Wide View Hida is a 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 and Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. I will explain about this train in this post.
Route, schedule and trip time
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.
As of October 2018, the timetable of Osaka-Takayama train is the following:
Osaka 07:58 -> 08:02 Shin-Osaka 08:03 -> 08:29 Kyoto 08:31 -> 09:56 Gifu 10:11 -> Takayama 12:23
Takayama 15:38 -> 17:36 Gifu 17:43 -> 19:17 Kyoto 19:18 -> 19:44 Shin-Osaka 19:45 -> Osaka 19:50
This train departing from Osaka is coupled with the train from Nagoya at Gifu.
Please find the train operation route in the map below:
Stations
| Station | Depart from Nagoya | Depart from Osaka |
|---|---|---|
| Osaka (大阪) | – | x |
| Shin-Osaka (新大阪) | – | x |
| Kyoto (京都) | – | x |
| Kusatsu (草津) | – | x |
| Maibara (米原) | – | x |
| Ogaki (大垣) | – | x |
| Nagoya (名古屋) | x | – |
| Owari-Ichinomiya (尾張一宮) | * | – |
| Gifu (岐阜) | x | x |
| Unuma (鵜沼) | * | * |
| Mino-Ohta (美濃太田) | x | x |
| Shirakawaguchi (白川口) | * | * |
| Hida-Kanayama (飛騨金山) | * | * |
| Gero (下呂) | x | x |
| Hida-Hagiwara (飛騨萩原) | * | x |
| Hida-Osaka (飛騨小坂) | * | * |
| Kuguno (久々野) | * | * |
| Takayama (高山) | x | x |
| Hida-Furukawa (飛騨古川) | x | – |
| Inotani (猪谷) | x | – |
| Etchu-Yatsuo (越中八尾) | x | – |
| Hayahoshi (速星) | * | – |
| Toyama (富山) | x | – |
x:All train stop *:some train stop
Accommodation
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 seat pitch is 1160mm on 2+2 seat configuration and 1250mm on 2+1 seat configuration. 1160mm 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 seat pitch is 1000mm. This is bigger than the standard.
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.
Train formation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| R | R | G | NR | R | R | NR | G |
Car#1-4 operate from Nagoya to Takayama/Hida-furukawa, Car#8-10 operate from Nagoya to Toyama
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| R | NR | 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 | |
| R | R | G | NR | R |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| R | NR | R | R | R | G | NR | R |
This formation is used for Osaka departure and Nagoya departure combination. It is connected at Gifu station.
Images
Green seat 2+2 configuration
Green seat 2+1 configuration
Ordinary seat
Sanitary space
Hi Takeshi-san,
I would like to travel with Takayama Hokuriku area pass in June. my plan as below:
Osaka -> Kanazawa-> Shirakawago-> Takayama
Takayama -> Gero
Gero-> Gifu -> Kyoto
Kyoyo-> Osaka
In this case, am i only need to purchase extra train ticket for Gifu -> Kyoto only?
I would like to take the Wide View you direct from Gifu to Kyoto is it correct?
Thank you very much
Hi Lyman san,
That’s right. You have to pay for Gifu to Kyoto segment only to get on Wide View Hida.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Good morning
We would like to travel from Takayama to Kyoto on the 24th April using our JR pass
There is the train leavin Takayama at 12.33 to Nagoya that gives us 14 mins to change to Shinkansen on to Kyoto. Do you think that will be enough time to locate platform and get there as we will have luggage or should I catch the earlier 11.32 wide view Hida and leave ourselves 40 mins for the transfer
Thanks in advance
Alison
Hi Alison,
You can make it in 14 minutes. Especially Shinkansen platform is so easy to find. There are lots of signage of Shinkansen. Just follow it and get there. I’m sure you can do it in 10 minutes. You can find some info about Nagoya station in the link below:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/nagoya-station-guide-how-to-transfer-among-shinkansen-kintetsu-meitetsu-subway-and-jr-local-trains.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
Good Afternoon!
We will be getting 5 Days Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, and planning to take Wide View Hida train from Nagoya to Takayama in Dec 2019. How to reserve the seat in advance? can it be done in the website?
Thank you.
Hi Stella san,
Unfortunately there is no ways to book online in advance. You have to book a seat after you arrive in Japan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Good Morning Takeshi-san,
Thank you so much for your kind advice.
Cheers.
No worries, Stella san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
May I check whether it is possible to purchase train tickets for Hida Limited Express online? We are not getting the JR Pass or Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass as we are only traveling between Nagoya and Takayama.
If the tickets are not available online, will we have trouble getting them at Nagoya train station? We are afraid it will be sold out as it is the festival season.
Thanks!
Rgds,
Leslie
Hi Leslie san,
You can book it in the link below:
http://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/overview/
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
I’m arriving in Nagoya on March 24 at 3pm and planning to head straight to Takayama for 2 nights then to okuida for 2 nights before heading back to Nagoya.
Can you please advise :
1) what is the best way to get from Centrair airport to Takayama? I was planning on taking the ltd wide view hide train at 16:48 but I’m not sure if I can make it.
2) Are there rail and bus passes you can recommend? Where can I get them?
Thank you so much for your advice!
Hi Lishan san,
1. You may take Meitetsu railway from Chubu airport to Nagoya.
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/airport-access/chubu-ngo/chubu-nagoya-airport-transportation-guide-find-info-about-airport-station-and-access-to-nagoya.html
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/nagoya-station-guide-how-to-transfer-among-shinkansen-kintetsu-meitetsu-subway-and-jr-local-trains.html
I think 16:48 is too tight to get on. You may try but please expect to take later one.
2. If you intend to visit Shirakawago as well, Takayama Hokuriku area pass is recommended.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/takayama-hokuriku-area-pass-perfect-deal-to-get-takayama-kanazawa-toyama-shirakawago-from-nagoya-or-osaka.html
But you have to pay for Chubu – Nagoya and Takayama – Okuhida. These are not covered.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com