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

shirakawago winterRail pass for visitors
2015.05.31
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:

Osaka train route guide. How much can we use JR Pass in Osaka? How to choose the best route by train to get the major spots in Osaka?
There are lots of the train lines and subway lines in Osaka. This post shows you the train network in Osaka. You can learn how to get the major places in Osaka.
jprail.com
2013.10.30

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:

The Hokuriku Shinkansen, direct access to Kanazawa, Nagano and Toyama from Tokyo.
The Hokuriku Shinkansen is the fastest route to get Nagano, Toyama and Kanazawa from Tokyo. Please find the information about this Shinkansen line in this post.
jprail.com
2014.12.28
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:

The limited express Wide View Hida timetable and the train information. The train access to Takayama and Hida
The limited express Wide View Hida connects Nagoya, Gero, Takayama, Hida-Furukawa and Toyama. And one round trip runs between Osaka, Kyoto and Takayama. You can find all information about the limited express Wide View Hida.
jprail.com
2010.01.07

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.

Platt Kodama, one way deal among Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka by the Shinkansen
This post explains you about Platt Kodama which is a sort of the Shinkansen deal. It offers one way trip between Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Shin-Osaka by the Shinkansen Kodama.
jprail.com
2016.11.05

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:

How to choose discount railway ticket and pass for the trip in Kansai area
This post shows you the list of the pass which cover Kansai area. If you are looking for the deal in Kansai area, you can get some idea in this post.
jprail.com
2011.11.27

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:

How to get to Takayama by a train and a bus
Takayama is very attractive small town. It is very closed to another popular spot, Shirakawago. In this post, I show you how to get Takayama by train and bus.
jprail.com
2020.05.17
How to access to Kanazawa and Toyama from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya and Niigata.
Kanazawa is very popular destination in Hokuriku region. Toyama is also well known as the gateway to Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route and Kurobe gorge. In this post, I will show you the access to these cities from Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nagoya and Niigata.
jprail.com
2011.10.27

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. FomFom says:
    December 17, 2016 at 10:32 am

    Hello Takeshi san,

    I just bought a Takayama-Horiku Area Pass Exchange order from agent in my country.

    So, I have some question to ask;
    – Can I reserve nohibus from overseas call before I exchange ticket at JR Offices when I arrive Japan
    (My plan is take a nohibus from Takayama >> Shirakawago and Shirakawago >> Kanazawa)

    – Can I use this pass for nohibus “Hirayu / Shin-Hotaka Line”. If not, How Can I get to Shin-Hotaka Ropeway with this pass?

    Thank you in advance.

    FomFom

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      December 17, 2016 at 2:47 pm

      Hi FomFom san,

      You can make a call to book for Nohi bus before you arrive in Japan. Even if you book it after arriving Japan, you still need to make a call. You cannot book it at JR ticket office.

      You cannot use this pass to get Shin-Hotaka. You have to pay regular fare to take a bus to Shin-Hotaka.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Jessieh says:
    December 17, 2016 at 8:05 am

    Hi Takeshi -San,
    1) We are 2 adults and have planned to visit Japan by end of the year. Apprecite if you could provide comment and advise on my itinerary below :-
    31/12 – Arrive Osaka for new year countdown
    01/01 – Travel to and overnight at Kanazawa
    02/01 – Kanazawa
    03/01 – Travel to and overnight at Takayama
    04/01 – Takayama -> Shiragawago -> Takayama
    05/01 – Takayama
    06/01 – Takayama to Osaka
    07/01 – Departure from Kansai Airport

    2) Kindly advise reasonable transportation. Since my journey will be more than 5 days, is Takayama-Horikoku Pass suitable for me?
    3)I understand that Nohi bus to Shirakawa-go will not be available on certain public days. May i know whether it will be available on 4th Jan 2017?

    Many thanks in advance

    Best regards,
    Jessieh

  3. Ruwen Goh says:
    December 12, 2016 at 7:44 am

    Hi, Takeshi-san …..this time need your approval again,I archived all your JR news letter .Appreciate it a lot. This time I wanna travel to Central of Japan.
    D1: NGO – Nagoya. ( 9th Feb 2017)
    D2: Nagoya
    D3: Nagoya – Takayama
    D4: Takayama – Shiragawa-go -Kanazawa
    D5: Kanazawa
    D6: Kanazawa- Nagoya ( via Toyama)
    D7: Nagoya
    D8: Nagoya – NGO
    My question is – Can Takayama Hokuriku area pass cover it ?
    – Is going back to Nagoya via Toyama is the
    right route ?
    – Until now, I’m still confused about the Nohi
    Bus.
    How to reserve the seat? Can I buy it outside
    Japan ? Or…
    – Can I buy It once I arrive
    In Nagoya at the Nohi bus Terminal or is it
    too late to get the ticket ?

    Please advise…. Thank you so much.
    Regards. Ruwengoh

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      December 12, 2016 at 12:36 pm

      Hi Ruwen,

      You can use Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass. Kanzawa-Toyama-Nagoya route is right and this route is covered by this pass fully.
      You need to make an overseas call if you want to make a reservation in advance. Online is not available for this pass user. Please see the link below:
      https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/highwaybus/shirakawago.pdf

      I’m not sure that you can get a seat after you make a reservation. When I was there in this past February, the bus was almost full even in weekdays.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  4. JT says:
    December 7, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    I will be travelling to Osaka in Dec, could you kindly look at my itinerary and advise if the Takayama-Hokuriku area pass is the most suitable?

    Day 1: Arrive Osaka airport. Stay in Nagahoribashi.
    Day 2: USJ
    Day 3: Travel to Shirakawa & Takayama. Stay Takayama
    Day 4: Day trip in Kanazawa, return to Osaka.
    Day 5: Osaka
    Day 6: Kyoto day trip (understand the pass doesn’t cover city travel)
    Day 7: fly back via Kansai airport in the evening

    Would you recommend using the pass for Day 3 to 7? If I can use the pass for day 6, is it taking the JR special rapid service from Osaka station?

    Thanks a lot!

  5. Pei says:
    December 6, 2016 at 8:51 pm

    Dear Takeshi san,

    I’ve got myself an simple itinerary for coming February but just need your advice for any improvement.

    DAY 1 reached KANSAI AIRPORT – Shin-osaka – Kanazawa
    DAY 2 Kanazawa – Shirakawago – Takayama
    DAY 3 Takayama – Toyama
    DAY 4 Toyama – Kanazawa
    DAY 5 Kanazawa – kyoto
    DAY 6 Kyoto
    DAY 7 Kyoto – Nara – Osaka
    DAY 8 Osaka – KANSAI AIRPORT

    What the suitable JR pass we need to use?

    Thank you.

    Pei

  6. Xinyi says:
    December 6, 2016 at 2:40 am

    Dear Takeshi,

    Thanks for the sharing tips!

    I wonder how many passes should I get, here is my itinerary:

    Day 1 : Kansai Airport – Kyoto (ICOCA+Haruka)
    Day 2 : Nara – Kyoto
    Day 3 : Kyoto
    Day 4 : Kyoto-Kanazawa-Shirakawago (Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass)
    Day 5 : Shirakawago-Kanazawa-Osaka (Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass)
    Day 6 : Osaka (Osaka 2 Day Pass)
    Day 7 : Osaka (Osaka 2 Day Pass)
    Day 8 : Osaka – Kansai Airport (ICOCA+Haruka)

    It seems that Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass can only cover my trip from Kyoto-Shirakawago-Osaka. Am I right?

    So I need to get 3 passes in total for this whole trip?

    Please advise.

    Many thanks!!

    Regards,
    Xinyi

  7. Jazz says:
    November 29, 2016 at 11:16 pm

    Hi Takeshi,
    I am keen to get the 5 days Takayama Hokuriku Pass for the upcoming trip starts 8 Dec.
    Can you help to confirm that all trains/bus marked * will be covered at no additional cost (reserved seats included) using this pass?
    Many thanks!
    Day 1 – arriving KIX, ICOCA+Haruka to Kyoto
    Day 2 – Kyoto
    Day 3 – Kyoto
    Day 4 – Kyoto
    Day 5 – Ltd Express Thunderbird from Kyoto to Kanazawa *
    Day 6 – Day trip to Shirakawa-go by Nohi bus *
    Day 7 – Ltd Express Thunderbird from Kanazawa to Osaka *
    Day 8 – USJ via JR Yumesaki Line *
    Day 9 – Day trip to Nara by JR Yamatoji Line *
    Day 10 – Osaka
    Day 11 – Osaka
    Day 12 – ICOCA+Haruka from Tennoji to KIX

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 29, 2016 at 11:38 pm

      Hi Jazz,

      Only trip to Nara is not covered fully. This pass covers downtown Osaka only.
      If you use this pass to get Nara, you have to pay about 500 yen extra for one way. This extra cost can be paid when you exit at Nara station. Just show your pass and station staff tell you how much you need to pay.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

    • Florence says:
      November 30, 2016 at 4:30 pm

      Can I check whether this takayama Hokruiri pass can be used FYI travel to Nagoya Airport

  8. Jeremy says:
    November 25, 2016 at 8:49 pm

    Dear Takeshi san,

    I am thinking of the following itinerary and will need your advice :

    20 Dec : Osaka to Takayama
    21 Dec : Takayama to Shirakawago
    22 Dec : Shirakawago to Kyoto

    Do you think this is doable? What is the best travel plan and pass to get?

    Thank you

  9. Grace says:
    November 24, 2016 at 9:25 pm

    Hi Takeshi
    my plan is
    Day 1: Kansai to Kanazawa

    Day 2: In Kanazawa

    Day 3: Kanazawa to Nagoya – prefer direct train, can I take LTD. EXP SHIRASAGI ?

    Day 4: Kanazawa to Kyoto

    Day 5 to 7: In Kyoto

    Is it possible to take train to Kurobe-Unazukionsen with this pass ?

    Many thanks as always
    Grace

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 24, 2016 at 10:01 pm

      Hi Grace,

      This pass does not cover Shirasagi. Some part of the trip by Shirasagi is covered but the segment between Tsuruga and Gifu is not covered. If you pay extra for this segment, you have to pay around 3000 for base fare and seat fee. If you don’t like it, you have to go through either Shirakawago by bus or Toyama by train.

      Kurobe Unazuki Onsen is not in coverage area. It’s not covered unfortunately.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. Janice Low says:
    November 21, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    Dear Takeshi san,

    I’ve got myself an simple itinerary for coming January but just need your advice for any improvement.

    26 Jan : Arrival @ KIX (gonna stay around dotonbori)
    27 Jan : Osaka
    28 Jan : (go thru Nagoya) Takayama
    29 Jan : Shibu Onsen (might change date with Shirakawago)
    30 Jan : Shirakawago (might change date with Shibu Onsen)
    31 Jan : Kanazawa
    01 Feb : Kyoto
    02 Feb : Kyoto
    03 Feb : Rinku Town
    04 Feb : KIX (back Malaysia)

    I’ve planned to use ICOCA-Haruka from KIX to Tennoji & Kyoto to KIX (transfer back to Rinku from KIX). From 28 Jan to 1st Feb will be using Hokuriku pass. But it seems like I’ll best get the Kintetsu pass for journey from Osaka to Nagoya, right?

    Did Hokuriku pass cover JR Hida 25 (Nagoya – Takayama)?

    Thank you in advance.

    Janice

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      November 21, 2016 at 11:12 pm

      Hi Janice san,

      I don’t agree to use Kintetsu rail pass. This deal was good for even one way trip from Osaka to Nagoya. But now single fare is cheaper because it does not cover limited express surcharge. If you want to go to Nagoya, you can use Kintetsu railway. But if you just want to go to Takayama from Osaka, take limited express Wide View Hida from Osaka. There is one trip to Takayama from Osaka directly.
      https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/limited-express-wide-view-hida.html#Route_schedule_and_trip_time

      If you take this train, you have to pay extra for Osaka to Gifu. That costs around 5500 yen for base fare and reserved seat fee. After Gifu, Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass covers. If you take this way, you can exchange Takayama Hokuriku area pass at Kansai airport station. When you exchange the pass, you also can book your seat for Osaka to Gifu. You can get same seat for Osaka-Gifu-Takayama.

      I agree with your plan other than this.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      • Janice Low says:
        December 15, 2016 at 6:17 pm

        Dear Takeshi san,

        Thank you very much on the advice. I feel so much safer right now with the confirmed information.

        May I also check with you, ICOCA-Haruka from KIX – Tennoji & Kyoto-KIX, both need to buy separately on the day of use? The price will be JPY4700 right?

        Cheers,
        Janice

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