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. Irish says:

    Hello Takeshi,

    My family with teens plan to visit Japan on December20-27.
    below is my itinerary:

    Day 1 tokyo arrival stay in shinjuku
    Day 2 hakone day tour
    Day 3 tokyo daytour
    Day 4 Tokyo to Nagano. overnight in Nagano, tour around the area
    Day 5 Nagano to Kanazawa and Shirakawago daytour, proceed to Kyoto at night
    Day 6 Kyoto day tour,proceed to Osaka
    Day 7 USJ
    Day 8 Kansai Airport

    Is my Itinerary ok ? and will the nagano-kanazawa-shirakawago-kyoto possible to do in 1day?

    What pass do you recommend?

    I.Lim

  2. Barry Willis says:

    Hi Takeshi

    First I need to complement you on the amazing work you are doing to help us Tourists to complete our itineraries.

    I will be staying in Tokyo for 11 nights and will be looking to do day train trips around Japan using my 7 day JR Rail Pass from the 3 August 2017. One of my one day trips I have already worked out will be Tokyo to Hakodate Hokkaido and return by around midnight.
    The 2nd trip looks like Tokyo Kanazawa Nagano possibly the long option and then return to tokyo direct.

    My question is do you have any suggestions for use of the JR Pass doing day trips from Tokyo. I am aware of the holiday coming up later in August so I need to do my train trips prior to this. For me it’s all about the experience of different trains.

    Cheers

    Barry

  3. vivianchin says:

    Hi Takeshi san, i plan to visit japan on mid Dec 2017 and below the itinerary

    Day 20/12: Osaka
    Day 21/12: USJ. Stay Osaka
    Day 22/12: Kyoto. Stay Kyoto
    Day 23/12 Visit Hakodateyama or Biwako Valley Stay kyoto (optional)
    Day 24/12 Kyoto to Kanazawa Stay at Kanazawa.
    Day 25/12 Visit Kanazawa. Stay Kanazawa
    Day 26/12 Kanazawa to Toyama, Toyama to Takayamav Visit Takayama. Stay at Takayama.
    Day 27/12 Takayama to Shirakawa-go stay Shirakawa (might be 1 night stay there if i not travel to Hakodateyama or Biwako Valley)
    Day 28/12 Osaka to Kansai Airport

    Need ur advice cos and looking for cheaper kind of transpotation and what kind of pass shell i purchase.

    regards and thanks

  4. Rachel says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am planning to travel to Tokyo, 6-14 Oct. Below is my drafted itinerary.
    *6 Oct: Arrive Tokyo via midnight flight. Should I go Nagano or any place before going Toyama???
    *7 Oct: Take train to Toyama. Check in hotel. Short trip to Takaoka Great Buddha
    8 Oct: Stay Toyama. Day trip to Kurobe Gorge
    9 Oct: Check out Toyama, proceed and stay 1 night at Kanazawa. Take bus to Shirakawago.
    *10 Oct: Check out Kanazawa proceed to Gero Onsen or straight to Nagoya??
    11 Oct: Stay Nagoya. Go Nabana no Sato winter illumination.
    12 Oct: Stay Tokyo
    13 Oct: Stay Tokyo
    14 Oct: Night flight return

    On 6 Oct, I am plan to stay 1 night elsewhere before proceed Toyama on 7 Oct. Do you think it is ok to stay in Nagano?
    If stay Nagano, is it advisable to visit the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route on 7 Oct which will end at Toyama ?
    On 10 Oct, will it good to stay at Gero Onsen before proceed to Nagoya on 11 Oct?
    I think I should be able to get a JR Pass for this trip, right?

    • Hi Rachel,

      First of all, get JR pass 7 days for the first 7 days. That is your primary deal in this trip.

      You mentioned that you will arrive in Tokyo by midnight flight. Are you going to arrive in midnight or arrive in early morning on 6th. If you arrive in early morning, you can proceed to Nagano. But if you arrive in midnight, you cannot go anywhere other than Tokyo.

      Nagano is okay for the first place to stay. Especially if you intend to add Tateyama Kurobe alpine route, Nagnao is the best place to stay.

      If you really want to stay in Gero onsen, you can visit. But Gero Onsen is not located on the way to Nagoya. You will take Limited Express “Shirasagi”from Toyama to Nagoya (or to Maibara and take Shinkansen to Nagoya).
      https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/limited-express-shirasagi.html

      If you go to Gero onsen, you have to take another train from Nagoya or Gifu. So the choice is yours.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Rachel says:

        Hi Takeshi,

        Thanks for advice.
        I will arrive Tokyo on 6 oct, about 8.45am. I should be able explore Nagano abit on 1st day. Will i be able to squeeze in short trip to Karuizawa on 1st day too?
        Depends on my hubby, if he wish to visit Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route then we will proceed on 7 oct, otherwise will take Shinkansen to Toyama directly.

        I thought Gero Osen will be easy to reach…hmmm. Otherwise is there any osen which i can visit before going to Nagoya?

        Thanks.
        Rachel

  5. Kathryn says:

    Hi Takeshi-san
    Your expert advice please on which is the most effective pass which will be suitable for my schedule below –
    Day 1 – KIX to Osaka-ku – flight arriving at 2130hrs
    Day 2 – Osaka-ku to Shirakawago to Takayama (one night in Takayama)
    Day 3 – Takayama-Kanazawa-Osaka
    Day 4 – Osaka-Kyoto
    Day 5 – Kyoto-Nara
    Day 6 – Osaka-KIX (flight departing at 1630hrs)
    Many thanks.

  6. Yvonne says:

    Hi Takeshi san, I’m plan to go Tokyo on coming 04-12-17. I would like to go shirakawago by myself and my husband on 04-14-17 but I don’t know how to get there ? I plan for a day trip only. Could you please advise me. Thanks. Besides do we need to buy entrance ticket? Where to buy?

  7. Leona says:

    Hi Takeshi san,

    We are going to visit Japan next week.
    Then on the 4th day we are going to shirakawago.
    So it will be like this Tokyo-kanazawa-shirakawago-kanazawa.
    Is there bus from shirakawago to kanazawa if I start my trip from Kanazawa?

  8. sarah says:

    Hi Nancy

    We will be arriving Nagoya on a Fri 9.30am. The next morning would like to visit Shirakawa-go. With your expert experience, you think it’s realistic to travel to Takayama -> Shirakawa-go -> Kanazawa. Each stay one night, and back to Nagoya for one night before flying off early the next morning…

    Or should I cut down on one place on one of the night and stay in Nagoya for 2 nights.

    Thanks in advance

  9. Nancy says:

    hi Takeshi. i will go to japan on june with whole family. and really2 want to visit shirakawago. but the other group dont want to. so i only have one day trip there. is it possible to go from osaka then shirakawago then tokyo in one day? thank you

  10. Silvia says:

    hi Takeshi,

    i am going to Japan for 11 days,
    my route is going to be like this : osaka-kyoto-osaka-kanazawa-shirakawago-takayama-tokyo-gotemba-tokyo

    which pass is more suitable for me? or is it better to buy single pass?

    and is it possible to do kanazawa-shirakawago-takayama-tokyo in one day??

    thanks a lottt

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