yeah i agree its too time consuming to do a round trip on the alpine route. most likely i will do a one way trip from end to end so i can see more things rather than doing a round trip. if i want to climb mt murodo/tateyama + go to shomyo falls how should i plan? im afraid there's not enough time. my 2 options is:
-midnight bus to toyama from, deposit luggage, go to the falls first, back to tateyama, continue on the alpine route, check in at a hotel in matsumoto, next day go to castle and kamikochi?
-midnight bus to nagano, check in hotel at matsumoto, tour castle and kamikochi, next day then go shinano omachi for alpine route, end at tateyama, go for falls, train back to matsumoto (i think this will be costly and time consuming)
any advice? would like to cater enough time for one of the mt hikes, snow corridor walk and visit the falls. thanks