochi Line train or any of Alpico’s buses.
12. Kamikochi is open from April 17th to November 15th every year. There are no buses traveling into Kamikochi between November 16th and April 16th.
13. Only one bus departs at each scheduled time. Additional buses may be added during busy periods. We cannot provide information on whether more buses will be added, so please refrain from inquiring about them. If the bus gets full, please wait for the next available bus.

FAQs

Please read through the information on this page thoroughly. If you have any further inquiries, check our FAQs page.

Fare

Matsumoto ～ Kamikochi

**Only one-way tickets are available; there is no round-trip fare.

Children’s fares

• 6 years and older: Adult fare
• 1 to under 6 years old: Child fare (Half of adult fare)
• Under 1 year old: Travel free if not occupying a seat. However, they count as passengers and may be refused boarding if capacity is reached. Therefore, if the maximum capacity is reached, we reserve the right to refuse boarding for children not paying fares. It’s recommended to purchase a ticket (child fare) even if the child won’t occupy it.

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