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. Vincent Lim says:
    July 14, 2019 at 7:21 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    I am planning a trip for my family end of the year on 11 Dec. We will arrive in Chubu International Airport early in the morning around 8am.

    Below is our itinerary:
    Day 1: Arrive in Chubu International Airport. Travel to Kanazawa.
    Day 2: Day trip – Kanazawa to Fukui, back to Kanazawa
    Day 3: Within Kanazawa
    Day 4: Travel Kanazawa to Takayama.
    Day 5: Day trip – Takayama to Magome, back to Takayama
    Day 6: Day trip – Takayama to Shirakawago and Toyoma and back to Takayama
    Day 7: Day trip – Takayama to a ski resort (haven’t planned which one yet), back to Takayama
    Day 8: Travel Takayama to Nagoya
    Day 9: Within Nagoya – City Science Museum
    Day 10: Within Nagoya – Legoland
    Day 11: Within Nagoya – Nagoya Castle
    Day 12: Within Nagoya – Somewhere
    Day 13: Depart Japan from Chubu International Airport

    I was thinking of driving from the airport to Kanazawa when I arrive, and then using the Takayama-Horikoku pass for days 4-8. But I’m not sure if thats the best combination.
    Kindly advise the best pass for our trip.

    Many thanks!

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      July 14, 2019 at 10:42 am

      Hi Vincent,

      Can you visit Magome from Nagoya? Because there is no direct routes available from Takayama in winter season. Nohi bus operates the day trip to Magome and Tsumago from Takayama. But at this point, it will be operated until the end of November:
      https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/route_bus/magome_tsumago_line_en/

      In the winter season, it is not easy to get Magome from Takayama as the day trip. You have to go to Matsumoto by bus and then take a train to Nakatsugawa. And then take a local bus to get Magome. All these trips are not covered by Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass. It is very far and not realistic as the day trip. But if you go there from Nagoya, you can get Nakatsugawa by the train. It is much closer than access from Takayama. I visited Magome from Nagoya a few years ago. You can find my trip report in the link below:
      https://jprail.com/travel-informations/trip-report/2016-winter-tohoku-chubu-chugoku/trip-to-tohoku-chubu-and-chugoku-in-2016-winter-part-4-nagoya-to-matsumoto-via-magome.html

      If you can do this, you can go to Nagoya on day 7. As a result, you can start using the pass on day 3. You can go to Fukui on day 3 and it is covered by Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass for day 3 to 7. You can stay in Kanazawa on day 2.
      I recommend you to stay in Kanazawa on day 3 and make a trip to Fuku i on day 3. And you can start using Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass on day 3. It covers the round trip between Kanazawa and Fukui.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  2. Suet Ting says:
    July 2, 2019 at 10:22 pm

    Hello Takeshi-san,

    Thank you so much for all the details given. Here’s my planned itinerary, i was wondering if it is worth and more economical to get a 7 JR Pass from the 4th days onwards 28th Dec (Osaka -> Kanazawa – Kyoto) instead of the Takayama Horuriku area pass?

    24 Dec -> arrive Osaka
    25 – 27 -> Osaka
    28 Dec -> Depart to Kanazawa (via JR Shinkansen)
    29 – Kanazawa
    30 – Kanazawa to Takayama & Shirakawago (Day trip)
    31 – Takayama – Kyoto
    1 – 2 Jan – Kyoto
    3 Jan -> Kyoto to KIX airport

    Understandably, I need to get a separate bus pass to travel between kanazawa, takayama and shirakawago too.

    Welcome your suggestion. Thank you.

  3. Mr Q says:
    July 2, 2019 at 9:27 am

    Hi Takeshi,

    We will arrive in Japan on 15 Dec at Osaka and leaving on 27 Dec

    Below is our itinerary:
    Day 1 – Home – Osaka
    Day 2 – Osaka
    Day 3 – Osaka
    Day 4: Kyoto
    Day 5: kyoto
    Day 6: Kyoto – Kanazawa – Takayama
    Day 7: Takayama – Shirakawa-go
    Day 8: Takayama – Hirayo Onsen
    Day 9: Takayama – Hirayo Onsen – Shinhotaka Ropeway
    Day 10: Takayama – Kanazawa – Osaka
    Day 11: Osaka
    Day 12: Osaka
    Day 13: Osaka – Home

    Kindly advise the best pass for our trip.

    Many thanks!

  4. Soo says:
    June 13, 2019 at 11:35 pm

    Hi Takeshi..
    Does Takayama-Hokuriku pass cover Dentetsu Toyama Station to Unazuki Onsen Station (Toyama Chiho railway) for Kurobe Gorge? Thanks.

  5. Jesline Woon says:
    June 13, 2019 at 7:13 pm

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    Planning to visiti Osaka(3 nights_, Kyoto(3 nights), Kanazawa,(One night) Shiragawa-go(day trip) and Takayama (2nights) in Mid Dec

    Shall I go

    1) KIX Airport -Kyoto – Kanazawa or Takayama
    2) KIX Airport – Kanazawa or Takayama – Kyoto – Osaka

    Is it worth to buy the Takayama Hokuruiku Pass?
    I am very worried about the luggaged. Should I stay in osaka upon arrival and keep the luggage with the hotel and ck-in again as final destination/

    Please advise.

    Thank you

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      June 14, 2019 at 5:58 am

      Hi Jesline san,

      You may use Takayama Hokuriku area pass and Option 2 is better because you can use Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass right away. In Kansai airport, there are some luggage shipping services available. You can find it at the arrival level in Kansai airport terminal. If you don’t want to travel with the luggage, you can use it. It costs about 2,000 to 3,000 yen per luggage. You can receive it usually on next day. You can ship anywhere in Japan.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  6. Tim says:
    May 24, 2019 at 11:29 pm

    Hi Takeshi San,
    Would the Tateyama Hokuriku pass be the best transport pass for the following itinerary in late June-early July?

    I want to start my journey in kyoto and hit most of these spots as well as Kurobe Gorge, the kiso valley nakasendo and matsumoto.

    The Itinerary is currently:
    Day 1 – Kyoto to Toyama and visit Kurobe Gorge. Overnight in Toyama (I would start using the pass here)
    Day 2 – Toyama to Takaoka and take a bus to Ainokura. Overnight in Ainokura
    Day 3 – Take a bus to Shirakawago and transfer to another bus for Takayama
    Day 4 – Takayama to Kiso Valley via Nagoya. Overnight in Magome (the pass would cover the trip from Takayama to Nagoya)
    Day 5 – Travel from Nakatsugawa to Matsumoto. Then overnight in Kofu.
    Day 6-8 – Multiday hike in the Southern Alps (Shirane Sanzan). Overnight bus from Kofu back to Kyoto/Osaka.

    I’ve been to Kanazawa already in a previous trip so I don’t need to necessarily make a stop there. I know there’s also an option for the alpine-takayama-matsumoto area pass which also covers some areas but I’ve also been up and down the tateyama-kurobe alpine route so I don’t really need to make the trip again and it also doesn’t cover the Gokayama/Shirakawago section of the trip.

    Thanks so much for your help!
    Tim

  7. Jonas Emeterio says:
    April 23, 2019 at 7:36 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,

    The information you have just shared is such of big help for our planned trip this coming Winter. As much as I want to go through each one of them, may I also seek for your expertise in suggesting the most convenient and economical way of doing the multi city tour?

    We are planning to purchase the JR Pass (7 days) since our tour will be for 8 days (first day having to only be from 8:20 -12 midnight so I plan to limit the cost additional travel without activating the JR pass in Day1)

    We have 2 Planned Routes being studied and need your advise on what is geographically correct:

    Day 1: Arrival at 8:20pm via Chubu/Centrair (no JR pass to get out of the airport, JR is not covered here anyway)

    Option 1.
    Day 1: Centrair>Nagoya station (sleepover until JR activates in Day 2)
    Day 2 >Tokyo>Ueno>
    Day 3 Nagano>
    Day 4,5 Kanazawa>( go to Takayama/Shirakawa-go/Tomaya/Alphine Route)>
    Day 6,7,8 Stay in Shin-Osaka for accommodation (go to Kyoto/Osaka/Naga & Hiroshima if time permits) )>Kansai Airport

    Option 2.
    Day 1 Centrair>Takayama>
    Day 2 Shirakawa-go>Tomaya (Do we need to go to Kanazawa for the Alpine Route?)>
    Day 3 Nagano>
    Day 4,5 Ueno>Tokyo>
    Day 6,7,8 Stay in Shin Osaka for accommodation (Osaka/Kyoto/Naga & Hiroshima if time permits)>Kansai Airport

    Day 8: Kansai departure is at 9pm

    Question are:
    1. Which is the correct route if we will not use JR pass on day 1 (waiting 4 hours before JR pass is activated
    2. Do you suggest we get the 7 days JR pass or do you suggest a regional pass if some of the areas that we plan to go to are not covered by JR pass? What are those pass that you think is best to purchase as foreign visitor? (5 days/3 days/1 days option/busses/subway/one way tickets)

    Thank you for your time in looking into our query.
    Have a great day ahead.

    Jonas

  8. Anne says:
    March 17, 2019 at 8:37 pm

    Hello, I’m interested in taking this rail pass. We are going to Takahama in JR Obama Line (Higashimaizuru specifically). I’m just wondering if this will be covered because it is close to Fukui and Tsuruga. We are planning to start in Kanazawa then change in Tsuruga.

    Thank you so much for your help

  9. Sher Lynn says:
    January 16, 2019 at 3:19 am

    Dear Takeshi,

    Thank you for putting up such an informative website! It’s really helpful in my planning for my trip. I’d like to ask, if it’s possible to travel from from Kyoto to Nagoya, then from Nagoya to Osaka using the Takayama-Hokuriku pass? My plan is as below:
    Day 1-Day 6: Kyoto
    Day 6: (Activate Takayama-Hokuriku pass) Kyoto to Takayama (Visit Kanazawa on the way). Overnight Takayama
    Day 7: Visit Shirakawago, Gokayama & Shirokuma as day trip. Overnight Takayama
    Day 8: Takayama to Nagoya. Overnight Nagoya
    Day 9: Go to Kiso Valley (Nakasendo trail hiking) as day trip. Overnight Nagoya
    Day 10: Nagoya to Osaka (Back track)
    My question is, can I use the last day of the Takayama-Hokuriku pass to travel from Nagoya to Osaka? How long would it take, as I need to change several trains right? Is it better to back track like this or buy extra ticket to go to Osaka straight from Nagoya?

    Many thanks in advance for your advice.

    Regards,
    SL

    • Takeshi / JPRail.com says:
      January 16, 2019 at 6:33 am

      Hi Sher,

      Unfortunately Nagoya to Osaka direct route is not covered. Please see the chapter of “Train which is not covered at all or partially” in the post above. You should add the extra fare for this segment because if you use the pass without extra charge, you have to go through Takayama and Kanazawa. It’s is a big big detour. If you pay about 6,000 yen to take Shinkansen, it’s one hour trip. But if you don’t pay and take Takayama and Kanazawa route, you will spend more than 5 hours and need to change trains at least twice.

      Cheers,

      Takeshi / JPRail.com

  10. YY Tan says:
    January 12, 2019 at 11:11 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,
    Need your advice on which pass should I get for my japan trip in coming April. Below is my itinerary:
    Day 1: arrive KIX. Stay near nippombashi for 4 nights
    Day 2: Osaka – Kaiyukan and surrounding
    Day 3: Osaka >Kobe, Arima Onsen
    Day 4: Osaka >Nara
    Day 5: Kyoto- Kiyomizudera
    Day 6: Kyoto- Fushimi-Inari-Taisha, Ginkakuji
    Day 7: Kyoto- Arashiyama, Kinkakuji
    Day 8: move to Nagoya or Kanazawa
    Day 9: Takayama, Shirakawa-go day trip
    Day 10: from Nagoya or Kanazawa, move to Tokyo. Stay near Komagome station for 4 nights
    Day 11: Around Mt.Fuji
    Day 12: Hakone
    Day 13: DisneySea
    Day 14: depart from Haneda

    Please advise which pass should I take? And to get to Shirakawa-go, which place should I stay, Nagoya or Kanazawa or Takayama? I do not prefer to travel with luggage as we are in a group of 11 including children.
    Thanks.

1…2627282930…32
Copied title and URL