Route Bus Kamikochi

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.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1: When I try to book the direct bus a bus online, I am unable to make a reservation. Is it fully booked, or is it a website error?
A1: See reasons why you cannot make a reservation here.

Q2: I booked a bus online, how do I board it?
A2: See how to board the bus with online booked tickets here.

Q3: If I purchase the bus/train ticket from Matsumoto to Kamikochi, can I get off at Taisho Pond bus stop then board the bus again from Taisho Pond to Kamikochi Bus Terminal?
A3: No, you cannot. When you board the bus from Taisho Pond bus stop, please purchase the bus ticket to Kamikochi Bus Terminal from the bus driver (430 yen).

Q4: Do the 2-Day Free Passport and 4-Day Alps WIDE Free Passport cover the train and bus to Kamikochi from Matsumoto? Can I make a reservation in advance?
A4: Yes, these two passes cover the train and bus between Kamikochi and Matsumoto. You can make a reservation for the direct bus (National Park Liner) only. The reservation must be done in person at Matsumoto Bus Terminal, not online. For the train/bus transfer method, since it is a non-reserved service, you do not need to make a reservation in advance.

Q5: Is there a coin locker in Kamikochi?
A5: There is a luggage deposit only at Kamikochi Bus Terminal (6:00 – 17:00). This is not a facility under Alpico’s management. For more information, please inquire Kamikochi Visitor Center directly.

Q6: I’m taking the train to Matsumoto Station and then heading to Kamikochi. Do I need to exit the station through the ticket gates to purchase a ticket for Kamikochi?
A6: You don’t need to exit through the ticket gates. Just proceed to platform 7 and transfer to the Kamikochi Line train there. You can purchase your train and bus ticket to Kamikochi at Shin-Shimashima Station.

Q7: I want to go to Kamikochi during November 16 to April 16.
A7: Please refer to this Q&A.

For bus pass holders (2-Day Free Passport, 4-Day Alps WIDE Free Passport, Alps Crossing Ticket (Kamikochi route)):

1. Theses passes also cover the direct bus (National Park Liner). The reservation must be done in person at Matsumoto Bus Terminal, not online. For the train/bus transfer from Matsumoto to Kamikochi, since it is a non-reserved service, you do not need to make a reservation in advance. Just show the pass to the station staff to board the train and bus.

2. For the trip from Kamikochi to Shin-Shimashima, Matsumoto, Norikura Kogen and Shirahone Onsen, please make a reservation by showing your bus pass at the ticket window of the Kamikochi Bus Terminal and specifying your boarding date, boarding place and which bus you would like to board.

**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.