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. Julia says:
    January 8, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    Dear Takeshi-San
    My travel dates and destinations are as follows:
    13 April Nagoya to Takayama
    15 April Takayama to Nagoya
    19 April Matsumoto to Nagano
    21 April Nagano to Takayama
    22 April Takayama to Nagoya
    My queries as follows:
    1. What is the best way to travel?
    2. How to book the tickets online?
    3. Do I need to reserve seat in advance, and if so, how to do it?
    4. Which seat is preferred for best view of the beautiful scenery?

    Thank you very much for your advice.

    Regards
    Julia

  2. Jake says:
    January 1, 2020 at 10:56 am

    Hi Takeshi San,

    I am traveling alone to Nagoya on 13 February
    This is my rough plan
    13 Feb Nagoya
    14 Feb Gero
    15 Feb Takayama
    16 Feb Shirakawaga (for night light)
    17 Feb Kanzawa
    18 Feb Nagoya

    Which pass should is purchase?
    Please advice me
    Thank you!

  3. Surawat says:
    December 26, 2019 at 2:45 am

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    Here is my plan to visit Japan on Jan 2020, and I am trouble to manage for transportation. So could you please advice the best transportation plan?
    Jan 11 Nagoya to Takayama
    Jan 12 Takayama – Shirakawago – Takayama
    Jan 13 Takayama – Shinhotaka Ropeway -Takayama
    Jan 14 Takayama – Osaka

    And may I ask that do we have direct JR train from Takayama to Osaka? Or I need to take JR from Takayama to Nagoya to Osaka

    Thank you for your advice,
    Surawat

  4. Wila says:
    December 17, 2019 at 12:04 am

    Hi Takeshi-San,

    We are a group of 3 people including one senior and our travel plan is as follows:

    Jan 2nd

    Nagoya –> Shirakawago (Bus)
    Shirakawago–> Takayama (Bus)

    Jan 3rd

    Takayama –>
    Shinhotaka Rope Way –> Hirayu Onsen ( Bus)

    Jan 4th

    Hirayu Onsen –> Takayama (Bus)
    Takayama–> Nagoya (Train)

    Base on our plan, we would like you to please advise what passes we should buy to cover our plan. If there is a better mode of transportation we should take, kindly please recommend us.

    Thank you very much in advance.

    Wila

  5. Mandy says:
    December 16, 2019 at 11:48 pm

    Hi Takeshi-San,

    I will be travelling to Nagoya and Takayama on 7 to 13 March 2020. I am planning to purchase the 5 Days Takayama-Hokuriku JR Pass. Can I make the seat reservation from Nagoya to Takayama on 7 March when I arrive at Nagoya Station? Does the seat reservation for Nohi Bus from Takayama to Shirakawa-Go included the 4 times seat reservation? If I don’t make seat reservation and when I board the trains or bus, there is a seat, can I sit on it?

    Thank you.

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      December 17, 2019 at 6:30 am

      Hi Mandy san,

      You can make a seat reservataion when you exchange your Takayama Hokuriku Area Touirst Pass.
      Nohi bus reservation is not included in 4 times reservation. In these days, Takayama and Shirakawago area are so busy. I highly recommend you to book a seat in advance.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Devina says:
    December 4, 2019 at 11:24 pm

    Hello JP Rail admin,

    i will travelling with 4 person to Shirakawa-go in 2020 January 19th, we all use JR passes for our travel, we’ll be going from Tokyo – Nagoya and then take the Limited Express Hida to reach Takayama,

    i just opened this website to get know more about the Limited Express and there’s a comment above that mentioning about reservation seats for the Limited Express, so i would like to ask what if i dont make any reservation before? is it possible i still get a seats when i get there? or it is better that i made a seats reservation via online ? and if it is better to made reservation via online, which website shall i go to?

    Thank you

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      December 5, 2019 at 6:27 am

      Hi Devina,

      This train is quite popular and reservation is highly recommended. But online reservation is not avalable for this train unfortunately. You may try to book when you exchange JR pass. Please try to exchange JR pass right after you arrive in Japan.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  7. Ct A says:
    December 3, 2019 at 7:30 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,
    I will be travelling with my family (10 person) from Nagoya to Takayama and from Takayama to Toyama on February 2020. We will be staying in Takayama for 2 nights. Do we need to reserve the seats in JR Hida Express train if we used ordinary JR Pass?

    Thank you.

  8. Kelly says:
    November 22, 2019 at 10:16 am

    Hi Takeshi-san,
    My family of 4 adults will be travelling in Jan 2020 to Shirakawago, Hirayu onsen, Shinhotaka ropeway and maybe Fukui. I am thinking of getting the Takayama-hokuriku pass however the website stated that I can’t make reservations online for the bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawago and back. But I am not sure how to make international calls to the nohi hotline. Also, I saw that you stated previously that there is direct train once a day from Takayama to Osaka/Kyoto but not fully covered under the pass; how much does the pass cover and how much more do I have to pay? If I get this pass, there could be a lot of train transfers and I don’t know how to make the reservation for the Shirakawago bus but I get to go to Fukui, compared to if I buy the highway bus tickets from Osaka to Takayama and back, it is more direct but I don’t get to go Fukui and I am not sure if the bus journey might be delayed because of the winter weather? Thirdly, we would be reaching Osaka KIX airport at 5.30pm, do you think I can go direct to Fukui or Hirayu Onsen on the same day, so I don’t have to stay one night at Osaka? Please kindly advise, thanks!

    • Kelly says:
      November 22, 2019 at 10:18 am

      Sorry I meant we are visiting Osaka, Kyoto, Shirakawago, Takayama, Shinhotaka ropeway, Hirayu onsen and maybe Fukui. Total 11 days.

      • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
        November 22, 2019 at 2:38 pm

        Hi Kelly san,

        You can make a call to Nohi bus and tell the staff that you are going to use Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. They will book a seat for you.

        The extra fare is around 4,500 yen for the base fare and the reserved seat fee on the segment outside coverage area.

        Actually I have no idea about the express bus. It may delay in winter time but I have never taken this bus before.

        You can get Fukui on the arrvial day. You can take the limited express Haruka from KIX to Shin-Osaka. And then take the limited express Thunderbird. However your train connection to Fukui may be the last one. If your flight delay, you may be stuck in Osaka. You can find the timetable in the link below:
        https://jprail.com/img/timetable/jprail-timetable-kamiki.pdf

        Hirayu Onsen is too far to reach.

        Cheers,

        Takeshi / JPRail.com

  9. Jason L says:
    November 9, 2019 at 11:25 pm

    Next year in 2020, our family 2A2C will be commuting from Nagoya to Takayama, returning same route several days later. We will all have a JR pass.
    For Nagoya>Takayama will be taking Hida 13. Would like to pay extra for green on this journey but on return leg using Hida 6 I will just reserve seats in ordinary car.
    I’m confused by the seat / carriage configurations and would like to ask a few questions. Thank you in advance for your knowledge and commitment to this page.
    I realise Nagoya>Takayama sitting on the right is more scenic, and likewise sitting in the left for Takayama>Nagoya is more scenic.
    Does the green carriage on Hida 13 configured 2+2 or 2+1? If 2+1 which side is the single seat on?
    I would also like the opportunity in either direction to sit right up front behind driver, as I believe the Hida Expresses afford a great view of the driver, their actions and their windscreen. Is the green car on Hida 13 or one of the reserved cars on Hida 6 ever up front (if so which reserved car number)? If I try booking for seats behind driver about three weeks out, is it a decent chance of availability or are these quite sought after from four weeks out?
    Finally can the seats in both reserved and green spin around if some portion of the trip we want to face each other as a family?
    Thank you.

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      November 10, 2019 at 11:01 am

      Hi Jason,

      Hida 13 has 2+1 seat layout in Green car. The single seat is on the right side. When you book a seat, A and B is two seats side and C is single ticket on the ride side. When you leave Nagoya, C is left side but the train change the direction at Gifu. C is right side from Gifu. The scenery is nothing special between Nagoya and Gifu.

      On the way back, very front car is non reserved seat car. You cannot reserve a seat. It’s first come and first serve. It’s hard to get the front row.

      It is hard to book a seat on the front row from Nagoya to Takayama. Usually this seat is sold after the booking is open. The booking is open one month prior to the travel date. So all I can say that just try.

      You can spin the seat in both Green and ordinary seat car.
      http://sonicrailgarden.sakura.ne.jp/seat_dc85/green-1/09.jpg

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Kurt says:
    November 9, 2019 at 10:07 pm

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I will be traveling from Nagoya to Takayama on Dec-22 and will be staying there until Dec-25. I will be doing a day trip from Takayama to Shirakawago, and also maybe from Takayama to Toyama. On Dec-25 I will be heading to Kyoto.

    I still have not yet booked any rail passes as I am still researching. I’ll also be visiting other places like Kyoto, Tokyo, Osaka and Wakayama over the duration of 3.5 weeks. With that in mind, would you recommend a JR Pass between Nagoya-Takayama or the Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass?

    Thanks so much,
    Kurt

    • Takeshi (JPRail.com administrator) says:
      November 10, 2019 at 10:21 am

      Hi Kurt san,

      JR pass is too expensive. Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass is recommended. But when you go to Kyoto from Takayama, you have to take Takayama-Toyama-Kanazawa-Kyoto route. One of Wide View Hida runs from Takayama to Kyoto directly. But this train is not covered by Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass fully.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

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