Iiyama

Iiyama markets itself as "Japan's Hometown". It is also known as 小京都 (Sho-Kyoto, little Kyoto) for its many traditional temples.

Tourist information site:

The local tourist association has a bilingual guide site.

By plane:

The closest airport serving Iiyama City is Matsumoto Airport (sometimes known as Shinshu-Matsumoto Airport), located just southwest of Matsumoto City.

From Matsumoto, you can easily take a JR train to Nagano City, or take a kousoku(highway) bus to just outside the Nagano Station. From the Nagano City station, Iiyama City is easily accessible via the JR Iiyama line (飯山線), or you can take the Shinkansen (bullet train) toward Kanazawa.

If you fly in via Narita, you can get on the Keisei Skyliner from Narita to Tokyo, and change there to take the Hokuriku Shinkansen directly to Iiyama.

By train:

Service to Iiyama improved dramatically with the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and now one-seat rides are available from as far as Tokyo, Toyama and Kanazawa. Hakutaka trains generally stop every 1-2 hours in either direction. From Tokyo the journey is 1 hour 45 minutes and costs ¥8630, while from Kanazawa it takes 75 minutes and costs ¥7110. These journeys are valid with the Japan Rail Pass, and trips from Tokyo are also valid with the JR East Rail Pass.

Iiyama is also served by the JR Iiyama line, which is also covered by the Rail Pass. The Hachisu, Iiyama, and Kita-Iiyama stops are all within Iiyama city limits, although the Iiyama stop is closest to most tourist attractions.

Local trips on the JR Iiyama Line operate every 1-2 hours. From Nagano, Iiyama can be reached cheaply by taking the Shinano Railway and connecting in Toyono. Some Iiyama line trains start in Nagano, offering a one seat ride. Local trips from Nagano without connections take around 50 minutes and cost ¥570. Rail Pass users will have to pay ¥250 to travel from Nagano to Toyono.