How to go to Shirakawa-go by bus
In this article, I am going to introduce how to take buses from the central (Chubu) cities to Shirakawa-go, and except introducing the locations of bus stations in each city, I will also give you some tips of taking bus in Japan.
As the previous article mentioned, there are four different bus routes to go to Shirakawa-go running by different bus company. Please see the map below.
The Bus routes information
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Route A:
Kanazawa←→Shirakawa-go←→Takayama
Route B: Toyama←→Shirakawa-go←→Takayama
Route C: Nagoya←→Shirakawa-go
Route D: Takaoka←→Gokayama←→Shirakawa-go
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*The time able C that didn’t mention is the route between Shirakawa-go and Hirase Onsen, 1 bus a day to go to Hirase Onsen (departure at 17:35), 2 buses to go to Shirakawa-go (8:30 and 9:30), need to make a reservation in advance.
Transportation time and fees
Departure from | Travel time | Single ticket (yen) | Return ticket (yen) | Website for making reservation |
Kanazawa | 75-85 mins | 1,850 | 3,290 | need reservation |
Takayama | 50-57 mins | 2,470 | 4,420 | recommend to make reservations |
Toyama | 80 mins | 1,700 | 3,080 | need reservation |
Nagoya | 3 hr | 3,900 | 7,000 | need reservation |
Takaoka
*also stop at Gokayama |
115-130 mins | 1,800 | 3,500 | Non-reserved bus |
*Please click the links above to make a reservation at the websites
*Online reservation is not available for the travelers with ”Takayam and Hokuriku pass”, please make a phone call or go to ticket office after come to Japan.
Reservation center phone number: +81(0)577-32-1688
(Japanese and English available)
Business hour: Japan time 9 AM-6 PM
Time tables
I have made the simplify time tables of five different bus routes, please click the links below.
- Kanazawa←→Shirakawa-go
- Takayama←→Shirakawa-go
- Toyama←→Shirakawa-go
- Nagoya←→Shirakawa-go
- Takaoka←→Shirakawa-go
Departure from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go (reservation required)
(Route A: Kanazawa←→Shirakawa-go←→Takayama)
- Takes about 75-85 minutes
- Single ticket is 1,850 yen, return ticket is 3,290 yen
- You may purchase tickets at Hokutetsu ticket office and take the bus at bus stop No.2 which just in the front of east exit of JR Kanazawa station.

*Maps resource: Takayama Hokuriku pass
Time table
Running by | Kanazawa station
Departure time |
Shirakawa-go
Arrive time |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 8:10 | 9:35 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 8:40 | 10:05 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 9:10 | 10:35 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 9:40 | 11:05 |
Nohi bus | 11:10 | 12:35 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 12:40 | 14:05 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 13:10 | 14:35 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 13:40 | 15:05 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 14:40 | 16:05 |
Nohi bus | 16:00 | 17:02 |
Departure from Takayama to Shirakawa-go
(Route A and Route B, part of buses are reservation required)
- Takes about 50-57 minutes
- Single ticket is 2,470 yen, return ticket is 4,420 yen
- You may purchase tickets and reserve seats at Takayama bus terminal

*Maps resource: Takayama Hokuriku pass
Time table
Running by | Takayama bus station
Departure time |
Shirakawa-go
Arrive time |
Nohi bus | 7:50 | 8:40 |
Nohi bus | 8:20 | 9:10 |
Nohi bus | 8:50 | 9:40 |
Nohi bus | 9:50 | 10:40 |
Nohi bus | 10:50 | 11:40 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 11:20 | 12:10 |
Nohi bus | 11:50 | 12:57 |
Nohi bus | 12:20 | 13:10 |
Nohi bus | 12:50 | 13:40 |
Nohi bus | 13:50 | 14:57 |
Toyama Chihou railway | 14:30 | 15:20 |
Nohi bus | 14:50 | 15:57 |
Toyama Chihou railway | 15:50 | 16:40 |
Hokuriku railroad bus | 16:30 | 17:20 |
Nohi bus | 17:50 | 18:47 |
Nohi bus | 19:00 | 19:57 |
*The bus highlighted by blue need to reserve seats in advance, and the one highlighted by orange do not running during weekend.
Departure from Toyama to Shirakawa-go (reservation required)
(Route B: Toyama←→Shirakawa-go←→Takayama)
- Takes about 80 minutes
- Single ticket is 1,700 yen, return ticket is 3,080 yen
- Come out from the South exit of JR Toyama station and you can purchase tickets at Toyama Chihou railway ticket office. Please take the bus at bus stop No.2.

Time table
Running by | Toyama
Departure time |
Shirakawa-go |
Toyama Chihou railway | 8:50 | 10:10 |
Toyama Chihou railway | 10:35 | 11:55 |
Nohi bus | 12:00 | 13:20 |
Nohi bus | 18:55 | 20:15 |
Departure from Nagoya to Shirakawa-go (reservation required)
(Route C: Nagoya←→Shirakawa-go)
- Takes about 3 hours
- Single ticket is 3.900 yen, return ticket is 7,000 yen
- Access:


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2. If you come from Meitetsu Nagoya station: please take the stairs on the left, and then turn right. Turn right again at Starbucks coffee shop and continue straight to the next traffic light. |
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Time table
Nagoya Meitetsu station
Departure time |
Shirakawa-go
Arrive time |
8:00 | 10:51 |
8:20 | 11:11 |
9:00 | 12:13 |
9:20 | 12:11 |
The world heritage bus departure from Takaoka to Shirakawa-go
(Route D:Takaoka←→Gokayama←→Shirakawa-go) Non-reserved bus
- Takes about 115-130 minutes
- Single ticket is 1.800 yen, return ticket is 3,500 yen
- Access:
- From JR Takaoka station, please come out from the North exit and take the buses at bus stop No.7.

2. From Shin-Takaoka JR station (Shinkensen), please come out from the South exit and take the buses at bus stop No.4.

*Map resource: Hokuriku Takayama pass
Time table
Takaoka station | Shin Takaoka station | Johana train station | Shirakawa-go
Arrive time |
7:10 | 8:25 | ||
— | — | 8:10 | 9:25 |
8:10 | 8:25 | 9:05 | 10:20 |
9:20 | 9:35 | 10:15 | 11:30 |
— | — | 11:05 | 12:20 |
10:45 | 11:00 | 11:40 | 12:55 |
— | — | 12:45 | 14:00 |
13:20 | 13:35 | 14:15 | 15:30 |
16:00 | 16:15 | 16:55 | 18:10 |
*The bus highlighted by blue color only running during weekend
Hope you enjoy your trip, have fun in Shirakawa-go.