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
we are travelling from nagoia to takayama by wideview hida 11 train on apri 13. at 12:48.
what is the platform number in nagoia station that we have to take?thanks
Hi David,
Usually it arrives at #3. But it’s not fixed.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
How much time does it take to go from Hakone to Takayama, using a JR rail pass.
Hi Jan,
You will take Shinkansen from Odawara to Nagoyana and take this train from Nagoya to Takayama. Total trip time is appx 4.5 hours.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
I will arrive central interbational airport at Nagoya at 6 pm on April 30 . Is there Jr train leaving from airport to Takayama at night time.
Hi khunthong,
The last direct train departs from Nagoya at 19:43. But I don’t think you can make it because it will take 40 minutes at least from airport to Nagoya and spend at least one hour to clear custom and immigration.
There is still local train connection from Nagoya to Takamaya. It departs from Nagoya at 21:15. But you have to transfer the trains twice at Gifu and Minoota. You will be Takayama after midnight. I don’t recommend this train connection. It’s better to stay in Nagoya on arrival day.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
i have 7 days jr pass …
do you have direct train from takayama to ito?
do you have direct train from ito to haneda airport intokyo?
thanks
Hi churee,
There is no direct train from Takayama to Ito. You have to take Linmited Express Wide View Hida from Takayama to Nagoya, take Shinkansen from Nagoya to Atami and then take local train from Atami to Ito. You can find timetable at Hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Regarding Haneda to Tokyo, there is many ways. It depends on which stations in Tokyo you will go. You can find some info at the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/how-to-access-from-haneda-airport-to-downtown-tokyo.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi. We will be staying at Takayama and would like to seek your advice on the following to see if this can be done in 1 day and what would be the Nohi Bus timing like? Thanks Thanks in advance.
Takayama > Shirakawago > Kanazawa > Takayama
Hi Elaine,
It’s tight but not impossible. Please find the timetable of Nohi bus at the link below:
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/shirakawago_kanazawa.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
We would like to take the Takayama Hokuriku tourist pass from Nagoya to Takayama, Shirakawago (explore for a couple of hours), kanazawa and stop at Kyoto all on the one day – 5th Feb 2015.
Is this possible with the train, bus and train travel? We expect to be a long day, hoping to arrive Kyoto at night around 8:30pm+. I believe Japan rail and bus travel are reliable so we should be fine?
Will this be the LTD. EXP THUNDERBIRD via the Tokaido and Takayama lines, and Hokuriku Line (Kanazawa to Kyoto) and Nohi bus from Takayama to Kanazawa?
I just to be sure before go ahead and purchase the pass before leaving the country.
Thanks for your help.
Aggie
Hi Aggie,
Yes, you can.
Nagoya 07:45 (Ltd Exp Hida 1) 10:02 Takayama
Takayama 12:50 (Nohi Bus) 13:40 Shirakawago
Shirakawago 16:25 (Nohi Bus) 17:50 Kanazawa
Kanazawa 18:42 (Ltd Exp Thunderbird 45) 20:54 Kyoto
If you do this, you have to complete booking Nohi bus. Reservation is required to take Nohi bus but online is not available. You have to make a call in the link below:\http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/shirakawago_kanazawa.html
And also, in this season, many snow storms have already hit Japan already. There are lots of snow in Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa。Please check the updated weather forecast before you visit. As long as weather is good, trains and buses runs on time. it’s very reliable. But if snow storm hit, lots of trains and buses may be delayed and suspended.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
[…] a Hida-Takayama, la más rápida probablemente sea ir hasta Nagoya y allí tomar el expreso rápido Hida Wide View de la compañía ferroviaria […]
Hello I reach Chubu airport on 24 Jan. I like to find out if I can purchase the hida limited express train tickets from Chubu airport? I intend to take the meitetsu line to Nagoya Meitetsu then switch to JR Nagoya for the hida Ltd express train. But I do not have much time for the switch so wondering if I can purchase the tickets in advance or at the airport. I also have the suica card but I read that it has to be supplemented with a Ltd express ticket when taking Ltd express trains. Any info will be helpful. Thanks.
Hi xin min,
Unfortunately you can’t purchase JR ticket at Chubu airport. So you have to purchase it at Nagoya station.
In worst case, you can purchase any ticket, even smallest amount ticket, and take Ltd Exp Hida non reserved seat. You can pay additional fare on board to conductor.
And don’t try to use Suica for even short distance. Once you use Suica, you have to exit the station in the area where Suica can be used. The area is around Nagoya and Gifu. Most of the route of ltd exp Hida is outside the area.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Thanks Takeshi. I have 30mins to make the switch from meitetsu nagoya and buy tickets at JR Nagoya station, will it be sufficient time?
Is end January considered high period? I hope I can get the hida train timing I planned.
Will there be privileged seats for pregnant woman in the non reserved section?
Also can we bring food on the train? Or will there be food sold onboard the train for the 2hrs hide?
Thanks for your kind help.
Hi Xin min,
30 minutes is enough to transfer. You can find the map at the link below:
http://english.jr-central.co.jp/info/station/index.html
You will see Meitetsu Nagoya station at the right side of the top of the map.
And you can find Central ticket gate in the middle of the map. Reservation window is in front to central ticket gate. If you have a time, you can drop by there and get a seat. I think you can make it in 30 minutes, as long as no big line up at the reservation window.
There is no special seat in non reserved section unfortunately. Usually it’s low season and easy to find the seat.
But if you travel to Takayama when Shirakawago has light up event, it may be busy.
Shirakawago light up event http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5956.html
At last, on board sales is not available in ltd exp Hida. You have to buy something to eat/drink before boarding.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hello, I will be arriving at Nagoya with my family on 7th Feb.
Do we need to book and reserve train tickets and seats from Nagoya to Takayama travelling on 8th.?
Is the train always full?
Can I just go to the train station one day before to buy the tickets to Takayama?
Does the Wide View Hida train run every hour from Nagoya to Takayama?
One more question, do all the attractions and shops in Nagoya and Takayama opened during winter in February?
Appreciate if you can answer to my questions.
Thank you
Hi Emilie,
February is slow season. It’s not difficult to book train ticket. Even if it’s fully booked, there are still non reserved seat available. If you take this train from departure station, like Nagoya or Takayama, it’s easy to get a seat. I’m very optimistic. You can purchase a ticket at any major stations and any time within one month of departure date. So it’s anytime for you.
It runs almost every hour. You can check the timetable at Hyperdia.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
All stores are opened as usual.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail
Hi Takeshi,
I want to buy Takayama-Hokuriku tourist pass to go to Gero from Nagoya on 21 Jan 2015. Does the pass include the limited express wide view hida between nagoya and takayama?
Thanks for your help!
Sam
Hi Sam,
Yes. You an take it.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JP Rail