Nagoya/Kanazawa /Shirakawago/Takayama trip

Hi there!

I am at the early stages of drafting an itinerary for my first trip to Japan. Travelling there on 20-24 January 2016 (including arrival to and departure from Japan) with friends. There's four of us and we decided to take the central Japan areas. Here's an outline to an itinerary I'd hope to flesh out in the next two days with things that I will read from blogs and with the help of you guys here.

20 January (18:40) - arrival in Chubu Centrair Intl Airport, planning to sleep/stay at the airport and take the train ride early to Nanto

21 January (08:00) - leave Nagoya for Nanto through
- probably arrive Nanto by 12nn (check-in at minshuku);
- explore Kanzawa in the afternoon and return to Nanto by 8pm

22 January - explore Takayama whole day (onsen, food, sightseeing)
- return to Nanto by 5pm

23 January - explore Nanto in the morning
- leave Nanto for Shirakawago by 1pm
- depart Shirakawago for Takayama by 8pm
- take train from Takayama to Nagoya by midnight (?)

24 January (9am) - depart Nagoya for Philippines

Is this doable? We'd really interested in visiting Nagoya - Kanazawa - Shirakawago - Takayama - Nagoya (preferably IN THIS ORDER)

Are there night buses /trains leaving to and from each of these areas?

Any suggestions/comments would appreciated.

Thank you! :-)

There's limited trains out of the area in the evening. The last direct train from Takayama to Nagoya is at 6:45pm. Hyperdia can help you work out train times and routes: http://www.hyperdia.com/en/

I'm assuming you're wanting to go to the Shirakawago light up on the 23rd? Normal buses finish their run at around 5:30pm, you need to book a specific light up tour bus to get to Takayama at that time, which might be close to impossible as as far as I know they're all booked out. Another option is to book a taxi to get you back. Though considering you're wanting to get to Nagoya on the same day, all of that is impossible, and you'll need to rethink your plans.

I would switch 21 & 22 as spending more time in Kanazawa makes more sense than for Takayama.
it makes more sense to see Shirakawago at night. you might want to see Takayama in the day, stay overnight at Shirakawago.
I would
1)
1Arrive Nagoya
2 Go to Takayama
Bus and night at Shirakawago
3 Stay at Kaga onsen
Make side trips to the area. Perhaps Kanazawa or Noto Peninsular.
5Train to Nagoya

Takayama will be very snowy in January
Shirakawago even more so. Try to limit your time there especially if you come from a warm country like the Philippines. Shirakawago has hot baths so you won't feel too bad but Takayama may be too cold for you.

Thank you for your responses!

Hi Mon,

You are right we would want to witness the Shirakawago light-up on the 23rd. That should be the highlight of our trip and what you guys are telling now actually coincides and confirms with most of the info I read from the internet so that is a pity.

An option I have in mind is to rent a car in our entire trip around Kanazawa-Shirakawago-Takayama, thing is: would you know of any rent-a-car establishments in these areas? We've never tried driving on a snowy weather before so I hope the cars have gears for this weather condition. Any thoughts on this?

otherwise we'll just have to drop the light-up event from the itinerary.

Nanto! (means "What a surprise!" in Japanese.) Nanto(“ì“v) is not a major sightseeing site, however, there are good bus routes from there.
JR Kanazawa - JR Fukumitsu(•ŸŒõ)
http://www.kaetsunou.co.jp/regular/nanto-kanazawa/
JR Jyohana(�é’[) - Shirakawago
http://www.kaetsunou.co.jp/regular/sekaiisan/
So, one of the ideal (loop, no back-tracking) routes would be
20 Jan (Nagoya)
21 Jan Kanazawa (Nanto)
22 Jan Shirakawago (Takayama)
23 Jan Takayama (Nagoya)
24 Jan Nagoya
Nights in parentheses.

There is a direct bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawago. You do not have to visit Nanto. So, I believe one of the best would be
20 Jan (Nagoya)
21 Jan Kanazawa (Kanazawa)
22 Jan Shirakawago (Shirakawago)
23 Jan Takayama (Takayama)
24 Jan Nagoya

There are night buses from/to Nagoya.
(JR Tokai bus) Hokuriku Dream Nagoya-Go #1
23:15 Nagoya
05:15 Toyama
06:03 Takaoka
06:27 Tonami(“v”g)
07:02 Kanazawa
http://www01.jrtbinm.co.jp/bus/241/time?dt_month=201512&dt_day=30
(JR Tokai bus) Hokuriku Dream Nagoya-Go #2
22:10 Kanazawa
22:45 Tonami(“v”g)
23:10 Takaoka
23:59 Toyama
6:00 Nagoya
http://www01.jrtbinm.co.jp/bus/242/time?dt_month=201601&dt_day=02&ts=9...

Then, minimum corrections to your itinerary would be
20 Jan Centair-Nagoya-Night bus/#1
21 Jan Kanazawa (Nanto)
22 Jan Takayama (Nanto)
23 Jan Shirakawago-Toyama-Night bus/#2
24 Jan Nagoya

Here are a list of connections (roughly clockwise).
Kanazawa - Shirakawago 1:25 Nohi Bus/Hokutetsu Bus
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/new/shirakawago_kanazawa_toyama.html
http://www.hokutetsu.co.jp/highway-bus/takayama
Nanto - Kanazawa 0:55 Kaetsuno Bus
Takaoka - Shirakawago 2:10 Kaetsuno Bus
http://www.kaetsunou.co.jp/regular/sekaiisan/
Toyama - Shirakawago 1:25 Nohi Bus/Chitetsu Bus
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/new/shirakawago_kanazawa_toyama.html
http://www.chitetsu.co.jp/?page_id=22436
JR Toyama - JR Takayama 1:30
Takayama - Shirakawago 0:50 Nohi Bus/Hokutetsu Bus
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/new/shirakawago_kanazawa_toyama.html
http://www.hokutetsu.co.jp/highway-bus/takayama
JR Takayama - JR Nagoya 2:20
Shirakawago - Nagoya 2:44 Gifu Bus
http://www.gifubus.co.jp/highway/shirakawa/shirakawago.pdf

At last, I have finally completed my itinerary for Nagoya-Kanazawa-Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa-Nagoya trip from 20 - 23 January next year and will purchase the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass for the trips below. We will have Kanazawa as our base.

Sharing this to you for any more advice:

20 January - arrival in Chubu Centrair at 18:55; take the 20:30 Nagoya-Kanazawa train via JR Tokaido Line New Rapid Train for MAIBARA and LTD. EXP SHIRASAGI 63.

Is this covered by the pass?

21 January - explore Kanazawa; whole day

22 January - Kanazawa-Takayama via Nohi bus 08:10 – 10:25 and then afternoon trip to Shinhotaka Ropeway; take the Takayama-Kanazawa via Nohi bus 16:30 – 18:45 last trip or via Toyama bus.

Is a quick visit to the Shinhotaka Ropeway doable given that we need to take the last bus back to Kanazawa? We plan on having a ride on the cable car

23 January - Kanazawa-Shirakawa-go 08:10 – 09:35 via Nohi Bus; depart Shirakawa by 17:00 and take 17:30 Expressway bus for Kanazawa

Another option is to rent a car with a driver for the whole day so we could witness the light-up event --- is this possible? are there car rental establishments in Kanazawa that offer this service?

24 January - Leave Kanazawa for Nagoya with the 05:00 – 07:33 Kanazawa – Nagoya train via LTD. EXP SHIRASAGI 52 and SHINKANSEN HIKARI 506. Is this also covered by the pass?

*Another option is to take the Hokuriku Dream Nagoya-Go on the evening 22:10 – 06:00 of 23 January via JR Tokai bus

Appreciate if you could give me more insights on this "almost ready" itinerary.

Thanks a lot for all your responses! they were really helpful to get to this version of my itinerary!

Regards,
Koi

20 January - arrival in Chubu Centrair at 18:55; take the 20:30 Nagoya-Kanazawa train via JR Tokaido Line New Rapid Train for MAIBARA and LTD. EXP SHIRASAGI 63.


The transfer time from the airplane to a train at the airport would include rather high uncertainty. The net search indicated the minimum of 25 minutes at Centrair, while the other more than a hour. 40-50 minutes would be reasonable estimates. However, Jorudan suggests an 23:48 arrival to Kanazawa, in either case of a departure at Centrair at 19:20 and at 19:55.
Centrair/19:36=Meitetsu MuSky=20:05/Nagoya/20:30=JR Shin-Kaisoku=21:38/Maibara/21:56=JR Shirasagi 63=23:48/Kanazawa
:
Centrair/20:07=Meitetsu MuSky=20:35/Nagoya/21:11=JR Hikari 529=21:36/Maibara/21:56=JR Shirasagi 63=23:48/Kanazawa


Is this covered by the pass?


No. Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass does not include the parts of Centrair-Nagoya and Gifu-Tsuruga. You have to pay additional 3000-6000 yen.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_takayama_hokuriku.html


22 January - Kanazawa-Takayama via Nohi bus 08:10 – 10:25 and then afternoon trip to Shinhotaka Ropeway; take the Takayama-Kanazawa via Nohi bus 16:30 – 18:45 last trip or via Toyama bus.
Is a quick visit to the Shinhotaka Ropeway doable given that we need to take the last bus back to Kanazawa? We plan on having a ride on the cable car


Kanazawa/0810=Hokutestu bus=1025/Takayama/1040=Nohi bus=1225/ShinHotaka Ropeway(1230=25m=/NishiHodakaguchi/1315=25m=)/1346=Nohi bus=1531/Takayama/1630=Hokutestu bus=1845/Kanazawa
Maginally doable. Not recommended. No time to see Takayama at all.
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/new/2015-0314t-hirayu-shinhotak.pdf


23 January - Kanazawa-Shirakawa-go 08:10 – 09:35 via Nohi Bus; depart Shirakawa by 17:00 and take 17:30 Expressway bus for Kanazawa


Kanazawa/0810=Hokutestu bus=0925/Shirakawago/1730=Hokutestu bus=1845/Kanazawa


Another option is to rent a car with a driver for the whole day so we could witness the light-up event --- is this possible? are there car rental establishments in Kanazawa that offer this service?


Nohi taxi (by Nohi bus) seems to offer you a sending-back service to Kanazawa.
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/guide_taxi/index.html


24 January - Leave Kanazawa for Nagoya with the 05:00 – 07:33 Kanazawa – Nagoya train via LTD. EXP SHIRASAGI 52 and SHINKANSEN HIKARI 506. Is this also covered by the pass?


No.

In summary, the train pass + Kanazawa base would not work well. If you do not care about Takayama base, "5-day Shoryudo Highway Bus Ticket" would be one of the best. The bus ticket seems to include all the followings except Nohi taxi.

D1/20 Jan Centrair=Meitetsu Railway=Nagoya/2040=Nohi bus=2310/Takayama
D2/21 Jan Takayama/750=Nohi bus=1005/Kanazawa/1600=Nohi bus=1810/Takayama
D3/22 Jan Takayama/700=Nohi bus=845/ShinHotaka Ropeway(900+4m+1m/915+7m/944+7m+1m/1000+4m)/1055=Nohi bus=1231/Takayama
:
Takayama/1240=Nohi bus=1416/ShinHotaka Ropeway(1430+4m+1m/1445+7m/1544+7m+1m/1600+4m)/1655=Nohi bus=1831/Takayama
D4/23 Jan Takayama/750=Nohi bus=840/Shirakawa/1730+=Nohi taxi=/Takayama
D5/24 Jan Takayama/630=Nohi bus=900/Nagoya/=Metetsu Railway=Centair

Concerns are 1) the transfer at D1/Nagoya is a bit challenging, 2) no night life at Kanazawa (you could stay at Kanazawa on D2 and go back to Takayama on D3), 3) D4/Nohi taxi is still unclear (the bus ticket could be used for Shirakawa/1730=Nohi bus=1835/Takayama).

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2357_shoryudo.html
http://www.meitetsu.co.jp/eng/ticket-info/shoryudo.html
http://www.nouhibus.co.jp/new/2015.07_kousoku_time.pdf
http://www.hokutetsu.co.jp/highway-bus/takayama
https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/new/2015-0314t-hirayu-shinhotak.pdf
http://shinhotaka-ropeway.jp/price/