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.
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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

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*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. Bert Choi says:
    September 23, 2015 at 12:02 am

    I plan to arrive in Nagoya via plane in November 2015 and wish to travel to Kanazawa. Am I able to buy upon arrival, the Limited Express Shirasagi train ticket from Nagoya to Kanazawa? Or is it possible to make advance bookings from overseas for these tickets. Thanks

  2. Airin says:
    May 8, 2015 at 1:55 am

    Hi
    We arrive at Nagoya in late October 2015 and plan to spend about 8 days visiting Nagoya City/ Shirakawago Village/Takayama/ Kanazawa.
    Visits will include all sites in Nagoya/ Shirakawago/ Kiso Valley/ Ogimachi/ Gero Onsen etc
    Not sure if 8 days is enough?
    Please advise how to plan the trip taking trains n bus between these places?

    Thank you so much.

    siew leng

  3. Richard Chin says:
    February 7, 2015 at 1:49 pm

    I am arriving Nagoya on 30th June 2015 . I intend to go to Kanazawa on 3rd July and back to Nagoya on 7th July. What train should I catch and what ticket to buy for direct journey.
    Thank you

    Richard Chin

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      February 7, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      Hi Richard,

      You can take this train, Shirasagi. Unfortunately there is no deals to get Kanazawa from Nagoya. Single ticket is your choice. You can purchase it at any JR stations around Nagoya.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

    • Richard Chin says:
      February 14, 2015 at 2:36 pm

      Thank you Takeshi…Do I need to buy earlier or only buy it when I am in Nagoya?
      Also where can I buy the ticket ..on line or at the station.
      I am arriving Nagoya on 30th June 2012 and intend to travel Kanazawa on 3rd July and back Nagoya on 7th July 2015

      Richard Chin

      • Takeshi / JPRail says:
        February 14, 2015 at 4:23 pm

        Hi Richard,

        Online booking is not available anyway. But you can book and purchase in advance for both Nagoya to Kanazawa and Kanazawa to Nagoya. I recommend you to book and purchase after you arrive in Japan.
        You can buy it at reservation window in Nagoya station. You also can buy it other JR stations around Nagoya too.

        Cheers,

        Takeshi / JP Rail

  4. sindy says:
    January 1, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    i will travel japan central in feb. i will arrive at airport at 1700 hrs on 3 feb. may i know how can i get train to kanazawa. thanks

  5. Casey says:
    September 28, 2014 at 2:51 am

    Dear Takeshi,
    I search JR web site but cannot find how to buy the 8 days Tateyame Kurobe Alpine Ticket issued by JR.
    I will be arriving at Nagoya on 12 October. My plan is to travel from Nagoya to Masutmoto to Shinano Omachi then Alpine route to Toyama to Takayama then back to Nagoya.

    Would to know whether I can buy the 8 days Tateyame Kurobe Alpine Ticket at the Nagoya JR station when I arrive on 12 Oct or must I pre book via JR online booking?

    Appreciate your help.

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      September 28, 2014 at 8:41 am

      Hi Casey,

      Unfortunately English info is not available of this pass. But it’s on sale and you can purchase it at Nagoya station. This ticket will be on sale until Nov 23.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  6. Eng Boon See says:
    August 24, 2014 at 9:30 am

    I would like to buy train ticket from Nagoya to kanezawa for my october trip, on which website should i book the ticket? i did check the ekikara website. But it looked different from what o want.

    Thank you.

    Eng

  7. Michelle says:
    March 31, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    I am planning a trip to visit Kanazawa, Toyama and Tateyama Kurobe alpine route from Nagoya. Appreciate if you could advise whether I should purchase a JR pass, and if so, what type. I also read about the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route Ticket pass issued by JR Central, but I couldn’t find any information from the JR Central website. I’m wondering if you (or anyone) have any information. Thank you very much.

    • Takeshi / JPRail says:
      April 1, 2014 at 12:04 am

      Hi Michelle,

      JR Pass is too much for your trip.
      As you mentioned, JR Central sold Tateyama Kurobe Alpine route ticket. But it’s not available at this moment.
      http://english.jr-central.co.jp/tickets/value/index.html

      In Japan, train fares have just adjusted on April 1 because consumer tax was raised to 8% from 5%. This special ticket may be available again soon. So sick around JR central website.

      So far, only single ticket is your choice. It’s cheaper than JR Pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  8. Jason says:
    January 27, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    Hi Takeshi-San,

    I am going to Nagano from Fukui. So if i take a train from Fukui and go all the way to Itoigawa and then change train at Itoigawa to go to Nagano, is this the recommended way ?

    Or is there another less time consuming way to get to Nagano by fast train ?

    Thank you.

  9. Cara says:
    May 24, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    I plan to buy the rail pass of Tateyama Kurobe Apline route ticket (the type is: Departure from Osaka City – Round-trip on the Hokuriku Line, valid 8 days). The travel route sequence is planned as below:

    Osaka –> Toyama (stay) –> Tateyama –> whole Tateyama Kurobe Apline route (stay) –> Tateyama station –>Toyama station (NOT stay) (Point X) –> Kanazawa (stay) (Point Y) –> Osaka (Point Z).

    My question is:
    Can I use this ticket from Point X to Point Y, and continue use it from Point Y to Point Z?

    if not,
    can I pay myself for route from Point X to Point Y, then use this ticket (at Point Y) from Point Y to Point Z?

    Thank you very much,

    Cara

    • JPRail says:
      May 24, 2013 at 9:34 pm

      Hi Cara,

      If you purchase basic fare ticket from Toyama to Osaka, you can stopover at Kanazawa and validity is 3 days. You cannot stay in Kanazawa for more than 2 nights.
      And also, if you take limited express trains, you have to pay limited express surcharge one by one. It cannot allow any stopover.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  10. JAyre says:
    October 14, 2011 at 4:47 pm

    Hi readers,

    This train came very much in handy when I was in Japan at the start of the year. It was January 28, 2011. I started my day in the city of Matsumoto, and we were trying to get to Takayama by heading north to Toyama. We started with a lovely trip on Azusa 3 to Minami-Otari, followed by a local train to Otoigawa. It was an amazing trip through the snow (which I recommend more people try it out).

    I changed to the Hakutaka service through to Toyama, only to find that there were no Ltd Exp Hida services that day, because of heavy snow on the Takayama line (Just past Inotani Station). Initially, the local trains were apparently running, but we only made it as far as Nishi-Toyama before we were put on a bus back to Toyama station. So, with all the highway buses gone for the day, the staff at JR Toyama were very helpful, and were able to get us tickets on Shirasagi to Gifu, where we could change to a Hida service to get to Takayama (quite late, I might add).

    So for all those heading to Takayama from Toyama in winter, there are at least other options, but remember, in the Hokuriku region it snows an awful lot in winter, but the station staff are always there to help you out!

    Best regards,

    Jonathan Ayre

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