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
Hotels in Nagoya

Train formation

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

1234
NRRRR
12348910
NRRRRRNRG

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

1238910
NRRRRNRG

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

1234
NRR / GRR

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

1235678
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. Hwakyoung Kim says:

    Hi sir/Madam

    I will be visiting to Japan Feb next year and would like to visit Gero at same time. i have found a timetable for a train from Tokyo to Nagoya but has not found one for wideview train from Nagoya to Gero. Would you be able to provide one for me? Also, when we get Nagoya from Tokyo, Do we need to go to different station to take wideview train? And where could I Make reservations for those trains?

    Thanks in advance

  2. yong says:

    Dear Sir

    Just to double check if businessman who is holding an Apec card into Japan , is it possible to purchase 7 days Jail Pass ?

    Thankyou

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Yong,

      In my understanding, you cannot. Because Apec card is not a visitor visa. But I am not 100% sure. Please contact to the nearest travel agent.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  3. Georgina says:

    Hi there,

    I am looking to stay in Shirakawa-go for one night.

    Could you review/double check this train route for me via JR Pass only (except for Nohi Bus)?

    I plan to leave early Saturday morning from Tokyo -> Nagoya -> Takayama -> take Nohi bus to Shirakawa-go

    Tokaido Shinkansen (Hikari H501)
    7:33 Tokyo
    7:40 Shinagawa
    8:09 Odawara
    9:21 Nagoya (Arrive)
    —-switch shinkasen—
    Limited Express Wideview Hida (#5)
    9:43 Nagoya (Departure)
    12:13 Takayama (arrive)
    12:50 Nohi bus (Reservation)

    1:40 pm Shirakawa-go (arrival)

    Thanks!

    My friend and I can’t decide whether we should train to Takayama or Kanazawa. The only difference we can identify is that, there is only a 10 minute gap from Maibara to switch trains versus the 20 min in Nagoya.

    Would route would you say is best?

  4. John says:

    Hi, and thanks for this very informative website.

    What is your advice about the need for reservations (versus unreserved seats) on the Wide View Hida trains at the end of September? Your car diagrams (very useful!) indicate there are more reserved cars than unreserved…..is it the best idea to have a reservation before getting on the train in Nagoya? We will be traveling on Japan Rail passes — is it possible to get the reservation at a station in Tokyo after we arrive in Japan?

    Many thanks.

    • JPRail says:

      Hi John,

      I recommend you to make a reservation. Once you turn in the pass, you can make it any Midori no Madoguchi at any JR station. I usually finish all reservations when you turn in the pass at Narita. As long as you have a time when you turn in the pass, try to book it right after you get the pass.

      Late September is not the highest season. But Wide View Hida is always very popular. You might not be able to get non reserved seat.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JP Rail

  5. Maria Ho says:

    Hi,
    We’ll stay in Kyoto for study a week, then we plan from Kyoto to Gero, then Takayama (高山) for few days in June, what rail pass we need to buy? Can we book it in U.S.A.? Thanks.
    Maria

  6. Sonky says:

    Hi,

    Can I use either of the following pass for the above itinerary:

    【飛驒路フリーきっぷ】 【立山黒部アルペンきっぷ】

    Thanks,

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Sonky,
      You cannot use these tickets. Those tickets are not available between April 27 and May 6 because this period is one of the busiest season in Japan.
      Takeshi / JP Rail

  7. Sonky says:

    Hi,

    I’m planning our Japan trip as follows:
    Day 1 (27 April): Arriving Nagoya
    Day 2 (28 April): 名古屋(Nagoya)->高山(Takayama)->Nohi Bus的合掌村(Shirakawa-go)->高山(Takayama) staying at Takayama
    Day 3 (29 April) :高山(Takayama)->富山(Toyama) staying at 富山(Toyama)
    Day 4 (30 April): 富山(Toyama)->立山黑部(Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route)->松本(Matsumoto)->名古屋(Nagoya) staying at 名古屋(Nagoya)
    Day 5 (1 May): Leaving Nagoya

    Please let me know if we can purchase the Nagoya Limited Express Wide View Hida pass or any pass?

    Please also let me know the following JR timetable:

    28 April: 名古屋(Nagoya)->高山(Takayama)->Nohi Bus的合掌村(Shirakawa-go)->高山(Takayama)
    29 April :高山(Takayama)->富山(Toyama)
    30 April: 富山(Toyama)->立山黑部(Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route)->松本(Matsumoto)->名古屋(Nagoya)

    Thanks,

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Sonky,
      Sorry. I don’t understand what the Nagoya Limited Express Wide View Hida pass is.
      I checked your itinerary. Only your choice is purchasing single ticket.
      Regarding timetable, it is too many trains to tell you. You can check it by yourself at Hyperdia. I fyou don’t understand how to use this, please see the following post:
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/japan-railways-timetables.html
      In regards to shirakawago, please see the following post to get the details:
      https://jprail.com/destinations/how-to-get-shirakawa-go-%E7%99%BD%E5%B7%9D%E9%83%B7.html
      Takeshi / JP Rail

    • JAyre says:

      Hi Sonky, Takeshi,

      I’m going on the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route myself in a few weeks. I did a fair bit of research to learn more about it.

      None of the Alpine Route belongs to Japan Rail, and is therefore not covered by any version of rail pass. Starting from Dentetsu Toyama Station (just outside JR Toyama), you need to take a variety of modes of transport, including train, cablecar, bus, trolleybus, ropeway, a walk, another trolley bus, and another bus. This last bus terminates at JR Shinano-Omachi Station, and you need to take a local (or Ltd Exp Azusa, 1 per day at 3:00PM) to Matsumoto and change to Ltd Exp Shinano to get back to Nagoya.

      Apparently there is some sort of “combination ticket” available at Dentetsu Toyama Station, but it offers no discount and is something like a coupon book so you don’t have to pay for each leg seperately. The total cost is just over 10,000 JPY per person. You can find the timetable at http://www.alpen-route.com/english/Access/img/pdf01.pdf

      Best regards,

      – Jonathan Ayre –

  8. Choihb says:

    I will be using Japan Rail Pass (14 days). Do I need to pay any extra charges to ride on this Wide View Hida Limited Express Train? And I will planning to just board the train once I arrive in Nagoya. Is that possible to ride on it without any reservation?

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Choihb,
      No. As I mentioned in this post, this train is covered by Japan Rail Pass fully.
      You can take this train without reservation. Because there are several non reserved seat cars. But as long as seat is available, you can make a reservation even 10 minutes prior to departure time. I recommend you to go to reservation window that is called “Midori no Madoguchi’ before on board.
      Takeshi / JP Rail

  9. Mabel Hui says:

    I am planning to travel to Takayama. Do I take the wide view train from Osaka station? Do I need to buy tickets in advance and reserve seats? I am going to Takayama on 5 March.

    • JPRail says:

      Hi Mabel,
      You can take Wide View Hida from Osaka. But there is only one round trip between Osaka and Takayama. Mostly take Shinkansen to Nagoya and transfer to Wide View Hida at Nagoya.
      If you can make a reservation, it is better. But it will be weekday and it is not busy period.
      Takeshi / JP Rail

      • EP says:

        do you think buying the JR Pass is more worth it. than buying the tickets as and when we use the JR in Japan.
        because i am not sure what other JR transport we will use when we are in takayama.

        • JPRail says:

          Hi EP,
          I have received two comments about Takayama from you. I answered both questions.
          As you saw this post, Wide View Hida is only train to Takayama from Nagoya and Toyama. When you want to go to Kanazawa from Takayama, take this train to Toyama and transfer to other express train, Thanderbird from Toyama to Kanawa. Please see the details about Thunderbird on the following post:
          https://jprail.com/trains/limited-express-thuderbird-raicho-%E9%9B%B7%E9%B3%A5.html
          But if you want to use Japan Rail Pass, you need to take more trains. Where are you going to arrive in Japan, Kansai, Haneda or Narita? You need to take a train to Takayama from any airport. If you take a train to Takayama from one of these airports and travel to Kanazawa from Takayama, and some more trips, Japan Rail Pass is worth buying.
          Takeshi / JP Rail

      • Bing says:

        I planned to go to Shirakawa-go from Osaka directly with “Wide View Hida” that you mentioned above. But, I can’t find the schedulue in hyperdia and anywhere. Would you kindly inform me the departure schedule from Osaka to Takayama and from Takayama to Osaka. Thanks beforehand ^_^

        • JPRail says:

          Hi Bing,
          Dep from Osaka – 07:59 / Arr at Takayama – 12:13
          Dep from Takayama – 15:36 / Arr at Osaka – 19:51
          As of Mar 17, this is the schedule between Osaka and Takayama. There is only one round trip.
          Takeshi / JP Rail

  10. A taste of old Japan | Best Rack Rates says:

    […] To get to Takayama from Tokyo station, take the Nozomi Shinkansen to Nagoya and change for the limited express Wide View Hida train to Takayama. The journey takes four hours and costs ¥14,200 (around £118) return. The same […]

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