Tokyo to Shirakawa-go by train and bus: time and fare
From Tokyo to Shirakawa-go, the Kagayaki on the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Hokutetsu or Nohi bus takes 3 h 39 min of riding time from Tokyo Station for 17,400 yen, and the Hakutaka on the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Kaetsuno highway bus takes 4 h 4 min of riding time from Tokyo Station for 16,250 yen.
1 changeBusShinkansen
Ways from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go
Times and fares from each railway's, bus company's and airport's own timetables for Wednesday 14 October 2026.
| Service | Quickest | Fare | Non-reserved | Departures a day | First / last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kagayaki on the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Hokutetsu or Nohi busTokyo → Shirakawa-go | 3 h 39 min | 17,400 yen | 16,870 yen | — | — |
| Hakutaka on the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Kaetsuno highway busTokyo → Shirakawa-go | 4 h 04 min | 16,250 yen | 15,720 yen | — | — |
How long each way takes (riding time)
Kagayaki on the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Hokutetsu or Nohi bus
- Riding time
- 219 min
- Fare
- 17,400 yen
- Change at
- Kanazawa
- From
- Tokyo Station
- To
- Shirakawa-go bus terminal
- Fastest
- 2 h 24 min to Kanazawa (Kagayaki 503, 07:20 → 09:44)
- Then
- Hokutetsu or Nohi bus from Kanazawa Station to Shirakawa-go: 1 h 15 min, 2,800 yen; 11 buses a day, first 08:00, last 16:00
- Riding time
- 3 h 39 min in all, plus the change at Kanazawa
- Fare in all
- 17,400 yen = Kagayaki 14,600 yen + bus 2,800 yen
- First train to Kanazawa
- 06:16 → 08:43 (Kagayaki 501)
- Last train to Kanazawa
- 21:04 → 23:30 (Kagayaki 519)
The riding time adds the two rides; allow time to change at Kanazawa. The first and last trains are for the ride to Kanazawa.
Every bus between Kanazawa Station and Shirakawa-go needs a seat reservation. 2 of the buses run on the Shirakawa-go and Nagoya line (Hokutetsu and Meitetsu Bus); the others run on the Takayama line. Some buses stop at Gokayama Suganuma on the way between April and November. Traffic jams at Shirakawa-go, snow or expressway closures can delay buses by more than 2 hours. The adult fare between Kanazawa Station and Shirakawa-go goes up from 2,800 yen to 2,900 yen on 1 December 2026. Timetables on the Nohi Bus website (checked 3 Oct 2026) and Hokutetsu timetables revised 1 Apr 2025.
Hakutaka on the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Kaetsuno highway bus
- Riding time
- 244 min
- Fare
- 16,250 yen
- Change at
- Shin-Takaoka
- From
- Tokyo Station
- To
- Shirakawa-go bus terminal
- Fastest
- 2 h 39 min to Shin-Takaoka (Hakutaka 561, 11:24 → 14:03)
- Then
- Kaetsuno highway bus from Shin-Takaoka Station to Shirakawa-go: 1 h 25 min, 2,200 yen; 5 buses a day, first 08:30, last 15:00
- Riding time
- 4 h 4 min in all, plus the change at Shin-Takaoka
- Fare in all
- 16,250 yen = Hakutaka 14,050 yen + highway bus 2,200 yen
- First train to Shin-Takaoka
- 06:16 → 08:49 (Kagayaki 501)
- Last train to Shin-Takaoka
- 21:04 → 23:41 (Kagayaki 519)
The riding time adds the two rides; allow time to change at Shin-Takaoka. The first and last trains are for the ride to Shin-Takaoka.
All seats on the highway bus are reserved; tickets go on sale one month before the trip. The highway bus runs from Takaoka Station via Shin-Takaoka Station and Tonami to Shirakawa-go and Takayama. Timetable revised 1 Apr 2026.
Shirakawa-go to Tokyo
The same services run the other way.
- Bus from Shirakawa-go: first and last
- first 08:50, last 17:55
- Shinkansen from Kanazawa: first train
- 06:02 → 08:29 (Kagayaki 500)
- Highway bus from Shirakawa-go: first and last
- first 08:20, last 17:20
- Shinkansen from Shin-Takaoka: first train
- 06:30 → 09:20 (Hakutaka 552)
- Shinkansen from Shin-Takaoka: last train
- 20:53 → 23:32 (Tsurugi 42)
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go?
About 3 h 39 min of riding time by the Kagayaki on the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Hokutetsu or Nohi bus, plus the change at Kanazawa.
How much does it cost to get from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go?
17,400 yen for one adult one way.
What is the cheapest way from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go?
Hakutaka on the Hokuriku Shinkansen + Kaetsuno highway bus at 16,250 yen, taking 4 h 4 min at the fastest.
Related items
Sources for this page
- JR West My Dia timetable and fare searchchecked October 3, 2026
- Nohi Bus Takayama - Shirakawa-go - Kanazawa, Toyama and Takaoka line: timetable and fareschecked October 3, 2026
- Hokuriku Railroad (Hokutetsu) Shirakawa-go and Takayama linechecked October 3, 2026
- Hokuriku Railroad (Hokutetsu) Shirakawa-go and Nagoya linechecked October 3, 2026
- Nohi Bus Fare revision from 1 Dec 2026checked October 3, 2026
- Kaetsuno Bus Highway bus Takayama linechecked October 3, 2026
- Kaetsuno Bus Highway bus Takayama line timetable (image)checked October 3, 2026
- Kaetsuno Bus Highway bus Takayama line fares (image)checked October 3, 2026
Compiled by Japan Japan !! · Updated October 3, 2026