If you are staying in Kyoto or Osaka and wish to visit Gokayama, the most efficient way is via Kanazawa. From Kyoto or Osaka, take the Thunderbird limited express to Tsuruga first. From Kyoto or Osaka, take the Express Thunderbird to Tsuruga and change to the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa.
You can check some package tours to Gokayama from Kanazawa here.
Kyoto/Osaka to Gokayama and Shirakawago private tours
If you are also visiting Shirakawago and like to make it a day trip from Kyoto or Osaka, then consider our private tour via Gifu Hashima Shinkansen Station. See details here. Or directly contact us.
A tour from Gifu Hashima Shinkansen Station to Shirakawago and Gokayama requires 10 to 11 hours. Since this alone will take up a full day, we cannot add Takayama or other destinations to this tour.
Our car can accommodate six passengers.
To reach Gifu Hashima Shinkansen Station, take the Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka or Kyoto Station. It takes about 40 minutes from Kyoto Station. Nozomi does not stop, so please use Hikari or Kodama. Shinkansen tickets can be purchased at Shinkansen stations, at ticket windows in larger JR stations, or at ticket vending machines located at each station. Or you can book your tickets online here with your mobile phone.
Contact us to find out which train you should take.
If you have a JR Pass, you do not need to buy a Shinkansen ticket.