mid April x sejuk, should be fine I guess?
regent can advice you better on the weather conditions

I pass by zenith, the el primero all ada stock
I went to osaka/kyoto
I remember a fren told me the SS gshock cheaper in japan

Oh yeah.....forgot about JR Rail Pass, so basically your hand should have 5 ticket!  Hahahaha!

The train still got unreserved seat section. It become like commuter train, seat are 1st come 1st serve rules. As long u leave the seat, someone can take over your seat. 

If you take unreserved seat, you going save 900 yen from seat reservation otsuki - Kawaguchiko.  Shinjuku to Otsuki part already bao by JR Rail Pass, if take unreserved seat really rugi.

I taking JR Excursion 5 times in my life, it never full. Maximum passenger also 60% only. Normally the train only got 30-40% passenger.

I just ask my friend at Tokyo search for you. He confirm that 7.30am train leaving at Shinjuku Station  does stop at Shimoyoshoda Station.  But 2023 April you make sure one more time at Shinjuku JR Ticket Office. 

From Shimoyoshida Station to Kawaguchiko Station are no longer under JR Pass. You need buy local train ticket, approx 300 yen per pax.

About hiking that Pagoda, yes, 7.30am train are crucial because it stop at Shimoyoshoda Station. When you reach Station already 9am.  Gam Gam perfect for hiking. But make sure that day no rain on that day and previous day (night) or cloudy. Waste of time if cloudy day, you can't see Shxt.

travelling like tat macam very stress   

yes, no kid, no wife, if I get to travel alone, sure

unless ur travelling partners are very accommodating n sporting, I think all these itinerary go down the drain... larger group of ppl, even worst

gd luck kenji, just enjoy the holiday, if weather dont permit, just find other things to chill

8.30Am & 9.30AM Excursion do stop at Shimoyoshida Station. So you no need to be rushing. 

9.30Am will be the last & reach Shimoyoshida Station at 11.10Am

old ppl can't walk too much yea, too much public transport not easy for them unlike the japenis which are already used to it
ur itinerary with too much walking would need to be cut short

mgh20
no issues, most of johoreans, travel tat manner from Changi to abroad then back to jb

    can i understand why shirakawago is a huge no ?

hahaha book Salah ar?

I remember I keep reading or hearing the station hommachi hahaha, should be one stop near where I stayed
I was in Shinsaibashi

My Lake Kawaguchiko pocket list restraurant
ほうとう不動 河口湖駅前店

Make sure you try Yamanashi Style Flat Udon Noodle with vegetable on Miso Soup + 马刺 （horse meat sashimi) + Inari Sushi
These 3 thing are my favorite.

Happy New Year 

Tateyama Alpine Route cannot booked in advance, it does not had any entrance ticket.    You need need is buy transport ticket only. 
May are Opening Season, Get ready for extremely crowded in line to boarding those Cable Car, Buses etc etc. each transport minimum 10-30 minute waiting.
Since you already got JR Rail Pass, I no recommended to get Alpine Tourist Pass.

Toyama Station > Tateyama Station with Toyama Chiho Railway - 1230 Yen
Tateyama Station Bijodaira with Tateyama Cable Car - 960 Yen (10-15 minute waiting in line)  *This will depend how much people riding Chiho Railway with you
Bijidaira to Murodo (Snow Wall) by Bus - 2200 Yen (10-15 minute waiting in line) *This will depend how much people riding Chiho Railway with you
Murodo to Daikanbo by Trolley Bus - 2200 Yen (This part are most congested waiting in line to board that Bus)
Daikanbo to Kurobedaira by Ropeway - 1320 Yen (10 minute waiting usually)
Kurobedaira to Kurobe Dam by Kurobe Cablecar - 1050 Yen (10 minute waiting usually)
Kurobe Dam to Ogizawa by Kanden Tunnel Bus - 1570 Yen (10-20 minute waiting)
Ogizawa-Omachi Bus - 1390 Yen (10 minute waiting usually)
By the Time you reach JR Omachi Station will be sunset already and reach Matsumoto Station will be dark.

If you from Tokyo going Nagano first (Snow Monkey) + Kamikochi then route above with be terbalik    you end up at Toyama Station.  The waiting time need add extra 10% because most Japanese like going Alpine Route from Omachi > Tateyama Station.
From Tateyama > Omachi are mostly Foreigners & Chinese Tourist  because they go Takayama + Shirakawa first.

Shirakawa can advance booking from Alpico / Nohi.  (I usually booked from Nohi because it just beside Tayama Station)

Kamikochi are Hiking trail. You going with Family. Can forget about it. Your kids cannot stand the wind chill temperature + hiking (need alot stamina)
If you die die must go, then from Matsumoto Station / Nagano Station take Express Bus to Kamikochi Bus Terminal. Bus ticket can advance booked from Alpico.
*Seriously not recommended for you!*

Nagano Snow Monkey are public bus. From Nagano Station take Private Line "Nagano Dentetsu" Limited Express to Yudanaka Station. From Yudanaka Station take Public Bus to Shigakogen Roman Museum and walk to Snow Monkey Park (Follow the Direction Sign / GPS) or Take Taxi (1000 Yen only) 
*Warning!!! Do not wear sneaker!!!  Wear only Boots.  If you ca't find boot for your children then forget about this snow monkey)

Wear Sneaker, you are cari mati with frost Bite.

Tateyama Alpine Route transport are 1st come 1st serve basic. That why waiting line are long specially peak season. Tateyama Alpine Route transport ticket can purchase all when you at Tateyama Station (Tateyama > Ogizawa)  This mean you only need buy ticket from Toyama Dentetsu Station > Tateyama Station & Ogizawa > JR Omachi Station.

Snow Monkey Part...1000 Yen Taxi fare are from Yudanaka Station direct to Snow Monkey Park entrance. But from Snow Monkey Park back to train station. Taxi appear infront of snow monkey park entrance chances are 10% only.
So you still need take bus from Museum (bus stop) back to train station. 

Snow Monkey & Kamikochi still very cold during April. You still can encounter snow.

Actually after Teteyama Alpine Route, you will be exhausted due to crowd + cold + chill wind. Tateyama Alpine Route scenic view are all open space, wind had nothing to slow it, strong wind are direct penetrating into you.

If you study Kamikochi, it was at highland plus hiking trail are all surround that Lake / River. This mean Wind will breezing along river.  kamikochi temp. at April around 5-10 Celsius but the deadly cold wind make you feel like 0 Celsius. Hiking trail no challenge but very cold lah. 

Tateyama Station that selling Alpine Route transport combo ticket staff can speak English.
Ticket look like this:

Tateyama Route are one way Ticket, Each Ticket cost 12500 Yen. If you do Round TRip. It will cost you 25000 Yen!!!
You can try your luck see can get Tateyama Eki > Kurobe Dam > Tateyama Eki ....Price 100% will be around 20,000 Yen.
Why going back to Toyama?  It no making any sense!!! Since you going Kamikochi.....From Nagano Station as overnight base go Kamikochi & snow monkey park only make sense. your itinerary plan really weird man.
You shall make full itinerary plan, let me see see & tune it.

Yes. You can take Express Bus from Nagano Station direct to Snow Monkey Park. It will drop you at Museum. But, I prefer take Limited Express Train (Classico!!) Up to you~

Ok la. Chill at takayama. Eat more hida beef and other stuff and drink their hida milk (can get from convenience store). Really loved it. I enjoyed the food i managed to try at takayama, but night time abit dead though.

Actually you can decide later you want to go to hida folk village (at takayama itself) or shirakawago or go to both. I went to shirakawago, but from pictures, hida folk village macam similar.

Can go to hida-furukawa for a quick walk and some sort of insta-worthy picture, but when i was there, feels like a very quiet town. Lol. When i got off the train, only 6 ppl including 2 of us, who were "tourist"

If did't eat beef at Takayama really hard man!!  All the famous snack are related to beef. Even the local specialty Beef Sushi.
Beef skewer, Beef Bun, Beef Sushi, Grilled Beef.....But I only got 2 restraurant in my list which got serve non beef.

1) Juraku 寿乐久 ....Got Pork (豚）Tontaksu set  & Tempura Prawn （海老）set. Each Set Cost 3200 Yen but very high quality and standard.
77-3 Kamininomachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0845, Japan

2) Kikyou-ya....60 years Old Ramen Restaurant. 750 - 1500 Yen. Shop Signature Ramen Dish (Takayama Ramen) 750 Yen  <<More towards Chinese Cuisine style
3 Chome-58 Honmachi, Takayama, Gifu 506-0011, Japan

3) Bonus!! West side of Takayama Station 15 minute walk got Takayama Only Starbuck & Mcdonalds

Quoted above. You can go to the soba/udon place. I rmb seeing sushi and ramen place all quite decently rated and recommended by my hotel but i didnt try any since we focus on the beef place.

Hida furukawa, yes small town but only 15mins away by train. You see google, then you decide lo. I think if you have too much time can go jalan abit. But if no time, you wont miss anything.

Nice 15mins train ride too.

Ginputei are not kaiseiki restaurant. It very similar to Juraku. Selling set lunch around 2500-4000 per set. It got sell Tonkatsu set.

You cannot Board JR Limited Express or Shinkansen directly just with JR Rail Pass !!!  Any Time you want to take Limited Express or Shinkansen must go JR Ticket Office first. Show the JR Rail Pass to Staff & tell staff which train & which seat (Reserved or Unreserved) you want.  It will Print out The Seat Ticket (Reserved or Unreserved also got Ticket with that Particular Train no.) 
So before you pass that Manual Gate, you need to show 2 Ticket (JR Rail Pass + Seat Ticket).
Without 2 ticket, you can't even pass Manual gate of Shinkansen, staff will ask you go get seat ticket.

Local / Rapid train such as JR Yamanote Line / Chuo Line etc etc.....This kind of train, you can direct pass manual gate by showing JR Rail Pass. This part really interesting, Because Limited Express sharing same platfrom as Local train.
Staff will let you pass because he think you just wanted to take Local train.  If you board Limited Express without Seat Ticket, Ticket Conductor will FXXX you HARD & Give you long long lectured 
I see this incident many many many times     

About the Stamp on JR Rail Pass only stamp once per day. After 24 hours, next passing manual gate, staff only stamp 2nd chop.

Honey ok but don't bring mixed nuts