How to get to Takayama by a train and a bus

TakayamaChubu Area
2020.05.17
Preserved path in Takayama. It is very popular tourist district in Takayama.
Takayama Old Town is very popular tourist district.

Takayama is one of the most popular destinations for overseas travelers. Especially spring and fall seasons are very popular since the festivals are held. This city is also known as the gateway to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawago.
I would like to tell you about the access to Takayama in this post.

Overview

Takayama access map. Click to enlarge. (C) JP Rail
Takayama access map. Click to view large. (C) JP Rail

Takayama is a small town but it is one of most popular tourist places in Japan in these days. The old preserved district is busy in all season. Please watch the movie below about this charming old town:

This town is located in the middle of Nagoya, Toyama, Kanazawa and Matsumoto.

Nagoya is most common gateway station to get Takayama. But there are some more ways to access to Takayama, such as Kanazawa, Toyama and Matsumoto. I would like to show you the ways to get Takayama.

Access from Tokyo, Nagoya and many other cities by the limited express Wide View Hida

Limited Express Wide View Hida at Takayama station
Limited Express Wide View Hida at Takayama station

Nagoya can be reached by the Shinkansen from Tokyo, Shin-Yokohama, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka and many more stations on the Tokaido Shinkansen easily and directly. This route is fully covered by JR Pass.

Most of travellers take the limited express Wide View Hida from Nagoya to Takayama. Travel time is 2.5 hours to get Takayama from Nagoya. This train departs from Nagoya almost every one hour. Please see the post, below to find more information about the limited express Wide Veiw 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

And you can get more information about Nagoya station in the link below:

Nagoya station guide. How to transfer among Shinkansen, Kintetsu, Meitetsu, subway and JR local trains.
Nagoya station is one of the largest stations in Japan. There are JR lines, Shinkansen, Kintetsu, Meitetsu and subway lines. You can find lots of information about Nagoya station. You also can find how to change the trains in Nagoya station in this post.
jprail.com
2016.07.27

Access from Osaka by the limited express Wide View Hida

There is only one round trip to Takayama from Osaka directly. Please 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

If you can catch this train, it is convenient. But it is only one round trip a day. Most of travelers take the Shinkansen to Nagoya and transfer to the limited express Wide View Hida.

Access from Toyama by the limited express Wide View Hida

Gassho style housing in Shirakawago.

If you travel in Hokuriku region, you may get on the limited express Wide View Hida from Toyama. Travel time is 1.5 hours. However there are only 4 round trips a day. There are local trains too. But there is no local trains that connects Toyama and Takayama directly, And also it is very slow. Please check 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

Access from Kanazawa or Toyama via Shirakawago by Nohi bus

Nohi bus has the biggest network in this area.
Nohi bus has the biggest network in this area.

This route is not a train trip and is not covered by JR Pass. But Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass covers this bus service. This is very popular route because Shirakawago is located on the way. If you have a plan to go to Shirakawago, you may consider about visiting Shirakawago and Kanazawa. Please see the link below to find the timetable and the fare of Nohi bus:

Nohi Bus official site

The following posts also may help you to build your trip plan:

How to access to Shirakawago from Takayama, Kanazawa, Takaoka and Toyama.
How to access Kanazawa from Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Yokohama, Hiroshima, Hakata and many more places. Which route is the fastest and the cheapest?

Access from Matsumoto by bus

This route is not a train trip and is not covered by JR Pass either. But if you want to access to Takayama from Nagano or Matsumoto, you may use this route. This bus service is also operated by Nohi bus:

Nohi Bus official site

This route is not covered by Takayama Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass either.

I traveled from Matsumoto to Takayama via Shin-Hotaka by this bus. Please find my trip report in the movie below. You can find the interior of the bus, the scenery and the bus stops on the way.

Takayama station and Takayama bus terminal

Both the station and the bus terminal are located side by side.

Takayama station and Nohi bus Takayama Bust Terminal (behind the staiton building)

Takayama station is very small. It has only two platforms and three tracks. The station building is very small and it has only one ticket gate.

Please watch the movie below to see whole Takayama station and the bus terminal:

Overview of Takayama station
Overview of Takayama station

There are many bus services from Nohi Bus Takayama bus terminal. You can catch the bus to Shirakawago, Kanazawa, Matsumoto, Shin-Hotaka at this bus terminal.

Takayama bus terminal
Takayama bus terminal
Bus stops are located in front of bus terminal.
Bus stops are located in front of bus terminal.
Ticket window in bus terminal
Ticket window in bus terminal
Convenience store is in the terminal building.
Convenience store is in the terminal building.

I hope this post helped you to build your trip plan to Takayama.

Comments

  1. Ghina says:
    February 15, 2015 at 4:33 am

    Hello.

    I want to travel to Takayama via Gifu or Ogaki.
    Do you know abiut timetable and fare?

    Thank you

  2. Agnes says:
    February 4, 2015 at 9:53 pm

    Hi,

    I would like to inquire, I have trip Japan on April. My route is Tokyo Narita and will stay at Tachikawa. Appreciate to give me any idea of train fares and schedule of the following:

    Tokyo Narita airport – Tachikawa
    Tachikawa – Disney Land
    Tachikawa – Shibuya

    Tachikawa – Tokyo – Tokyo – Osaka

  3. Curine says:
    November 24, 2014 at 2:51 am

    How do I travel from takayama station to Hakone Onsen?

  4. Boyet says:
    June 23, 2014 at 12:07 am

    SOmetime by third week of October, I will be visiting Osaka but I wanted to see Takayama. Is there a train direct to Takayama or would you think its easier/faster via Nagoya.

    For my stay in Japan from Oct. 24 to Oct 31 (with 3 days in Takayama) the rest are day trips to nagoya and hakone, do you thing a JR Pass 7-days (Yen 29,000) is practical or should I pay by train ride?

    I intend to go to Takayama overnight only or should I stay for 2 nights if I include a half day tour to Shirakawa-go? Should I go to Shirakawa in the afternoon of my arrival to Takayama and the next day half day tour to takayama and back to osaka in the afternoon? or would you think I stay for 2 nights in Takayama to see the town itself as well?

    How long does it normally take from takayama to Osaka if I leave about 2pm?

    thank you,

  5. Syi says:
    May 16, 2014 at 9:26 pm

    Dear Sir,
    I would like to go to these locations in japan next month, but I am still confused with the trains. Please advise whats the best way and price of trains to go to these places.

    Day 1 – KIX to Tennoji / Uehonmachi(where my hotel is) and then go to Shinsaibashi
    Day 2 Tennoji / Uehonmachi to Yotsubashi
    Day 3 – Tennoji / Uehonmachi to Takayama to go to Shirawakago
    Day 4- Kyoto
    Day 6 – Nara
    Day 7- Kobe
    Day 8- Osaka (explore osaka and maybe go to Universal studios)
    Day 10 – KIX airport

    Please help, thank you!

  6. Handy says:
    January 30, 2014 at 7:04 pm

    Hi,

    We will go to Takayama and we know how to get there, but how to go back from Takayama to Tokyo?
    Is it fully covered by Japan Rail Pass?

    Is this a correct way:
    From Takayama Station, take JR Hida limited express train to Nagoya (2.5 hrs, one train per hour) transfer to the JR Tokaido Shinkansen from Nagoya Tokyo to (2 hrs, several trains per hour) and. The entire one way journey takes 4.5 hours

    Thank you.

  7. Catherine says:
    November 1, 2013 at 8:41 pm

    Hi Takeshi San

    We planning to go to Takayama on 17 November for 2 nights.
    We would like some advise on how to get to Takayama from Shinjuku, and from Takayama to Narita Airport with the cheapest transportation.

    Will we have enough time to travel from Takayama to Narita Airport.
    Our flight departs at 15.15 from Narita

    Thank you.
    Catherine

  8. Jen says:
    October 21, 2013 at 6:31 am

    Hi Takeshi-san,

    I’m google-d and found that there’s a direct train which travels from kyoto to takayama (on Ltd Express Wide View Hida 25) but I’m not sure if this service is still available and if I can purchase the ticket online (I tried googling but can’t find much information). I’d prefer the direct train rather than making a transfer at nagoya due to budget constraint and also the confusion of switching train.

    I’ll truly appreciate if you can share some information about the direct train service (if it is available?) and also where can I buy the ticket. Thank you very much!

  9. Kent says:
    July 26, 2013 at 9:55 am

    Hi there,

    Thanks a lot for this friendly website and your exceptionally helpful articles. Just a quick reminder that the Wide View Hida from Osaka is now scheduled to depart at 7:58 am instead.

    LTD. EXP (WIDE VIEW) HIDA 25 Osaka 大坂 T11 7:58 Gifu 岐阜 9:55
    LTD. EXP (WIDE VIEW) HIDA 25 Gifu 岐阜 10:10 Takayama 高山 12:13

    Regards,

  10. Tak says:
    December 27, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Hi Takeshi san,

    If you are going to Takayama and Shirakawago, JR tokai is now offering bus and train package from Nagoya for one day return at 7,800yen. If normal fare is paid,
    JR Nagoya to Takayama return is 11,740 yen.
    Bus return from Takayama to Shirakawago is 4,300yen.
    The package with hotel, train and bus is also available from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya too. I used it before as it is very good price. I don’t recommend it for visitors from outside Japan, as it cannot be reserved outside Japan and advertisement is written in Japanese only. However, I’d recommend this for resident in Japan who can’t buy JR pass.
    http://www.jrtours.co.jp/shupogifu_plan/hidaji/

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