Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass user guide. Perfect deal to travel Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama, Shirakawago from Nagoya or Osaka

shirakawago winterRail pass for visitors
Tanabata festival decoration in Takayama ©Y.Shimizu/©JNTO
Tanabata festival decoration in Takayama ©Y.Shimizu/©JNTO

This train pass has been very popular to travel Kanazawa, Takayama and Shirakawago. The train route to these destinations from Nagoya and Osaka are covered. However there are some restrictions. You may be confused how you use this pass.

In this post, I will clarify the condition and the coverage area of this pass. You will find what you can do and what you cannot do by this pass in this post. I also compare the price of pass and a regular fare. You will easily find how you can get the worth of this pass.

Who is eligible

Visitors who land as “Temporary Visitor” status can purchase this pass.

Types, prices and conditions

There is only 5-day pass.

Purchasing placeAdultChild (6-11yrs)
Overseas travel agent
(Before arrival in Japan)
14,260 yen7,130 yen
At the designated station
(After arrival in Japan
15,280 yen7,640 yen
Online15,280 yen7,640 yen

*5 year old or younger child is free. Maximum 2 children per one adult. But one of your adult traveler must share the seat with the child who is 5 years old or younger.

The pass must be used in consecutive days. The validity of a rail pass starts from 12 O’clock at night.

e.g.
If you start to use 5 days pass on May 1, the pass is expired at 23:59 on May 5.

You may book a reserved seat on the train up to 4 times by this pass. This four times booking seat fee is covered. But you cannot book a seat on the limited express Haruka and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. This four times reservation does not include Nohi bus reservation. I will tell you about this restriction later.

Sales location

You can purchase this pass before or after you arrive in Japan. If you purchase an exchange order of this pass, the price is 1,000 yen cheaper than the price in Japan. You can find the sales location list in the official site in the link below:

Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass official site

Coverage area and valid transportation

Kentrokuen garden is one of three best Japanese Gardens.  ©JTA/ ©JNTO
Kentrokuen garden is one of three best Japanese Gardens. ©JTA/ ©JNTO

The pass covers Osaka, Kyoto, Kanazawa, Shirakawago, Takayama, Gero, Gifu and Nagoya. Please see the coverage map below:

The coverage area of this pass is blue shaded.

Basically this pass covers JR trains, Nohi Bus and Kaetsuno Bus in the coverage area. I would like to show you the key train and bus services one by one.

The limited express Haruka and Kansai Airport Rapid train

The limited express Haruka connects Kansai airport, Tennoji, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto.

Haruka operation route shown by a bold red line

If you start using this pass right after you arrive in Kansai airport, you may take this train. This train has both reserved seat car and non reserved seat car. But this pass covers only non reserved seat car. This train does not stop at Osaka. Please see the link below to find more information about Haruka:

Kansai Airport Limited Express Haruka

If you cannot take Haruka, you can take Kansai Airport Rapid train too. This is a sort of commute trains. Haruka has nicer interior.

Kansai Airport Rapid Service

Local train services in downtown Osaka

This pass covers a local train in Osaka, such as Osaka Kanjo line (Osaka loop line). You can get many places by this pass in Osaka. Please see the link below to find the information about JR local train service in Osaka:

The limited express Thunderbird (Osaka, Kyoto – Kanazawa)

This train is a primary way to get Kanazawa from Osaka or Kyoto.

The limited express Thunderbird operation route shown by a bold red line

You can book a reserved seat on this train by this pass. But you have to make a reservation after you arrive in Japan.

Nohi Bus (Kanazawa – Shirakawago – Takayama), Kaetsuno Bus (Shin Takaoka – Shirakawago)

Both bus services are shown by a green line in the coverage map above.

Most of you take Nohi Bus to get Shirakawago. You also take this bus when you move between Takayama and Kanazawa. All bus services between Kanazawa and Shirakawago requires an advanced booking. You cannot book online and you have to make a call to book a seat. A few bus services can be taken without reservation between Takayama and Shirakawago. You can find the phone number and timetable in the link below:

Nohi Bus official site

If you want to visit Ainokura, Suganuma and/or Gokayama, you will take Kaetsuno Bus. Reservation is not required.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen (Kanazawa – Toyama)

The Shinkansen train runs very frequently between Kanazawa and Toyama.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen route which is covered by this pass. (shown by a red bold line)

This pass does not allow you to book a seat on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. There are three kinds of trains running on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Those are Kagayaki, Hakutaka and Tsurugi. But the fastest train “Kagayaki” does not have any non reserved seat cars. You have to take other two trains, Hakutaka or Tsurugi on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Usually Tsurugi has lots of empty seats and easily can take a seat in non reserved cars.

Please find more details about the Hokuriku Shinkansen in the following link:

Find your hotels in 400 cities throughout Japan!!!

Hotels in Takayama
Hotels in Kanazawa
Hotels in Shirakawago

The limited express Wide View Hida (Nagoya – Takayama – Toyama)

This is very popular train to get Takayama. The scenery is very nice from this train.

Limited Express Wide View Hida operation route (shown by a bold red line)

This train runs once an hour in daytime between Nagoya and Takayama. But this train runs only a few times between Takayama and Toyama. If you cannot take this train between Toyama and Takayama, you can take a local train. But there is no direct local train between Toyama and Takayama. You have to change trains at Inotani between Takayama and Toyama.

Please see the link below to find more information about Wide View Hida:

You can book a reserved seat on this train by this pass. But you have to make a reservation after you arrive in Japan.

Train which is not covered at all or partially

This pass does not cover any train services between Gifu and Kyoto. This means you cannot make a circle tour by this pass. I would like to show you some trains which are not covered by this pass and how much you have to pay extra.

The Tokaido Shinkansen (Nagoya – Kyoto – Shin Osaka)

It is not covered at all. Even though the Shinkansen runs partially between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka in the coverage area, it is not covered at all. You may consider using Platt Kodama if you want to take the Shinkansen between Nagoya and Kyoto/Shin-Osaka.

Osaka departure of the limited express Wide View Hida (Osaka – Kyoto – Gifu – Takayama)

One round trip of Wide View Hida runs between Osaka and Takayama. However this train runs outside the coverage area partially.

This train runs outside the coverage area between Kyoto and Gifu.

If you take this train, you have to pay for Kyoto – Gifu. The one way extra cost (the base fare and the reserved seat fee) is around 4,500 yen. The reserved seat fee is covered in the coverage area. But you have to use two of four times seat booking for Takayama – Gifu and Osaka – Kyoto. If you take this route, you have to book a seat for both inside coverage area and outside coverage area at same time. You can get a same seat all the way.

The limited express Shirasagi (Kanazawa – Nagoya)

If you move between Nagoya and Kanazawa, the limited express Shirasagi is the fastest way. However this train runs outside the coverage area partially.

The segment between Tsuruga and Gifu is outside the coverage area.

If you take this train, you have to pay for Tsuruga – Gifu. The one way extra cost (the base fare and the reserved seat fee) is around 3,500 yen. Reserved seat fee is covered in the coverage area. But you have to use two of four times seat booking for Nagoya – Gifu and Kanazawa – Tsuruga. If you take this route, you have to book a seat for both inside coverage area and outside coverage area at same time. You can get a same seat all the way.

If you want to avoid this extra cost, you can take one of these following routes:

  • The limited express Wide View Hida (Nagoya – Toyama), the Hokuriku Shinkansen (Toyama – Kanazawa)
  • The limited express Wide View Hida (Nagoya – Takayama), Nohi Bus (Takayama – Kanazawa)

These routes are covered but the trip time is much longer than the limited express Shirasagi. If you take the limited express Shirasagi, the trip time is about 3 hours to get Nagoya from Kanazawa without changing trains. But if you take one of these above routes, the travel time is about 4.5 hours and you have to change trains or train/bus. Please think which choice is better for you, spending 1.5 hours or spending 3,360 yen.

Local train service in downtown Kyoto

You can get Kyoto by this pass. But after you arrive in Kyoto, this pass does not help you at all. You cannot get even some spots in Kyoto by this pass. JR lines connect Arashiyama and Fushimi from Kyoto station. But this pass does not cover these lines.

Trip to Nara, Trip to Kobe

These cities are a step away from Kyoto or Osaka. But these cities are not in the coverage area. Please do not think using this pass even partially. Just pay as you go or think about using other deal:

Compare cost between pass and single fare

First of all, please see the fare table for major segments below. These fares are approximate and may be varied by the seasonality:

One way fare

Kansai airport – Shin-Osaka by Limited Express NON reserved seat2,500 yen
Kansai airport – Kyoto by Limited Express NON reserved seat3,000 yen
Osaka – Kanazawa by Limited Express reserved seat7,800 yen
Kyoto – Kanazawa by Limited Express reserved seat7,000 yen
Nagoya – Takayama by Limited Express reserved seat6,000 yen
Toyama – Takayama by Limited Express reserved seat3,500 yen
Toyama – Kanazawa by Hokuriku Shinkansen NON reserved seat2,900 yen
Kanazawa – Shirakawago by Nohi bus2,000 yen
Takayama – Shirakawago by Nohi bus2,600 yen
Kanazawa – Takayama by Nohi bus3,600 yen
Shirakawago – Shin-Takaoka by Kaetsuno bus1,800 yen

You may find more information about the access to Takayama and Kanazawa at the links below:

You can find the timetable of the limited express Wide View Hida, Thunderbird, and Shirasagi 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

Assessment

This deal is highly recommended if you visit Takayama, Shirakawago and/or Kanazawa from Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya. Especially the coverage of Nohi Bus and Kaetsuno Bus offers a big deal.

I hope this post helps you to build your trip plan.

Comments

  1. winnie says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Please advise can we reserve Toyama Chitetsu Bus from Toyama Station To Shirakagawa using Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass ? If yes can you provide me the link.

    Or we just can take Nohi Bus ?

    If we go Shirakagawa, can we go to Gokayama also within the day ?

    Thank you.
    Winnie

    • Hi Winnie,

      Either Nohi Bus or Toyama Chitetu Bus, you can ride with a pass.
      Since this bus is operated jointly, you can also reserve the Toyama Chihō Railway Bus with Nohi Bus.
      Reservations must be made by calling Nohi Bus.

      Nohi Bus Reservation Center
       (9:00am~5:00pm)TEL (0577)32-1688

      By the way, all buses currently operating between Toyama and Shirakawa-go are suspended due to Covid-19.
      I don’t expect you to travel in the near future, but just in case.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Peter Lee says:

    HI Takeshi,

    We’re planning a trip from Toronto, Canada in mid-November 2021, hopefully by that time air travel and tourism will return to normal. Our tentative literary is as follows:
    Day 1 – YYZ to either NRT or HND – stay for 1 night to store big luggage.
    Day 2 – Tokyo to Takayama – fly(1 h) or take a train thru Toyama (5 – 6 h)
    Day 3 – Takayama to Hida Furukawa (15 m train ride from Takayama); train to Okuhida Hot Springs.
    Day 4 – Shiragawa-go, bus or train?; bus or train from Shiragawa-go to Kanazawa.?
    Day 5-6 – Kanazawa
    Day 7 – Either return to Tokyo train or by air thru Komatsu Airport ?
    Mr. Takeshi, please let me which train pass we should purchase at the least cost.
    Thank you very much!

  3. tan says:

    Hi Takeshi,
    Please advise Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass fully cover for below train:-
    1) JR Special Rapid Service & Ltd Exp Thunderbird from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto station.
    2) Ltd Exp Haruka & Ltd Exp Kuroshio from Kyoto to Tennoji station.
    3) Ltd Exp Haruka & Ltd Exp Kuroshio from Tennoji to Shin-Osaka station.
    4) Ltd Exp Haruka from Shin-Osaka to Kansai Airport station.
    Thank you in advance for your reply.

  4. Tan says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    I need go Takayama via Shin-Osaka using Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass without pay extra charges. Please advise can i use below 2 route to Takayama from Shin-osaka.
    1) From Shin-Osaka take JR Special Rapid to Kyoto and Kyoto to Maibara. From Maibara take JR Tokaido Line to Ogaki and Ogaki to Gifu.From Gifu take Ltd Exp Wide View to Okayama.
    2) From Shin-Osaka take JR Special Rapid to Kyoto and Kyoto to Maibara. From Maibara take Ltd Exp Shirasagi to Gifu. From Gifu take Ltd Exp Wide View to Okayama.
    Thank you.

    LTD. EXP SHIRASAGI 4

    LTD. EXP SHIRASAGI 4

    • Hi Tan,

      You have to pay for Kyoto to Gifu. No matter which train you take, this section is not covered.
      If you don’t want to pay any extras, you have to take the route via Kanazawa.

      Shin-Osaka (Ltd Exp Thunderbird) Kanazawa (Nohi Bus) Takayama
      or
      Shin-Osaka (Ltd Exp Thunderbird) Kanazawa (Hokuriku Shinkansen Hakutaka or Tsurugi) Toyama (Ltd Exp Wide View Hida) Takayama

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  5. Amirah says:

    Hi Takeshi! Good day.

    Would love to say thanks for the information you shared here first & foremost. Asking for any tips for my itineraries below for my trip this autumn (10 DAYS/9NIGHTS) using Takayama -Hokuriku (THP) and Kansai-Hiroshima Area (KHAP) pass:

    DAY 1:
    Arrive at KIX airport (10 PM) & staying at Shin-Imamiya area. I plan to use Nankai line straight to Shin Imamiya Stn. where i have to purchase another separate ticket for 900+ Yen.

    DAY 2: (Takayama)
    *DAY 1 – ACTIVATE TH PASS*
    From JR Shin-Imamiya Stn – Osaka Stn (Is this covered by TH pass?). Then to Kanazawa Stn. (using limited express Thunderbird). Then hop on free Nohi Bus to Takayama with TH Pass and will spend a night there.

    DAY 3: (Shirakawa-go)
    *DAY 2 – TH PASS*
    Morning walk at Takayama morning market & Shirakawago trip (using Nohi Bus). Returned back to Takayama to pick up luggage & then go to Toyama by using Limited Wide View Hida. Will spend 1 night there.

    DAY 4: (TOYAMA)
    *DAY 3 – TH PASS*
    Sightseeing in the morning & visit Kurobe Gorge (I have to add another fare ticket). In the evening, return back to Shin-Imamiya from Toyama Stn – Kanazawa Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen), and then Kanazawa Stn. – Osaka ( limited express Thunderbird).

    DAY 5: (KYOTO)
    *DAY 4 – TH PASS*
    Sightseeing in Osaka.

    DAY 6:
    *DAY 1 – KHA PASS*
    Amanohashidate, Ine No Funaya

    DAY 7:
    *DAY 2- KHA PASS*
    Hiroshima & Miyajima Island Day Trip

    DAY 8:
    * DAY 3 – KHA PASS*
    Kurashiki, Himeji Castle, Kobe Mosque, Kobe Harbour Land

    DAY 9:
    *DAY 4 – KHA PASS*
    Nara deer park, Fushimi Inari Taisha, Kiyomizudera temple

    DAY 10:
    *DAY 5 – KHA PASS*
    Use KHAP for train back to KIX Airport from Shin-Imamiya Stn.

    Is this doable? And which route do you think is highly booked or less frequent because i’m thinking to reserve seat from Osaka to Kanazawa (return trip) and from Takayama to Toyama with my TH Pass. Thank you in advance. Looking forward to your responses!

    Cheers.

    • Hi Amirah,

      I didn’t see any issues on your trip plan. It is doable.

      You can book a seat for return trip to Kanazawa and Takayama to Toyama. You cannot book a seat on the Shinkansen. So there is any other chances to book a seat on your trip anyway.

      On the arrival day, you can start using the pass for Kansai to Shin-Imamiya if you want. Nankai Railway is faster but you can get Shin-Imamiya by JR Kansai airport rapid train. It is covered by Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Jen says:

    Hi Takeshi,

    Can you help us re our itinerary? How to maximize this pass? Our port entry/exit is Nagoya. Planning to have overnight in Takayama. What is the recommended itinerary for
    Takayama
    Shirakawago
    Osaka
    Back to Nagoya

    • Hi Jen,

      You may travel like below:
      Nagoya-Takayama
      Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa-Osaka
      Osaka-Nagoya

      This is most time-efficient way. You can use Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass until you get Osaka. Osaka-Nagoya is not covered.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

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