Shirakawago

Day 1&2 - Osaka
Day 3 & 4- Shirakawago (stay overnight either in Takayama or Kanazawa)
Day 5 - Kyoto
Day 6&7 - Osaka


1) I would like to know if the 7 day nationwide JR pass allows me to take the shinkansen from Osaka to Takayama or Kanazawa because the 5 day Takayama -Hokuriku Pass does not allow rides on the Shinkansen.
2) What is the cheapest and fastest way to travel for the above itenary.

I would like to know if the 7 day nationwide JR pass allows me to take the shinkansen from Osaka to Takayama or Kanazawa because the 5 day Takayama -Hokuriku Pass does not allow rides on the Shinkansen.

Yes, the nationwide Japan Rail Pass allows you to take shinkansen; however, for transportation between Osaka and Kanazawa, the direct limited express train is the recommended means of transportation rather than the shinkansen. Also, note that a 7-day Japan Rail Pass would cost more than regular tickets.

What is the cheapest and fastest way to travel for the above itenary.

Highway buses are cheapest:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2366.html

Trains and/or a rental car would be fastest.

Hi,
Can you please explain why it is better taking the limited express train from Osaka to Kanazawa instead of the Shinkansen ? Thanks

Because you'd have to go to Tokyo and that's a waste of time.

Hi Yvonne,

Firstly, one thing to understand is that there is NO shinkansen that takes you directly from Osaka to either Takayama nor Kanazawa.

Shin-Osaka Station and Kanazawa Stations are connected directly by the Limited Express train Thunderbird, which takes 160 minutes and costs 7,260 yen unreserved

To get from Osaka to Takayama, however, you have to take a shinkansen to Nagoya first then take a different limited express train Hida to Takayama. This trip can go for around 11,000 yen and take 215 minutes. I recommend taking a direct highway bus instead for around 5000 yen for Takayama.

The 5 day Takayama-Hokuriku pass would be very good for you if you were to stay at Kanazawa, as it also covers the cost of the nouhi bus to and from Shirakawa-go. The 7 day nationwide pass is overkill regardless of which town you pick. Hope this clears it up a bit for you!

Hi V,

You mean the Shinkansen will go to Tokyo first before arriving in Kanazawa ? THanks

How to travel between Osaka and Kanazawa:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4208.html?aFROM=2157_2167

How to travel between Osaka and Takayama:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5908.html?aFROM=2157_5900

A map of Japan's shinkansen lines:
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html
As you can see, there is currently no direct shinkansen line between Osaka and Kanazawa.

Just get the 5 days Takayama-Hokuriku pass, it covers all the places u gonna go.
7 days nationwide pass is totally unnecessary.

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2361_takayama_hokuriku.html

There is direct train service which conects Osaka and Takayama.
You may take Limited Express "Wide View Hida" departing at 7:58a.m. on weekdays;8:02 a.m. on Saturdays on Sundays from Osaka station. The fare is 8,650 yen for reserved seat.It takes 4 hours and 21 minutes.

The poster that mentioned "Tokyo" either made a bad mistake or has no idea - you don;t go anywhere near Tokyo.

As for your travel, for Shirakawa-go the express to Kanazawa and bus would be cheaper and the logical route. From Takayama, the express to Nagoya and shinkansen to Kyoto would be better, Stay and see Kyoto rather than Osaka (Osaka is just another large modern city and there are hundreds of those around the world - see something unique in Japan, stay in Koyto.)

You may want to consider the Nohi Bus Line for your Transportation needs. It is based in Takayama, and has long distance busses to Osaka and Kyoto. They also have tour busses to Shiakawa-go.

Good luck, in planning your vacation.

Oops... the Nohi bus line has tour busses from Takayama to Shirakawa-go. I think the tour bus also has an English speaking guide.

The bus takes about an hour longer to go from Osaka to Takayama, and costs \5000 each way.

This may be more cost effective.