Express Bus Matsumoto

Please read before making an inquiry:

1. This is a non-reserved bus; you cannot reserve a seat in advance. Boarding is on a first-come, first-served basis, and purchasing a ticket does not guarantee that you will be able to board your preferred service. Please purchase your ticket on the day of boarding, and then join the boarding queue. If you board the bus at a stop without a ticket counter, you can buy your ticket onboard. Only one bus departs at each scheduled time but we usually add extra buses on busy days, but we cannot guarantee a seat for everyone. If you are concerned, please line up early (at least 30 minutes before) to board the bus.

2. This bus operates every day, yearly.

3. 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.

4. During the Spring Festival in Takayama (April 14-15), the bus departing from Matsumoto is typically crowded in the morning. We cannot answer whether the bus will be full or not. If you are concerned about seats filling up, we recommend purchasing a ticket 30 minutes before departure and arriving at the queue early. You can inquire with the staff at the ticket counter about the bus’s occupancy and how early you should queue up.

5. During the year-end and New Year holidays, Obon holidays, Golden Week holidays, and Silver Week holidays, the bus departing from Matsumoto is typically crowded in the morning. We cannot answer whether the bus will be full or not. If you are concerned about seats filling up, we recommend purchasing a ticket 30 minutes before departure and arriving at the queue early. You can inquire with the staff at the ticket counter about the bus’s occupancy and how early you should queue up.

6. We do not accept reservation requests, regardless of the number of passengers or requests from travel agencies.

7. This bus has a luggage compartment where you can stow your suitcases. There are no restrictions on the number or size of items. Items such as ice axes, poles, pickaxes can potentially damage other passengers’ luggage. Please store them inside your backpack or carry them separately in a dedicated cover or bag. Loading and unloading of luggage is your responsibility.

8. For daytime buses, bicycles can be stored in the trunk. Bicycles should be disassembled and packed in a dedicated bag for assembly-type bicycles or in a specific bag for folding bicycles.

9. This bus does not have a restroom onboard and there is no restroom break along the way.

10. If you have the Matsumoto to Takayama bus ticket, you can get off at Hirayu Onsen bus stop and reboard the next bus to Takayama on the same day. When getting off at Hirayu Onsen, please inform the driver of your intention to disembark mid-journey and obtain the designated stamp on your ticket. This is applicable in both directions. (Getting off at other bus stops besides “Hirayu Onsen” is not permitted.)

11. The ticket you purchased can be used to board the bus at any time on the same day of purchase.

Adult: Aged 12 and above
Child: Aged 1 to 11, half the price of the adult fare.
Infant: Children below the age of 1, when accompanied by an adult and not occupying a seat, travel free of charge. Please purchase a child ticket if a seat is required.