Sample itinerary of day trip to Kanazawa and Shirakawago from Tokyo

shirakawago winter1 to 3 days
Higashichayagai area is one of most popular spots in Kanazawa. (C) Kanazawa City / JNTO
Higashichayagai area is one of most popular spots in Kanazawa. (C) Kanazawa City / JNTO

If you leave Tokyo very early morning, you can visit Kanazawa and Shirakawago as a day trip.

I would like to show you the sample itinerary of day trip to Kanazawa and Shirakawago in this post.

From Tokyo to Kanazawa

The new fleet, E6 / W6 series run on Hokuriku Shinkansen.
The new fleet, E6 / W6 series run on Hokuriku Shinkansen.

The earliest train on the Hokuriku Shinkansen for Kanazawa is 06:16 departure. You can get Kanazawa at 08:46. There are many trains running between Tokyo and Kanazawa. Please find the timetable of the Hokuriku Shinkansen at JR East official site:

JR East official site – the timetable

I recommend you to see Kanazawa first. Because you can spend your time more efficiently by this order.

You will spend your time in the morning in Kanazawa. After lunch time, you can take Nohi Bus for Shirakawago.

Return trip to Shirakawago

World Heritage Site, Shirakawago (C)Akimasa Yuasa / JNTO
World Heritage Site, Shirakawago (C)Akimasa Yuasa / JNTO

Kanazawa 13:15 – (Nohi Bus) – Shirakawago 14:30
Shirakawago 17:30 – (Nohi Bus) – Kanazawa 18:45

I picked this schedule and you can enjoy 3 hours in Shirakawago. But you can make an adjustment as you like. Please find the timetable in Nohi Bus official site:

Nohi Bus official site

As you see Nohi Bus timetable, 17:30 is the last bus to go back to Kanazawa. You have three hours in Shirakawago. The next bus to Shirakawago after 13:15 is 13:40 departure from Kanazawa and arrival Shirakawago at 15:05. It is okay but it is a bit short to see the village.

Go back to Tokyo from Kanazawa

Kanazawa station was renovated before Hokuriku Shinkansen opened.
Kanazawa station was renovated before Hokuriku Shinkansen opened.

The last train on the Hokuriku Shinkansen is Kagayaki 518 at 21:00.

If you want to eat dinner in the restaurant, you can take this last train. You will have two hours. There are many restaurants in Kanazawa station building.

If you want to go back to Tokyo as soon as possible, take earlier departure Hokuriku Shinkansen. You can grab some foods at Kanazawa station and eat on board. On board sales is available on the train. But the variety of items are limited and the price of on board sales is mostly higher than the shops in the station. I recommend you to get something before boarding.

Suggested deal

Hokuriku Arch Pass is most affordable deal. It is cheaper than round trip fare by the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kanazawa. Please see the link below to find the information about this pass:

But you need to add single fare to get the bus to Shirakawago.

JR Pass is also recommended. The round trip fare by Shinkansen between Tokyo and Kanazawa is almost same as 7-day JR Pass price. Even if it does not cover bus to Shirakawago, JR Pass still works for this trip.

Nohi Bus to Shirakawago is not covered by either Hokuriku arch pass or JR pass.

Don’t forget to check the timetable before you go

The above sample itinerary is built by timetable of September 2015. When you use this sample itinerary, please check the updated timetable.

Comments

  1. Afif Hidayat says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    I have plan to go to Takayama and Shirakawago from Tokyo on 21 march 17, I plan to use JR pass and below my itenary:
    21 march 17, early morning I am going to takayama using shinkansen through Nagoya.
    22 March 17, early morning I am going to Shirakawago using nouhi bus. After finish in shirakawago I have plan to go to Osaka, I need your advise what transportation I need to take from Shirawakago to Osaka.

    regards,
    Afif H

  2. Jasmon Ching says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    i am planning to bring my family to Tokyo next week and I planned to visit Shirakawago based on your blog. i have few questions and hope you are able to advice me.

    trip:
    19 Feb – Tokyo – Kanazawa (stay a night)
    20 Feb – Kanazawa – Shirakawago – Kanazawa – Tokyo

    1. both of my sons are 5 and 3 years old (based on the date of 20 Feb 2017), do I need to purchase Shinkansen Hokuriku and Nori bus ticker for them?
    2. is there anyway i can purchased the Shinkansen and bus ticket now?
    3. what is your recommended pass to get because i am still confuse with JRpass etc.
    4. is there any entrance fee need to pay to visit Shirakawago?
    5. the Shinkansen and nori bus station at the same location or need to travel for a distance?
    6. i am a bit worry if the time for my 2nd day will be enough to visit Shinagawago and going back to Tokyo since i will be travelling with 2 young kids. can advice is this is doable?

    thanks a lot and appreciate your advice.

    Jasmon

  3. Petty says:

    Hi Takeshi san, i plan to visit japan at the end of february. So this is the itinerary will be:
    Day 1. KIX-Nara
    Day 2. Nara – kyoto
    Day 3. Kyoto
    Day 4. Kyoto
    Day 5. Kyoto -kanazawa – shirakawago – kanazawa
    Day 6. Kanazawa – osaka
    Day 7. Osaka
    Day 8. Osaka
    Day 9. Osaka-Kix
    Need ur advice cos im looking for cheaper kind of transpotation. Should I take the 5days Takayama-hokuriku pass for the last 5 days, or is it cheaper to take separate highway busses? Thanks

  4. xyle says:

    hi! is it possible to have this itinerary?
    day 1- tokyo
    day 2- tokyo, night train to hokkaido
    day 3- hokkaido, night train to tokyo
    day 4- tokyo
    day 5- to shirakawago
    day 6- to osaka
    day 7- kyoto and nara
    day 8- osaka to haneda airport

    thanks

  5. Rose says:

    Hi Takeshi-san, our proposed travel in April is Tokyo (2 days) –> Shirakawa-go (2 days) –>Kanazawa (2 days) –> Tokyo. Grateful for your suggestions on the most efficient and cost effective way to travel using the JR Pass. Separately, if we wanted to take the bus from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go, is there a direct bus? Which bus company provides this service.

    Many thanks,
    Rose

  6. Rani Peyra says:

    Hello Takeshi-san,

    I am on a business trip to Tokyo in the next couple of weeks and would like to see Kyoto, Kanazawa and Shirakawa-go. I plan to get a JR Rail Pass too. Can you let me know if this itinerary works?

    Day 1 (PM) – Travel from Tokyo to Kyoto (Bullet train); Evening walk
    Day 2 (whole day) – 1 whole day in Kyoto
    Day 3 – Kyoto to Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go
    Day 4 – Shirakawa-go to Haneda Airport

    What time should I leave Kyoto for Kanazawa? I’d also like to stay overnight in Shirakawa-go – is it worth doing that for experience?

    As a first timer in Kyoto, do you think it’s wiser to go to Shirakawa-go than just maximize my stay in Kyoto? (I really wanted to see snow 🙂 )

    Finally, what time should I leave Shirakawa-go so I can make it to my 3PM flight in Haneda?

    Thank you very much!

  7. Siew Mei says:

    Hi, 3 of us are D1-3going for holiday in Japan. Below are my itinerary
    D1 Kansai airport to takayama
    D2 takayama to shirakawago
    D3 takayama to kyoto
    D4 district gion + fushimi inari
    D5 arashiyama + kinkakuji
    D6 Kyoto to Namba, to nara
    D7 Osaka use amazing Osaka pass
    D8 namba to Kansas airport
    D1-3 stay takayama, D3-6 stay Kyoto, D6-D8 stay near JR namba. Think used mixed of takayama- Horuriku area pass(day 1-5days), Kansas area pass (D6).osaka pass ( Day 7)any acdvice?

  8. Jackie says:

    Hi Takeshi

    Can I ride Shinkansen Hikari using the 5 days Takayama – Hokuriku pass ? Thanks

  9. Evan says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Hew are going to visit Japan mid January 2017
    Our route will be like this : Tokyo-Kanazawa-Shirakawa-Takayama-Kanazawa-Osaka

    Should we purchase 7day JRpass for this? Or maybe OSAKA-TOKYO HOKURIKU ARCH PASS?
    Or we just buy single JR train ticket for the trip?
    Which one is more effective.

    Thanks before

    • Hi Evan,

      Hokuriku Arch Pass is the best choice. And you may add Nohi bus fare for Kanazawa-Shirakawago-Takayama segment. The bus fare is not covered by either JR pass and Hokuriku Arch Pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Ronny Ou says:

    hi Takeshi san, is the shirakawago bus station closed to world heritage tourists place, since i have checked nouhi bus only available 11-3.50 lm on 20.01.17 so want to make sure i have enough time to explore world heritage in shirakawago.
    cheers ron

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