Japan Rail Pass Now - Japan Travel Guide

7 DAY PASS – Cherry Blossoms
Delights Itinerary
Day 3: Tokyo to Matsumoto (Spend 2 nights in Matsumoto)
From Tokyo Station, take a Shinkansen to Nagano Station and then transfer to a Ltd Exp (Wide View) Shinano train to Matsumoto Station. The one-way
trip takes about two hours and twenty minutes, and is fully covered by the JR Pass.
Day 4: Sightseeing in Matsumoto
Nagano Prefecture’s second largest city, Matsumoto is home to one of the most beautiful original castles of Japan, the Matsumoto Castle, and numerous
incredible sakura viewing spots.
Cherry Blossom Viewing Spots In Matsumoto
●
Takato Castle Ruins Park – Regarded as one of the three best cherry blossom viewing sites in the country, along with Yoshinoyama and Hirosaki
Castle, the Takato Castle Ruins Park is home to around 1,500 sakura trees. From Matsumoto Station, take the JR Shinonoi/Chuo Line to Okaya
Station, and then transfer to the JR Chuo Line (branch)/Iida Line to Inashi Station. From Inashi Station, take a 20-minute bus ride (one-way ticket
costs 520 yen) to Takato Station, then walk about 10 minutes to the park. Only the train journeys are covered by the JR Pass.
● Koboyama Koen – Found on a hill in the southern part of the city, Koboyama Koen is a park that overlooks the valley and is home to about 4,000
cherry trees. From Matsumoto Station, board a JR Chuo Line train to Minami Matsumoto Station and walk about 30 minutes to the park.
●
Matsumoto Castle – The Matsumoto Castle grounds have around 300 cherry trees and are a great picnic spot from which to not only enjoy the
beautiful sakura blooms but also the majestic castle. From Matsumoto Station, the castle is only a 15-minute walk away.
Day 5: Matsumoto to Osaka (Spend 2 nights in Osaka)
Train travel between Matsumoto and Osaka takes about four and a half hours. From Matsumoto Station, take the Ltd Exp (Wide View Shinano) Line to
Nagoya Station, then transfer to a Shinkansen going to either Shin-Osaka Station (where you can take the JR Kyoto Line Local) or Kyoto Station (where
you can take the JR Special Rapid Service Line) going to Osaka Station. The entire trip is fully covered by the JR Pass.
Matsumoto Castle
Osaka Castle
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