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. Davin Lau says:
    March 27, 2017 at 7:01 pm

    Hi,takeshi
    I would like to go shirakawago from Kyoto, so I must pass by Kanazawa first, right?
    And after tat, I wanna going back to Nagoya, any recommend?
    Tq for reply

  2. Crystal says:
    February 23, 2017 at 3:01 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am flying to Nagoya, then straight to Kanazawa. I found jrpass online, but the minimum is for 7 days, this is expensive if I’m only traveling to Kanazawa.

    Can you advise if I can get any single/2-way tickets from Nagoya-Kanazawa please?

    Thank you.

  3. Mon says:
    November 16, 2016 at 7:48 am

    Hi Takeshi,
    I would like to ask if I can make on-line reservation for the tickets of JR shirasagi limited express from Nagoya to Kanazawa. I’ll travel on Dec 29. It is peak seasons in Japan at the year end.

    Cheers

  4. Samantha Lee says:
    March 14, 2016 at 7:42 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I need your advice. We are travelling in group of 6 end Mar to Nagoya. Should we be driving to Kanazawa from Nagoya or ride on a train instead? What is the cost of a single fare?

    We will be spending a night at Kanazawa. The following days will be going to Shirakawago–>Takayama–>Gero–>Mino–>Nagoya

    Thank you.

  5. Susan Tsan says:
    February 6, 2016 at 7:28 am

    Hi Takeshi-San

    We are arriving Nagoya at 840am Thursday morning. We plan to stay Thursday and Friday night in Kanazawa and sat and Sunday night in Takayama. We plan to travel from Takayama to Tokyo on Monday. Please let me know which pass should I get.

  6. Kathryn says:
    February 3, 2016 at 4:14 am

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I need your advice. My travel time table is stated as below. What is the best pass that I should buy? I would like to save money and travel in a convenient way as my old mom is following me during this Feb. Thanks.

    1. 1st day- Chebu International Airport to Nagoya Station
    2. 2nd day-Takayama to Ainokura,Nanto.
    3. 4th day-Ainokura to Kanazawa
    4. 5th day-Kanazawa to Nagoya and internal travel within Nagoya
    5. 6th day-Premium Outlet in Nagoya
    6. 7th day-Nagoya station to Chebu International Airport

  7. Alice says:
    December 28, 2015 at 12:35 pm

    Hi Takeshi!

    Please let me know if this itinerary is ok and if I should buy the rail pass for this.

    Day 1: arrive in Tokyo (will take the Narita Express)
    Day 2: Tokyo
    Day 3: Tokyo to Nagoya (stay in Nagoya)
    Day 4: Kyoto trip (but stay in Nagoya)
    Day 5: Nagoya to Kanazawa (stay in Kanazawa)
    Day 6: Kanazawa to Tokyo
    Day 7: Fuji-Yoshida trip (but stay in Tokyo)

    I have already been to Japan twice, this time is more to visit friends that it why I am not staying to long in each location.

    Thank you very much!

  8. Yvonne says:
    December 15, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    Hi, Takeshi,

    We plan from Nagoya to Kanazawa, our flight arrival Nagoya
    airport at 6:10pm, is any train we can immediate connect to Kanazawa? or we need overnight at Nagoya and take next
    day train? Also how much the round trip ticket from Nagoya to
    Kanazawa?

    Thanks and regards. Yvonne

  9. Greg/Ivy says:
    November 1, 2015 at 3:15 am

    Hello Takeshi,
    We have almost completed arrangements for our trip to Nagoya, onward to Kanazawa,, thence to Yamakyu/Takayama to Yunoshimakan (Gero) and back to Nagoya on 10th Dec.

    5th December to Kanazawa (shortest way.)stayover
    7th December to Yamakyu/Takayama. stayover
    9th December to Yunoshimakan(Gero).stayover
    10th December to Nagoya. stayover
    12th December to Tokyo.

    Should we purchase rail passes or buy individual tickets at each stop?

    Thanks and regards Greg

  10. tina says:
    October 26, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    Hi Takeshi, i hv planned a trip in Nagoya area for 5 nights in the end of November. Wt route would you recommend if I would like to visit some nice hot spring (such as Gero) and possibly going to Takayama and Kanazawa? Is it too packed? Thanks a lot.

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