Being in Central Japan, our guests can come from all directions, but there's some common patterns that will help you get an idea of how best to add Okumikawa to your next holiday. Many guests stay 2 nights at Yuyaonsen hot spring village, but some stay longer to really get the most of the relaxing atmosphere and deep cultural sights, and to enjoy unique experiences on our tours.
It's best to start with the assumption that it will take about half a day to travel between Okumikawa and your destinations, for example leaving Nagoya in the morning, arriving before lunch time, or leaving Okumikawa just after lunch to arrive in Tokyo for dinner.
If using the Golden Route (Tokyo to Kyoto/Osaka)
It's very easy to add time in Okumikawa to your itinerary if this is your plan. Most of our guests are travelling on the Golden Route and add us as a stop on their way between Tokyo and Kyoto. We help our guests to find the best options for their visit.
Toyohashi Station is a Shinkansen bullet train station that everyone on the Golden Route passes through. Many trains stop at Toyohashi (just not the Nozomi service), so it's much more convenient than many people expect. From Toyohashi Station, the JR Iida Line runs tiny trains through countryside scenery to reach Okumikawa, taking about 45 minutes to 1hr 15mins depending on the service to reach Yuyaonsen Station.
The most common pattern for our guests is leaving Nagoya/Tokyo/Kyoto around 8-9am (with even more excited guests leaving earlier!), arriving at Yuyaonsen hot spring village around 11am. For departures, many guests leave leisurely just before or after lunch after relaxing by the river.
If going through Nagano, Kanazawa, Fukui (for skiing etc.)
Coming down to Okumikawa from the North, there's a unique possibility to take Japan's longest local train line (the JR Iida Line), though how much you take of it is up to you. The JR Iida line is a hidden gem for train maniacs (big fans of trains), as it passes through countryside scenery and stunning mountain views, with tiny trains and quaint atmosphere.
Some tourists pass through Gifu Station or Nagoya Station on their trips after taking a Northern Route, and in this case it's simple to take the Tokaido route on the Golden Route (described above). If you're skipping Gifu or Nagoya on your way to Kyoto, consider adding Okumikawa as a stop on tour way back to Tokyo, or add us as a detour on the way to Kyoto with a great chance for deep mountain sights and culture.
If going to/from the Nakasendo (Samurai Road)
To put Okumikawa into your itinerary, we recommend using Okumikawa as a place to experience nature and history away from the crowds you'll see at the Nakasendo before or after your time there. We recommend minimum 2 nights, with a night in Nagoya in between Okumikawa and Nakasendo. Many people enjoy the Nakasendo, but are exhausted by the number of tourists. Okumikawa has some similar elements, but our history is more ancient, and with more nature and countryside charm (some bias there) it's a great place to see the kind of countryside culture and spiritual history we have here. On our tours we love to share the things that you can't easily get at the Nakasendo.
In general a route from the Nakasendo to Okumikawa might involve a train trip to Nagoya Station, then a Shinkansen or local train to Toyohashi Station, then the JR Iida Line to Yuyaonsen or Hon-Nagashino Station. For our tour guests we help to plan the best route for you.
There is also a unique possibility to go East from the Nakasendo to Iida City, where you can take the JR Iida Line South through deep mountain valleys towards Yuyaonsen. This option requires some different transportation, but we know a local guide at the Nakasendo that would love to help you if this is your plan!