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.
2010.01.07
 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
Hotels in Nagoya

Train formation

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

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NRRRR
12348910
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:

Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass user guide. Perfect deal to travel Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama, Shirakawago from Nagoya or Osaka
Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass is very popular and convenient to travel Kanazawa, Takayama and Shirakawago. This post explains you how to use this pass.
jprail.com
2015.05.31

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. Lee Seow Sung says:
    November 8, 2019 at 8:49 pm

    Hi,

    We plan to travel from Nagoya Station to Takayama on 4th December. Can we buy the Hida Wide View express tickets on the day itself? Or at least one day before?

  2. Debra Shambrook says:
    October 26, 2019 at 5:05 am

    Hello
    My partner and I will be travelling to Takayama 9 November from Toyama (using the Lttd Wide View Express). We will be using the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Ueno to get to Toyama.
    We have no passes so can we book in advance online before we come to Japan?
    Also, this may be a silly question, but are the stations for the two sets of train in the same building or are they separate stations?
    Many thanks
    Debra

  3. David U. says:
    October 21, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    Hi there, where can I find prices for travelling on the Hida Wide View Limited Express from Takayama to Toyama. I am travelling with my wife and two childen (6 and 11 yrs old) on November 14 and I’d like to know how much it will cost but I can’t find the prices…

    Arigato gozaimasu!

    David

  4. Vivian H says:
    October 17, 2019 at 12:25 am

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I will be going to Takayama from Tokyo in Nov 2019, and I’ve decided to get a JR Japan Pass.
    I want to ask, would the best method be to take the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Toyama in the morning, then take Wide View Hida train to Takayama?

    I also read that there are only 3 trains during the day for Wide View Hida train. I looked at the timetable and don’t understand how to book the times I want. Can I just book and reserve all the seats for the JR Hokuriku Shinkansen and Wide View Hida a day before I travel at Tokyo station JR counter directly?

    Additionally, can I book and reserve the ticekts using my JR Japan pass the day before but only activate my Japan Pass on the day I travel to Takayama?

    Thanks a lot!

    Regards,
    Vivian

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      October 17, 2019 at 6:19 am

      Hi Vivian san,

      You should not take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to get Toyama because Hokuriku Shinkansen is now closed by the damage of the typhoon. I think it will be open when you travel but the number of the trips will be much fewer than usual. You may take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Nagoya and then take the limited express Wide View Hida from Nagoya to Takayama. This route does not have any issues.

      You cannot book a seat before you come to Japan. Please try to book all trains’ seats when you exchange your pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Vivian says:
        October 24, 2019 at 9:32 pm

        Hi Takeshi san,

        Thank you for your reply. Since we do not know when the Hokuriku Shinkansen will be fixed, would the best idea is to ask the staff as the Tokyo Station at the time of booking?

        But let’s say the Hokuriku Shinkansen is fixed by Nov. Do you still suggest we take Hokuriku Shinkasen to Nagoya then take the limited express Wide View Hida from Nagoya to Takayama because there is more frequent trains from Nagoya to Takayama? We just want to know what is the fastest way that we can get to Takayama.

        Additionally, another question related to Hokuriku Shinkansen…if the station is still closed in Nov, is there no other faster way to travel from Kanazawa back to Tokyo/Ikebukuro?

        Many thanks!

        • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
          October 24, 2019 at 9:46 pm

          Hi Vivian,

          The Hokuriku Shinkansen has just been opened today (on October 25th in Japan). The number of trips is 90% of the orginal timetable. So it is no problem to travel to Kanazawa and Toyama from Tokyo now. You can take either way, Tokyo-Nagoya-Takayama or Tokyo-Toyama-Takayama now. Of course you can go back to Tokyo from Kanazawa by the Hokuriku Shinkansen now.

          Cheers,

          Takeshi / JPRail.com

          • Vivian says:
            October 25, 2019 at 12:59 am

            Hi Takeshi san,

            Great news! And thanks for the update! Sorry I forgot to ask in the above, for the limited express Wide View Hida train that I’ll take from Toyama to Takyama, which side is the best view and forward moving?

            Thanks in advance!

  5. Gi says:
    October 12, 2019 at 6:26 pm

    Hi,

    I will go to Takayama from Nagoya on November 18. If I only plan a round trip and not go to other stations, is the pass still necessary for me or can i purchase the tickets and seat reservation from the station without the pass? Also, is it ok to book on the day of the trip? Thank You!

  6. Marina says:
    October 9, 2019 at 9:18 am

    Hello! I will be travelling at January 8th 2020 from Shin-Osaka to Nagoya on SHINKANSEN HIKARI 506. And then from Nagoya to Takayama on LTD. EXP. (WIDE VIEW) HIDA 1. I have JR PASS. Do I need to buy the tickets before? Is there a preferred side of the LTD. EXP. (WIDE VIEW) HIDA 1 to sit on (left or right) to see the best views? Arigatou gozaimasu!!

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      October 9, 2019 at 12:46 pm

      Hi Marina,

      You don’t need to buy a ticket because JR pass covers these trains. But you should reserve a seat because JR pass covers reserved seat fee. You can do it at any major JR stations.

      Right side is better. But this train change the directions at Gifu. When you book a seat, make sure you will get the right side between Gifu and Takayama. You can tell the staff that you want the seat at right side from Gifu to Takayama.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Charlotte says:
    October 6, 2019 at 8:00 pm

    We’ll be travelling from Nagoya airport to Takayama early November, and would probably take the Meitetsu Airport Train to Nagoya then the Limited Express Wide View Hida train to Takayama. Would you recommend we buy the tickets on the spot at the train stations or in advance before our trip?

  8. Nurul Izzah says:
    October 3, 2019 at 7:51 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I will be going to Takayama from Nagoya on Feb 2020.
    4 Adults & 1 Children (4 years old).
    I will stay at Osaka & as per Google Maps, the train that i can take directly from Osaka to Takayama Station but i choose to take from Nagoya due to budget planning.
    So my question is :
    1) Is there available ticket if i buy on the spot (the day i will going).
    2) JR price from Osaka per person (for non-reserved seat)
    3) JR price from Nagoya per person (for non-reserved seat)
    Thanks
    Izzah

  9. Joanna says:
    October 2, 2019 at 12:24 am

    Hi Takeshi san,

    I will be using takayama hokuriku pass during my travel to japan on november. And I just want to know is there any direct train from takayama to kyoto? I would need to leave early from takayama to kyoto on 17th november. Or should I just take the nohi bus back to kanazawa and from there take train to kyoto?

  10. Margaret Mazzolini says:
    September 30, 2019 at 6:58 pm

    Hi Takeshi-San,
    Thank you for this valuable information.
    We are a couple in our mid 60s who plan to train from Takayama to Kyoto in mid November. The 15:38 – 19:17 LTD Exp Wide View Hida 36 via Gifu looked the most convenient option, as it will allow us to do more in Takayama and also it’s the only option where we would not have to change trains quickly.
    However I’m not sure if it’s the most scenic option, as compared to the Hida 16 train where you do a transfer at Nagoya?
    Also, the sun will set about half way on the trip to Gifu from Takayama. Is the most scenic part of that trip in the early stages, or will we miss too much travelling this late in the afternoon?
    Thanks in advance for any advice on these options,
    Margaret

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      September 30, 2019 at 10:32 pm

      Hi Margaret san,

      You may take one earlier train, Hida 14 (Takayama 14:40 – Nagoya 17:04) if you want to see whole scenery of Takayama line. Because Kiso river gorge is located between Gifu and Mino-Ota. If you take Hida 16/36, the train run around 17:20. It’s a bit late to see this scenery. You mention Hida 16. But this is same train as Hida 36. You have to take Hida 14 if you want to see Kiso river gorge.

      But there are lots of nice scenery before reaching Mino-Ota. If you want to get Kyoto directly, Hida 36 is okay. If I were you, I take Hida 14 and change trains at Nagoya.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

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