Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass
高山・北陸エリア周遊きっぷ
JR trains from Nagoya via Takayama to Toyama and from Kyoto and Osaka to Tsuruga, the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama, and buses to Shirakawa-go, for 5 days
JR Central
Adults from¥19,800Price checked 2026/11/12
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Fares
| Ticket | Adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| 5 consecutive days | ¥19,800¥3,960 a day | ¥9,900¥1,980 a day |
Child fares are for ages 6 to 11. From age 12, the adult fare applies.
Is the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass worth it?
- You fly into Kansai Airport and travel to Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go and Takayama, ending in Nagoya: Kansai Airport to Kanazawa ¥12,020, the bus from Kanazawa via Shirakawa-go to Takayama ¥4,400 and Takayama to Nagoya ¥6,140 come to ¥22,560, against ¥19,800 for the pass.
- You add side trips from Kanazawa, such as Toyama by Hokuriku Shinkansen (¥3,390 each way), to a loop through Takayama and Shirakawa-go.
- You only go Osaka to Kanazawa and back: ¥18,820 in single tickets, under the ¥19,800 pass.
- You arrive from Tokyo: the Hokuriku Shinkansen east of Toyama and the Tokaido Shinkansen aren't covered.
JR fares are regular-season reserved-seat fares. The bus fare is Nohi Bus's fare from 1 December 2026.
What's covered
- JR limited express, express, rapid and local trains between Nagoya and Toyama via the Takayama Line, including the Limited Express Hida
- JR trains between Tsuruga, Kyoto and Osaka, via the Hokuriku, Kosei and Tokaido lines, and from Osaka to Kansai Airport
- The Hokuriku Shinkansen between Toyama and Tsuruga, via Kanazawa
- Buses between Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa and Toyama, and between Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Shin-Takaoka, with some exceptions
- The Kaetsuno Bus World Heritage Bus between Shirakawa-go and Shin-Takaoka, via Gokayama
- Up to 6 free reserved seats on JR limited expresses and the Hokuriku Shinkansen
- The Tokaido Shinkansen, including between Kyoto and Shin-Osaka
- A 7th reserved seat and any after it
- The Kurobe Gorge Railway, though pass holders get 10% off the round-trip fare from Unazuki to Kanetsuri or Keyakidaira
- Sights and transport off the listed routes, which may cost extra
How to use it
The pass runs for 5 consecutive days from the start date you set, counting that day. For a reserved seat on a JR limited express or the Hokuriku Shinkansen, get a free reserved seat ticket before you board; the pass covers up to six. From 25 December 2026 to 5 January 2027, every seat on the Limited Express Hida is reserved, so get one of these tickets before you board it.
Some buses need a booking, up to a month ahead: some Takayama to Shirakawa-go buses, and all buses between Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa or Toyama. Book with Nohi Bus, Hokutetsu Bus, Toyama Chitetsu Bus, Kaetsuno Bus or Dolphin Traffic, depending on the route; Hokutetsu Bus also takes calls in English. Buses between Shin-Takaoka and Shirakawa-go don't need a booking.
Only the person named on the pass can use it. Delays and cancellations don't earn a refund or extra days, and a lost, stolen or damaged pass is not replaced.
Before you buy
The pass is for travellers with a passport issued outside Japan and a Temporary Visitor stamp or sticker, which you show when the pass is issued. If you use the automated gates at the airport, ask the staff for the stamp.
You can buy it in three ways. JR-WEST ONLINE TRAIN RESERVATION takes bookings from 10:00 (Japan time) one month before your start date; collect the pass in person with your passport, the credit card you paid with and the reservation number, by the start date. Travel agents outside Japan sell an MCO exchange order, which you exchange in Japan. You can also buy it at station ticket offices in Japan.
Refunds carry a handling fee.
Questions
Does the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass cover the bus to Shirakawa-go?
Yes. Buses from Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama and Shin-Takaoka to Shirakawa-go are covered, with some exceptions. Most need a booking; the Shin-Takaoka buses don't.
Does it cover the Hokuriku Shinkansen?
Yes, between Toyama and Tsuruga, via Kanazawa. East of Toyama it is not covered.
Can I use the Tokaido Shinkansen between Kyoto and Osaka?
No. Use the JR conventional lines instead, which are covered.
How many seat reservations are free?
Up to six, on JR limited expresses and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. Get the reserved seat ticket before you board.
Do children need their own pass?
Children aged 6 to 11 need a child pass, ¥9,900.
Who can buy it?
Travellers with a passport issued outside Japan and a Temporary Visitor stamp or sticker, shown when the pass is issued.
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