Japan Guide
Central Honshū
Getting around
Nagoya is home to the region's main airport, but it's more likely that you'll approach the area by train, either from Tokyo or Kyoto. A couple of train lines cut across from the southern to the northern coasts, but many of the places in the mountains are only served by buses, which can be infrequent and pricey. Renting a car to tour this area is your best bet, although some of the most scenic routes – such as the Skyline drive across the Alps from Gifu-ken to Nagano-ken – are toll roads and closed in winter because of deep snow. The mountain resort of Kamikōchi and the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine route are similarly off limits between November and April.