The limited express Shirasagi timetable and train information. The direct train to Kanazawa from Nagoya.

Kanazawa, Toyama, Wakura-Onsen, Fukui
683 series is the primary fleet for limited express train in Hokuriku region, such as Thunderbird and Shirasagi.
2011.10.11
Limited Express Shirasagi connects Nagoya, Maibara and Kanazawa.

Shirasagi runs between Nagoya, Maibara and Kanazawa. This train is the fastest transfer from Nagoya and Maibara to Hokuriku region, such as Kanazawa and Fukui. This train is very popular for both a business and a leisure travelers. Because there are several popular locations along the route, such as Awara-Onsen hot springs, Kaga-Onsen hot spring. And Kanazawa is the biggest city in Hokuriku area and it is very popular tourist destination as well.

This train, Shirasagi is fully covered by JR Pass. And if you use Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass or Hokuriku Arch Pass, only the segment between Kanazawa and Tsuruga are covered. If you use Takayama Hokuriku area pass, the segment between Tsuruga and Gifu is not covered.

I will explain about this train in this post.

Route and timetable

Shirasagi runs between Nagoya, Maibara and Kanazawa. It runs mostly one trip an hour. Half of trips depart from Nagoya and the rest of trips depart from Maibara. Please see the operation map below:

Limited Express Shirasagi operation route map (Click to view large)

Shirasagi connects the Tokaido Shinkansen Hikari at Maibara in 10 to 15 minutes. You may feel that the connection time for 10 to 15 minutes is too short. But this is on purpose. You can change trains at Maibara.

As I mentioned above, this train is used mostly to access to Hokuriku region from Nagoya and Maibara. If you access to Kanazawa from Kyoto or Osaka, the limited Express Thunderbird is the right choice. You can take Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Maibara, and then transfer this train, Shirasagi at Maibara. But this route is slower and more inconvenient than taking Limited Express Thunderbird. Thunderbird takes you Kanazawa directly from Osaka or Kyoto.

You can find the timetable of the limited express Shirasagi in the link below:

Due to COVID-19, it may be operated on a schedule different from the normal timetable. Check the train schedule on Hyperdia.
Hyperdia perfect guide, train timetable and route search engine

Find your hotels in 400 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Nagoya (from US$38)
Hotels and Ryokans in Kanazawa (from US$56)
Hotels in Toyama

Accommodation

Shirasagi is serviced by 683 series. This train is the standard fleet for the express train on Hokuriku line. The other express trains on Hokuriku line, such as Thunderbird and Hakutaka, are operated by same type of fleet.

The seat pitch in Green seat is 1160 mm. It is the standard of most JR trains. The seat configuration is 2+1. It has spacious and nice holding. It is quite good seat. The seat pitch in Ordinary seat is 970mm. It is a bit bigger than the standard. The front row seats have a big table and a power outlet. If you want to use your laptop or charge your batteries, try to secure these seats.

*Sonic Rail Garden has copyright for all images of accommodations below.

Train formation

123456
GRRRNRNR

*G=Green seat R=Reserved seat NR=Non reserved seat
Smoking is not allowed on these trains.

Images

Green seat

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

Comments

  1. Peter says:
    February 29, 2020 at 6:34 am

    Do you know which letter seat looks out to lake Biwa?

    Also do you know which letter seat is the single seat in the Green car?

    I tried to look at the photos to see, but couldn’t.

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      February 29, 2020 at 6:53 am

      Hi Peter,

      Take seat A to look Lake Biwa.
      But the seat layout is A,b (aisle) C. Single seat is at the other side.

      By the way, you asked me to buy Amanohashidate Ine Pass before. I went to Amanohashidate in mid February and I changed the trains at Fukuchiyama in 7 minutes.

      Kyoto 7:32 (Ltd Exp Kinosaki 1) 8:47 Fukuchiyama 8:54 (Tango Relay 1) 9:30 Amanohashidate

      I did not have any tickets to take Kyoto Tango Railway. I had to buy a base fare ticket and a limited express ticket for taking Tango Relay by Tango no Umi train set.

      I could change trains and purchased a ticket in 7 minutes. It was a bit tight and I could make it. Just for your info.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Peter says:
        March 1, 2020 at 7:42 pm

        Thanks very much for the replies here and elsewhere.

        I will take the same train 0732 train out of Kyoto to Amanohashidate in late April as you did.

        But need to buy the Amanohashidate day pass (includes Amanohashidate Ferry and Ine boat) before boarding the Tango. It will be tight…

        Also doing shin-Hodaka as you did this last trip, but driving instead of bus.

        Thanks again.

  2. Dianne says:
    December 17, 2019 at 8:09 am

    Hi Takeshi-san

    We will be arriving at Nagoya airport at 7.30 am on 29/01/20, and would like to travel to Kanazawa.

    1) Will we have enough time to take 11.48 am shirasagi train from Nagoya station?
    2) Can I buy the reserved seat ticket online? Because I am concerned that there may be no more tickets left for the 11.48am train by the time I get to Nagoya Station, also we can sit together

  3. LNE says:
    April 2, 2019 at 10:29 pm

    Is it possible to top up my current non-reserved to reserved seat booking, if my payment option is “Pay at the Station?” Does Shirasagi train tickets guarantee ticket holders seat on the train given 3-hour trip between Nagoya and Kanazawa, regardless if unreserved and on first-come-first served basis (i.e., NO overbooking of tickets versus available seats)? Are train seats, per train capacity, then available and just a matter of locating these? May I seek guidance on how to best secure seats on non-reserved ticket booking especially during peak season (e.g., Golden Week)? Thank you in advance for the advice.

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      April 2, 2019 at 10:54 pm

      Hi LNE,

      In peak season, you may have to stand up in non reserved car. Because non reserved seat ticket is available any trains on the designated segment.

      e.g.
      If you have a non reserved seat ticket for Shirasagi from Nagoya to Kanazawa on April 28, you can take any Shirasagi from Nagoya to Kanazawa on April 28.

      So the ticket is sold without limit. That is why you may have to stand up. Please see the link below about the tips to get a seat in non reserved seat car.
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/reserved-seat-vs-non-reserved-seat-how-to-get-a-seat-on-non-reserved-car.html

      If you want to change from non reserved to reserved, you must do it at the reservation window. You cannot do it after boarding the train. So you cannot do it after you check the availability in non reserved car. If you have non reserved seat ticket and want to change reserved seat, you must go to the ticket window and return to non reserved seat ticket. You will get a refund but you have to pay the handling charge. And then you have to buy a reserved seat ticket.

      If you want to secure your seat during the busy period, you must book it right away.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • LNE says:
        April 4, 2019 at 3:37 am

        Thank you for the very prompt feedback, Takeshi-san. Is such a case where I have earlier booked NON-reserved Shirasagi tickets with “Pay at the Station” option, can I just cancel it whilst booking for the same Shirasagi train but with RESERVED seats to ensure seat availability during the Golden Week? How can I cancel my NON-reserved tickets, without any fees, given that I have NOT paid nor received the NON-reserved tickets?

        I look forward to your timely response. Cheers!

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          April 4, 2019 at 6:29 am

          Hi LNE san,

          You can change from non reserved seat ticket to reserved seat ticket at the window without any fees. You just have to pay the difference between reserved seat fee and non reserved seat fee.

          Regarding seat availability, reserved seat could be booked out at the time of departure in Golden week. It’s hard to say how much chance you will have.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. May Loo says:
    February 8, 2019 at 12:25 am

    Hi Takeshi

    I will arrive at Nagoya Airport at 9 am on 5 April 2019 and would like to travel to Kanazawa.

    From what I can see, there is a shirasagi train leaving Nagoya Station at 11.48 am to go to Kanazawa.

    Will I have enough time to get to Nagoya Station by 11.48am from Nagoya Airport? Also, will I be able to buy the Shirasagi train ticket from Nagoya Airport? I am concerned that there may be no more tickets left for the 11.48am train by the time I get to Nagoya Station. The next train is 13.48pm and we would prefer not to have to wait around in Nagoya Station for 2 hours. Thanks.

  5. Leo says:
    May 20, 2018 at 8:28 am

    Hi there,
    Am planning to go to Takayama from Nagoya in the morning of 28 May n back Nagoya from Kanazawa on 30 May.
    Q1: Can I purchase both tickets online in advance?
    Q2: Which link should I do the ticket purchading?
    Q3: How long does it takes for these 2 trip?

    Thanks in advance as this is my first time in Nagoya.

  6. Lena says:
    March 18, 2018 at 4:22 am

    Good evening, I will travelling to Nagoya from Kanazawa on May. As long as I understood, the route will be asf : from Kanazawa by Shirasagi, transfer to Maibara (track #7) followed by Shinkansen Hikari (track # 12) to Nagoya..is it right ? Will stop for Nabana no sato at Nagoya before continue to Osaka..From Nagoya to Osaka by JR Tokaido Shinkansen, right ? Pls advise the platform..How long from Nagoya to Osaka ? This is my first trip using this route to Osaka..So, I want to make everything clear before the trip begin..looking forward to your advise..thank you.

  7. JOSEPH says:
    December 7, 2017 at 12:20 pm

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Me and my family will be visiting japan for the 1st time. 5 adults and 1 child. We will be arriving at Nagoya station on the 14th and is planning to go to kanazawa on the 15th. Can you please tell me what JR line we need to ride from nagoya to kanazawa? We have a JR pass. Thanks!

  8. Jae says:
    September 27, 2017 at 1:27 am

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    My family and I will be traveling from Kanazawa to Nagoya in February 2018. I have checked Hyperdia and it showed that I need to do transfer in Maibara Station. However, there is no information about which track we will be arriving and departing. We need to transfer from LTD. EXP SHIRASAGI to SHINKANSEN HIKARI and only have 13 mins. I am a little worried whether we have enough time to move from one track to another because we have 8 people and with baggage.
    Please advice.

    Regards,
    Jae

  9. Jessie says:
    April 15, 2017 at 6:47 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    Is it possible for me to go Kanazawa directly from Nagoya station using Takayama Hokuriku JR pass?
    Can I also take unlimited bus ride using Kaetsuno or Nohi Bus to Shirakawa-go /Gokoyama from Kanazawa?
    Or I still need to pay everytime I hop in the bus?

    Regards,
    Jessie

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      April 15, 2017 at 6:58 am

      Hi Jessie,

      Unfortunately you cannot get Kanazawa directly by Takayama Hokuriku area pass. You need to take Nagoya-Takayama-Toyama-Kanazawa route.
      You can take Nohi bus and Kaetsuno bus as many as you want.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Ong Mei Ling says:
        September 1, 2018 at 7:30 am

        Hi

        Is it possible to top up (pay additional) to go Kanazawa directly from Nagoya station using Takayama Hokuriku JR pass?

        • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
          September 1, 2018 at 8:21 am

          Hi Ong,

          You have to pay for Gifu to Tsuruga which is outside coverage area. If you take Limited Express Shirasagi for Nagoya to Kanazawa, Takayama Hokuriku area pass covers Nagoya to Gifu and Tsuruga to Kanazawa. You have to pay about 3500 yen which is a base fare and limited express reserved seat fee.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Mouna says:
    March 29, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    Good evening,
    This summer I’m going to Japan. I’m going to land in Nagoya on July 26 and I have to go to Kanazawa station on the morning of July 30th. My questions is:
    – How do I go from Nagoya to Kanazawa without using the JR PASS?
    – Can I take a train or a bus without the JR PASS?
    – Do I have to buy tickets on site or can I book them online?

123
Copied title and URL