Let's say you are planning to travel to Japan; fly to Nagoya, visit the Chubu (central part of Japan) and Hokuriku (northwestern part of Japan) regions, do some shopping, and return home from Osaka with lots of mementos...There are many unique sightseeing areas in the Chubu and Hokuriku regions including Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Gokayama, Hida-Furukawa, Kanazawa, etc., all of which you may get caught in traffic jams on the way and transportation fares could be super expensive. But don't worry. We've got you covered! Learn about the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, including how to purchase and use it.

Ticket Information

Areas Covered

JR Line (blue route)

Unlimited rides between Nagoya Station–Toyama Station, Kanazawa Station–Kyoto Station–Osaka Station (including the local trains in Osaka), Osaka Station (including the local trains in Osaka) –Kansai Airport Station Reserved seats for JR local trains are available (4 times) excluding limited express, Haruka.

Shinkansen (blue and white route)

Hokuriku Shinkansen (non-reserved seats): unlimited rides between Toyama Station–Kanazawa Station

*Please note that additional fees are required if purchasing a reserved seat for Hokuriku Shinkansen.

Bus (orange, red, and pink routes)

Nohi bus and Toyama chitetsu bus (orange route): Takayama Nohi Bus Center–Shirakawago–Toyama

*Reservations in advance are required.

Nohi bus and Hokutetsu bus (red route): Takayama Nohi Bus Center–Shirakawago Station– Kanazawa Station

*Reservations in advance are required.

World heritage bus, Kaetsuno bus (pink route): Shirakawago Station–Shintakaoka Station
Unilimited ride for bus

Valid period

5 consecutive days

Fees

Purchasing at travel agencies outside Japan

Adults: ¥ 14,260 (Children: ¥7,130) It is about 50 % discount.

Purchasing at the train stations in Japan or purchasing online

Adults: ¥15,280 Children: ¥7,640

Applicants

• This ticket is only available for foreign tourists or those who have a temporary visitor visa.
• It is recommended for those who arrive at Nagoya and depart from Osaka or vice versa.
• This ticket is great If you want to visit Shirakawa-go and Takayama from the Kansai area. Less bargain tickets are available for people to visit Shirakawa-go from Kansai area.
• This ticket allows you to go visit the Chubu & Hokuriku region. If you want to visit Kyoto or Osaka, you should not buy this ticket.

On purchasing

Purchasing at travel agencies inside & outside Japan

The voucher (MCO) can be purchased at travel agencies outside of Japan. Or you can purchase it on Klook, KKday etc., by filling in all the required information and have it sent via mail. Within 3 months after purchase, go to JR office at the airport or train station, show your passport, and redeem the ticket with the voucher. The counters for exchanging tickets are available in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kanazawa. See here for more information.

Purchasing at the station inside Japan or online

Puchasing at the station

You can buy the ticket at JR ticket counter in Tokyo Station, Nagoya Station, Kyoto Station, and Osaka Station. See herefor more details.

Purchasing the ticket online and receiving it at the station

Online sales

Purchasing online is not recommended because it is about ¥10,000 more expensive compared to buying it overseas. This is only recommended if you are not buying the voucher before you come to Japan or have concerns about communicating in-person.

Bus reservation

For Nohi bus, Toyama Chitetsu bus and Hokutetsu bus, you need to make a reservation either by phone or online in advance.

Reserving by phone

Nohi bus reservation center :TEL 0577-32-1688, Business hours 9am–6pm
Toyama Chitetsu bus reservation center：TEL 076-433-4890，Business hours 9am–6pm
Hokutetsu bus reservation center：TEL 076-234-0123, Business hours 8:30am–7pm
Assistance in Japanese and English is available.

Reserving online

Takayama–Shirakawa-go–Toyama (Nohi bus and Toyama Chitetsu bus)

Takayama–Shirakawa-go–Kanazawa (Nohi bus and Toyama Chitetsu bus)

Notice

• This ticket is available only for foreign travelers.
• You must to set the date of first use (within 1 month after issuance, including the purchasing date).
• When you ride JR using the ticket, you need to pass the ticket gate with the staff, not automated ones.
• Reserved seats cannot be used when using the Limited Express Haruka.
• In Osaka, only the Osaka Loop Line (shown in the figure) can be used, and it is not possible to access Kobe, Himeji, or lines from Kyoto to Uji, Nara and Arashiyama.
• This ticket doesn't cover the lines from Central Japan International Airport to Nagoya.
• You can not use it for Tokaido Shinkansen from Kyoto Station to Shin Osaka Station.

Scheduling

Plan A

Nagoya–Takayama and Hidafurukawa (layover in Takayama)

Since this ticket doesn't cover lines from Central Japan International Airport to Nagoya, it is recommended to use it when departing for Takayama. The city of Takayama is quaint and Hida Furukawa is a popular destination for fans of the movie, Your Name.

Takayama–Shirakawa-go and Gokayama (layover in Shirakawa-go)

Head to Shirakawago to see a rustic village you would only expect to see in a fairy tale. Don't forget to make a bus reservation for the trip from Takayama to Shirakawa-go.

Shirakawa-go–Kanazawa (layover in Kanazawa)

Reservations are required for the bus from Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa. In Kanazawa, visit the famous Japanese garden, Kenrokuen, and enjoy fresh seafood.

Kanazawa–Kyoto (layover in Kyoto)

From Kanazawa to Kyoto, use JR Hokuriku Main Line and JR Kosei Line, which go through Kaga Onsen, Tsuruga, and Yamashina where you can see an amazing view of Lake Biwa.

Kyoto–Osaka

On the last day of the trip, do some shopping in Osaka and head to Kansai Airport by car. Please note that reserved seats are not available on the Limited Express Haruka.

Plan B

Nagoya–Takayama (layover in Takayama)

Takayama–Shirakawa-go, Gokayama–Toyama (layover in Toyama)

In Toyama, visit the beautiful Glass Museum and "the most beautiful Starbucks in the world" in Kansui Park.

Toyama–Kanazawa (layover in Kanazawa)

Kanazawa–Kyoto (layover in Kyoto)

Kyoto–Osaka

Wrap-up

The best part of this ticket is that you can visit the Chubu, Hokuriku, and Kansai areas over 5 days, including famous sightseeing spots like Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kyoto, and Osaka. Save close to 50% compared to buying regular tickets. This is a great deal if you're visiting the Hokuriku region.