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:
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.
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.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
NR | R | R | R |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
NR | R | R | R | R | NR | G |
Car#1-4 operate from Nagoya to Takayama. And Car#8-10 operate from Nagoya to Toyama
1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
NR | R | R | R | NR | G |
Car#1-3 operate from Nagoya to Takayama/Hida-furukawa, Car#8-10 operate from Nagoya to Toyama
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
NR | R / G | R | R |
In car #2, there are ordinary reserved seats and Green seats.
1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
NR | R | R | NR | R / G | R | R |
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
Hello,
A few days ago, my Facebook friend was stuck in Nagoya because trains to Takayama broke down, due to a snowstorm.
Do you know about how frequent this happens? I’ll be travelling around Nagoya and Takayama around the 20th of January.
Also, what are the possible backup plans for transport between Nagoya, Takayama and even Shirakawa-go in these situations?
Do you also know how much the taxi rides between Nagoya and Takayama would cost?
Thank you so much, congrats on running your successful website so well for 5 years, and have a Happy New Year! 🙂
Hi Shi Hwa,
Thank you for supporting my website!
Regarding your issue, it’s very hard to say because of mother nature. But in winter time, especially in last a few years, weather is getting severe. You know that is cause of global warming. I would say it happens a couple of times a month between late Nov to early March. I recommend you to check the updated weather forecast.I use this site to check the weather. It gives us monthly forecast.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/jp/nagoya-shi/221855/weather-forecast/221855
There is only one option to get Takayama from Nagoya. That is Nohi bus.
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/nagoya.html
But reservation is required to take this bus. When train is suspended, bus may be full and it may be suspended also.
Taxi might be option. But it’s going to be super expensive. I don’t know how much, but I expect it’s more than several hundred yen. When weather is not good, taxi may not be able to take you to Takayama either.
Wish you have a great year in 2015. I hope weather will be good and enjoy your trip.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I would like to know if there is room for 25 inches suitcases on the train.
Thanks,
Lenny
Hi Lenny,
You can bring any size suitcase. But it’s sometimes very challenging. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/travel-tips/baggage/managing-luggage-how-to-carry-your-baggage-on-board-and-how-to-store-your-baggage-at-the-station.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I will be going to Takayama, Okuhida, Shirakawa, and Kanazawa in Dec. I am arriving at Nagoya Chubu Airport. Is there any pass that I should get?
Thanks,
Hi EC,
You can use Takayama-Hokuriku tourist pass.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/takayama-hokuriku-area-tourist-pass-perfect-deal-to-get-takayama-kanazawa-shirakawago-from-nagoya-or-osaka.html
It covers all places other than Okuhida and Chubu airport – Nagoya transfer.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
Does the pass include the ltd exp wide view hida between nagoya and takayama?
How about the other Nohi buses (I will be going to Hirayu Onsen)?
Thanks for your help again!
Hi Takeshi,
I’m looking for purchase a reserved seat for Wide View Hida train trip from Nagoya to Takayama, but can’t find anywhere in the web with the information.
I’ve discovered that one can purchase non-reserved seat ticket from the vending machine; was wondering if you can purchase a reserved one from the machine too?
If the vending machine is no-go, i assume you will need to purchase them from the JR center. Is this correct?
Sorry for the silly questions, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Thanks for taking the time to look at them.
Regards,
Matthew
Hi Matthew,
You can purchase it at the reservation window. Please find the info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/how-to-reserve-seat.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I’m traveling to Nagoya on 19th nov.. Planning to go Takayama once reach nagoya (Chubu airport).
Can I take JR train directly from Chubu airport to Takayama?
Please advise.
Thanks~
Hi Kim,
Unfortunately there is no direct train from Chubu airport to Takayama. You have to take Meitetsu railway or limousine bus to get Nagoya station.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi san,
I’ve got conflicting time tables from Hyperdia. I’m travelling from Hakuba on Jan 18 to Takayama & the initial JR routing I had from Hyperdia was:
Departing 9am: Hakuba – Minami Otari – Itoigawa – Toyama – Takayama
The last leg was initially via Ltd Exp Hida 14 which will reach Takayama at 14:32 (I checked that few weeks back). Now, the Ltd Exp Hida 14 train is missing & Hyperdia is having a longer waiting time at Itoigawa & Toyama, plus having to travel to Inotani before Takayama. And that is setting back my arrival time to 16:16.
I am only staying 1 night in Takayama and the new arrival time is not giving me any free time to look around the old town.
Any advise? Will the Train/Bus way faster?
Hi Sophia,
There is only local train run between Minami-Otari and Itoigawa. It takes a long time.
I recommend you to take train to Matsumoto and then take Nohi bus to Takayama.
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/matsumoto.html
You have to take local train to Matsumoto. But it runs more frequently. If you leave Hakuba in early morning, you can get Takayama in early afternoon.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I’m planing to go Takayama on 9th Oct 2014 with the “Takayama – Hokuriku Area” tourist pass.
However I couldn’t find it’s timetable and the train rountine from osaka namba station to takayama. May I know is there any website could I search for? How could I make reservation if I’m not yet arrive Japan?
Regards,
Kuan Yee
Hi Kuan,
You can find it at Hyperdia. Please see the following post about using Hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
By the way, if you go to Takayama from Namba, you can take subway Midousuji line to get Umeda where is same location as JR Osaka station first of all. And then, you have to go to Kanazawa. Because as I mentioned above, this pass does not cover Osaka – Nagoya route. The only way to get Takayama is the route via Kanazawa and Shirakawago. When you check the timetable at Hyperdia, please find Osaka – Kanazawa route. Subway from Namba to Umeda runs very very frequently. You don’t need to check the timetable because train comes every a few minutes.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi i am travelling to Takayama on 08th December 2014
I be arriving Chubu Airport 1530hrs and taking the μSky Ltd.Exp 1637hrs arriving Nagoya 1705hrs
May i know how to get from Nagoya to Takayama? By Train or by Bus (I can’t seem to locate any site).
Hi Patrick,
You can take Wide View Hida as I mentioned above. You can find the timetable at Hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Samuel,
I’ve been searching for all the possible route that can get us to Takayama from Osaka. Thankfully i stumble upon this post. I would like to ask for the cost of the fare of the direct train. And for the roundtrip ticket, can we take it on a different date? We are planning to go to Takayama on January 22 and back to osaka January 24.
Thank you very much!
Hi Mycel,
You can find it at Hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Round trip fare is not available. If you take a train more than 601km for one way, you can get round trip discount. But Osaka-Takayama is too short. So simply purchase two single ticket, Osaka-Takayama and Takayama-Osaka.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
I am planning my itinerary to Nagoya next year and intend to go to Kurobe Alps. My itinerary will be:-
1) Takayama 1 night
2) Shirakaw gO 1 night
3) Toyama 1 night
4) Tateyama 1 night so that I can visit the Kurobe Alps but I will end in Nagono, so how to get back to Tateyama or do you suggest I stay in Nagano for 1 night before going back to Tateyama to pick up luggage and go back to Nagoya.
Appreciate your enlightenment as I am moving from East to West on the Kurobe .
.
Hi Kris,
I think you can’t go back to Takayama after completing Kurobe Tateyama route.
The fastest way to go back to Takayama is the following:
Shinano-Omachi (nearest JR station from Ogisawa) – JR Oito line train (One hour) – Matsumoto
http://www.hyperdia.com/en/cgi/en/intervaltime.html?dep_node=SHINANO-OMACHI&arv_node=MATSUMOTO&search_target=intervaltime&diagram=12981&year=2014&month=7&day=29&searchday=20140729
Matsumoto – Nohi bus (2.5 hours) – Takayama
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/matsumoto.html
But the last bus to Takayama departs at 17:05 from Matsumoto. I think it’s too early for your trip.
So I think you need to stay in Matsumoto, Shinano-Omachi or somewhere on Kurobe Tateyama Alpine route.
You may use baggage delivery service.
http://www.alpen-route.com/en/transportation/baggagedelivery
If you use this, you don’t need to go back to Takayama.
You can send you baggage to other destination, like Nagoya. In Japan, it’s very easy and not very expensive. If you deliver one suitcase, it costs around 2000 yen and deliver in one day. You may ask your accommodation. Many hotels have a contract with cargo company. They may handle it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail