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 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
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:
And you can get more information about Nagoya station in the link below:
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
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
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:
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:
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 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:
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.
I hope this post helped you to build your trip plan to Takayama.
Comments
Hello Takeshi,
I’m staying in Giro for 4 nights to access Takayama for the spring festival on 14th and 15th April. what trains would you recommend from/to Giro to Takayama and is there a website that I can book the train seats for family of four, as you mentioned that its busy season.
Many thanks
Ratna
Hi Ratna,
You can take limited express Wide View Hida.
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/limited-express-wide-view-hida.html
Unfortunately there is no online booking site available. You have to book after you arrive in Japan.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshita
Hubby and I , will be Tokyo for 5 days, after completing our cruise at Yokohama.
As it is less than 7 days, it costs more to buy the JR Rail pass ,can you please advise us as to the best and economical way to travel from:
Yokohama to Takayama
Then
Return trip Takayama to Shinjuku
In Tokyo we will be just visiting the suburbs .
By the way, can we buy the Suica card and use it on Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya? Then on wide view Hida,
The Matsumoto and Kanazawa line?
Hi Janet,
JR pass 7 days is the best choice.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/other-rail-passes/rail-pass-for-visitors/japan-rail-pass-user-guide-how-to-use-jr-pass-to-its-maximum.html
Suica cannot be used for long distance train, such as Shinkansen from Yokohama to Nagoya. Suica can be used for local transfer, like local train in Tokyo, Tokyo-Yokohama only.
Anyway JR pass is cheaper than regular fare and it’s recommended.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Not Takeshita
Hi Takeshi ,
Thank you for your reply,
Sorry for the error , have fat old fingers.
Janet
No worries, Janet.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
hi takeshi,
Im planning to visit Shirakawago. What is the easiest way for travelling from Nagoya to Shirakawago? however, from your post it stated to take hida wide view from Nagoya to Takayama and then take bus from takayama to Shirakawago. If I going to use the route do I need to reserve seat for the hida wide view and bus from takayama to Shirakawago? are there any limited space and what’s the travelling time
Hi Wan Wam,
Reservation is no required for Wide View Hida but recommended. Sometimes non reserved seat is full. Travel time is 2.5 hours. You can check the timetable and fare at Hyperdia:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Reservation is required for most of bus between Takayama and Shirakawago. Please see the details a the link below:
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/highwaybus/shirakawago.pdf
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Thanks for the reply, anyhow can we book online for the Hida wide view and also the bus from takayama to shirakawago ? and may I know roughly how much ?
Hi WanWan,
You cannot reserve for Wide View Hida online. You have to reserve it after you arrive in Japan. Please use Hyperdia to find the fare.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
For the bus to Shirakawago, you can book it online. All info are shown in the link that I gave you in the previous reply.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
I’m planning to leave Takayama for Nagoya by train so that I can get the connecting flight from Nagoya to Narita Airport.
Are there trains running every hour from Takayama to Nagoya?
When I reach Nagoya station, which train line do I take to go to Narita? Do I go upstairs or downstairs for the train to Narita?
Thanks,
Phaik Lee
Hi Phaik Lee,
Train schedule depends on your departure time. Please use hyperdia to find the train timetable.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
You cannot get Narita from Nagoya directly. You will take Shinkansen from Nagoya to Shinagawa. And then need to take Narita Express. Please find more info in the links 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
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/station-information/shinagawa-station-guide-transfer-among-shinkansen-keihin-kyuko-to-haneda-narita-express.html
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-departure-arrival-stations/stations-in-tokai/nagoya-toyohashi/what-is-shinkansen-bullet-train.html
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/narita-express.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi,
Will be making a trip to Takayama from Kanazawa.
Understand that i can take a nohi bus from Kanazawa. But since i will be getting the Jr pass. Was thinking whether can i use it to take the JR route from Takayama to Kanazawa via toyama. Will it be covered by the jr pass?
Hi Meichan,
Yes, you can take Kanazawa-Toyama-Takayama route by JR pass. It’s covered by the pass fully. When you travel this route, please check the timetable for Toyama to Takayama. There are only 3 limited express trains running. There are many more local trains. But you have to change the trains at least once between Toyama and Takayama, and it’s very slow. Please check the timetable at hyperdia:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Takeshi-san,
I plan to visit a day trip shirakawago in mid dec 2016. Id it already snow at that time? What will be the total cost trip?
Hi iszharudin san,
About snow, I can say “maybe”. It’s hard to say.
You can get Shirakawago from Takayama or Kanazawa. Please see the fare table in the link below:
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/highwaybus/shirakawago.pdf
If you want to know the fare for Kanazawa or Takayama, please use hyperdia to find it.
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi-san,
I still couldn’t make up my mind and would like to hear your opinion :- my trips should be like this – tokyo depart thn will arrive either kanazawa or takayama thn to shirakawa-cho. Should i stay a night in shirakawa or takayama?If stay a night at Shirakawa thn the next day i will depart to takayama thn back to tokyo later or if i stay at takayama thn depart from tokyo – takayama check in thn the next day will go to shirakawa -kanazawa before back to tokyo. Which plan better? So confusing.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Amy
Hi Amy san,
I think staying in Takayama is better option. Accommodations in Shirakawago is very limited. But Takayama has many more hotels. And also if you stay in Takayama, you can visit morning market.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5907.html
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Thanks for your reply Takeshi-san. Being a great help.
Regards,
Amy
No worries, Amy san.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi Takeshi San
I am making a trip to Shirakawa village from Osaka in April 2017.
2 options:
1) Take the Limited Express Wide View Hida from Osaka to Takayama then a bus to shirakawa. What is the timing for this train.
2) Take shinkansen from Osaka to Nagoya and then take the Limited Express Wide View Hida from Osaka to Takayama.
Which is the better option with regards to timing, pricing and convenience?
Or is there another better option than the above 2?
Thank you & Regards
Hi Eunice san,
Direct train schedule can be found in the link below:
https://jprail.com/trains/sort-by-type/limited-express/limited-express-wide-view-hida.html
But JR will revise timetable in March usually. It may be changed.
There are many more train running between Nagoya and Takayama. Please check the fare and timetable in hyperdia:
https://jprail.com/travel-informations/basic-informations/timetable-and-reservation/hyperdia-perfect-guide-train-timetable-and-route-search-engine.html
Actually Kanazawa route is faster and easier to get Shirakawago. Please see the link below:
https://jprail.com/sample-itineraries/1-day/sample-itinerary-of-day-trip-to-kanazawa-and-shirakawago-from-osaka-or-kyoto.html
It is day trip itinerary but you may use it for overnight trip. Takayama Hokuriku Area Pass covers both trains and buses. This is the best deal.
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
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hello Takashi,
I have made reservation on Nori bus website for the single trip from Takayama to Shirakawago. However, there is no credit card payment option available. May I know if I could pay at convenience store by credit card on arrival a couple of days before the actual ride please? Sorry to bother you. Thanks.
Hi Ellen,
Most of convenience store, such as “Seven Eleven”, “Lawson” take credit card payment.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com
Hi takeshi,
Can i reserve seat from nagoya to takayama via hida wide view when i arrive at narita airport JR ticket office with my jr pass?
Can the activation of jrpass start on a later date when we a leaving tokyo for nagoya? Is seat reservation on nationwide travel possible even when activation is on later date.
Thanks
Hi Will,
Yes, you can. For example, when I visited Japan last time on February 2. I arrived at Narita airport and exchanged JR pass there. I started to use JR Pass on February 5 but I made all bookings when I exchanged it.
So it’s completely no problem.
Cheers,
Takeshi / JPRail.com