The limited express Wide View Hida timetable and the train information. The train access to Takayama and Hida

Limited Express
This train has the huge window. You can enjoy a view at the front row.
 Wide View Hida runs between Osaka and Takayama by this 3 cars train set.

Wide View Hida is the limited express train which connects Nagoya, Takayama and Toyama. This train equips very huge windows. It offers very scenic view through this panoramic window along the route. That is why this train is called “Wide View”.

This train is a primary way to get Takayama. This has been very popular for the tourists from overseas in these days. This train is fully covered by JR Pass. Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass covers between Nagoya, Takayama and Toyama. I will explain about this train in this post.

Timetable and Route

Wide View Hida runs once an hour between Nagoya and Takayama. A few trips are extended to operate to Hida-Furukawa and Toyama. It takes 2.5 hours to get Takayama from Nagoya and 4 hours to get Toyama from Nagoya.

And also one round trip runs between Osaka and Takayama. If you take this Osaka departure Wide View Hida, you can get Takayama directly from Osaka, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto.

You can find the timetable 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

This train departing from Osaka is coupled with the train from Nagoya at Gifu.

Please find the train operation route in the map below:

 The limited express Wide View Hida operation route map (click to view large)

Accommodation

You can find the interior of this train and the scenery from this train in my YouTube movie below. Please watch to find more information:

Wide View Hida is serviced by KIHA-85 series. This train has huge glass windows which give you the spectacular scenery along Takayama line. “Wide View” is a worthy of the name.

This series has two types of Green car that are 2+2 seat configuration and 2+1 seat configuration. 2+1 seat configuration is wider and has a bigger leg space. The leg space is 1,160mm on 2+2 seat configuration and 1,250mm on 2+1 seat configuration. 1,160mm is the standard. So 2+1 seat gives you a great deal! If you want to take this seat, try to reserved a seat on car#10. 2+2 Green car is always at the middle of the train. 2+1 is always at the front of the formation. And also Ordinary class is good too. The leg space is 1,000mm. This is bigger than the other train’s ordinary seat.

When you take this train at Nagoya, the seat is set with the back toward. Because this train change the direction at Gifu. It takes only 20 minutes from Nagoya to Gifu. You can change to the front toward if you want by yourself.

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

Find your hotels in 500 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Takayama
Hotels and Ryokans in Shirakawago
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Train formation

There are many train formations. Some Wide View Hida do not have Green car.

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NRRRR
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NRRRRRNRG

Car#1-4 operate from Nagoya to Takayama. And Car#8-10 operate from Nagoya to Toyama

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NRRRRNRG

Car#1-3 operate from Nagoya to Takayama/Hida-furukawa, Car#8-10 operate from Nagoya to Toyama

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NRR / GRR

In car #2, there are ordinary reserved seats and Green seats.

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NRRRNRR / GRR

This formation is used for Osaka departure and Nagoya departure combination. Car #1 to #3 run to/from Osaka and the rest of cars run to/from Nagoya. These two train sets are coupled / uncoupled at Gifu station and run together between Gifu and Takayama. In car #6, there are ordinary reserved seats and Green seats.

Images

Green seat 2+2 configuration

Green seat 2+1 configuration

Ordinary seat

Sanitary space

Suggested deal

JR Pass covers this train. But if you visit Takayama, Shirakawago, Toyama and/or Kanazawa from Nagoya, Osaka or Kyoto, Takayama Hokuriku Area Touirst Pass is recommended. Please find more informaiton in the link below:

Coverage of other deals

As I mentioned above, JR Pass covers the limited express Wide View Hida fully. This is only deal to cover this train fully.

Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass covers between Nagoya, Gifu, Gero, Takayama, Hida-Furukawa and Toyama. This pass does not cover between Kyoto and Gifu.

Hokuriku Arch Pass, Kansai Hokuriku Area Pass and Hokuriku Area Pass covers between Toyama and Inotani only. You cannot get Takayama by these passes.

Comments

  1. Sharon says:

    Hello Takeshi –

    First of, many thanks for this great site full of such helpful information! We have a 14-day JR pass and will be traveling from Kanazawa to Hida Furukawa. We’d like to keep our departure somewhat flexible. I’ve made a note of the times/travel length via Hyperdia, as I know some trips on that route are much longer than others. As for the Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Toyama, I know that will have unreserved cars, so we can just jump on w/o a ticket/seat reservation. However, I don’t know about the Ltd. Express Wide View Hida from Toyama to Hida Furukawa – do those trains also have unreserved cars please? I know that’s a popular route (on to Takayama), but we’ll be traveling on a Wednesday in mid-November, so I’m hopeful the train won’t be fully booked and that we can keep our flexible plans by hopping into an unreserved car. Your thoughts would be most appreciated, please. Many, many thanks.

    • Hi Sharon,

      Wide View Hida has non reserved car between Hida-Furukawa and Toyama as well. In my experience, it’s not hard to get a seat in non reserved car. But there are only 4 trips running on this segment. This train on this segment does not offer much flexibility. There is a link to the timetable in the post above. It’s valid until mid October. But the timetable will not be much different in November. You may see this timetable.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. kiboko says:

    Dear Takeshi-San,

    is Limited Express Wide View Hida is covered by JR Kansai Area Pass? We’re planning to take this train from Kyoto to Osaka,

    Thanks

  3. Estella Koh says:

    Hello Takeshi-san,

    On early November, my family and I are planning to travel from Takayama to our next destination, Kawaguchiko. With 14-days JR pass, my plan was to travel from Takayama to Nagoya via Hida Limited Express, followed by Nagoya to Mishima on Shinkansen Kodama and finally Mishima to Kawaguchiko on a Highway Bus.

    Do you think this route from Takayama to Kawaguchiko is recommended? Could you give me a rough estimation of this journey?

    Thank you so much!

    • Hi Estella san,

      If you want to maximize using JR pass, that route is recommended. The train trip from Takayama to Mishima via Nagoya is covered by JR pass. You have to pay for the bus from Mishima to Kawaguchiko.
      http://bus-en.fujikyu.co.jp/highway/detail/id/29

      The trip time is around 6 hours.

      There is actually direct bus from Takayama to Kawaguchiko. It’s faster but it’s not covered by JR pass at all. If you are okay to pay a bit more, you can get Kawaguchiko directly:
      https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/highwaybus/fujisan_en/

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Estella Koh says:

        Thank you so much for the reply, Takeshi-san!
        Do you have any idea what time is the earliest Hida Limited Express train on 4th Nov? I’m hoping that with this information, I will be able to plan my trip better.

        Thank you once again. 🙂

        • Hi Estella san,

          I haven’t got the timetable in November. But I expect that the timetable will not be different from current one so much. Please find the link to the timetable in the post above.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. SS says:

    Hi. I will be travelling to Nagoya this coming December with my husband and two kids. We plan to take a side trip to Takayama for 2 nights stay. I am thinking to take the Hida Wide Limited Express train to Takayama since it’s the fastest way. My questions are

    1) Do I need to buy the tickets beforehand or can I buy on the spot? If I need to reserve the tickets earlier, can I have the link to the website?
    2) As we are traveling as a family with 2 kids, we will be carrying a few luggages. Will there be enough space in the Hida train to store the luggages?

  5. Jose Luis Peláez says:

    We want to go to Takayama from Kyoto, what options we have?
    Is it necessary reserve seats?
    We have big suitcases in this route, has Hida places to our baggage?

    Thanks!

  6. Christopher Hill says:

    Hello – what is the best way to get from Yokohama to Takayama and then return to Tokyo?
    And can I buy tickets for this online?
    Thanks!

  7. Andy says:

    Can I use Kansai Wide area pass to cover from Osaka to Maibara? Thanks.

  8. Jacqueline says:

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    We will be travelling to Matsumoto from 3 Oct to 8 Oct. We are thinking to stay 1 night in Takayama before heading to Matsumoto. So the plan will be Narita airport-Takayama (1night)-Matsumoto-Narita airport. Need your advice as which JR pass to purchase. Between Takayama to Matsumoto, take the Nohi bus or train? Thanks.

  9. Alla says:

    Is there a way to travel from Shingu to Takayama via JR travel pass? We are doing Kumano Kodo trail and want to travel from Shingu to Takayama using our pass.

  10. steven lee says:

    Hi there,
    Thinking of going from Takayama to Osaka and thinking of using the Hida#16 and Hida#36 once a day train so that there is no need to transfer at Gifu. I know this trip is cover by JR Pass but like to ask if it is cover by the ‘Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass’?

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