From Kyoto/Osaka to Shirakawago

This page introduces tours to Shirakawa-go via Kanazawa, Nagoya, etc. See here for our most recommended tour from Kyoto to Shirakawago via Gifu-Hashima Shinkansen Station. Osaka to Shirakawago here.

From Osaka/Kyoto: Shirakawa-go, TakaYama & Kanazawa Day Trip

GetYourGuide offers a day tour to Shirakawago from Osaka and Kyoto. It also provides pick-up services. Currently, this appears to be the only one-day tour that directly visits Shirakawa-go by car from Osaka or Kyoto. Click link if you are interested in this tour.

From Osaka/Kyoto: Shirakawa-go, TakaYama & Kanazawa Day Trip

Via Kanazawa

You take train from Kyoto/Osaka Station to Kanazawa Station. Then take a package tour such as “Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)“.

Via Nagoya (recommended)

Alternatively, you take Shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto/Osaka to Nagoya Station. Then join a day tour such as “Shirakawa-go and Hida-Takayama Private Day Trip from Nagoya“.

There are far more trains from Kyoto/Osaka to Nagoya than from Kyoto/Osaka to Kanazawa. For convenience, we recommend going via Nagoya.

Shirakawago day trip from Kyoto/Osaka via Kanazawa

If you like to visit Shirakawago in a day from Kyoto/Osaka, take an express train from Kyoto/Osaka Station to Tsuruga Station, and change to Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa Station. Then take a Shirakawago tour from Kanazawa Station.

For example, “Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)” departs from Kanazawa station at 12:30pm. This is the most inexpensive way to visit Shirakawago from Kyoto/Osaka. You can make it as a day trip from Kyoto/Osaka. If you can have more time, then you may choose a two-day Shirakawago tour from Kyoto/Osaka that include Takayama.

If you can spend overnight in Kanazawa, there are many kinds of Shirakawago tours available.

Kyoto/Osaka to Shirakawago day trip via Nagoya, join in a packaged tour

Some tour operators offer packaged Takayama and Shirakawago tours from Nagoya Station. If you come to Nagoya by Shinkansen bullet train early in the morning, then you can make it a Kyoto/Osaka to Shirakawago day trip. There are group tours and private tours.

You can book Shinkansen tickets online here.

Group tours

You share a bus with other passengers. Price of the tour is less than USD 100. So it is recommended for solo travellers and small group.

“Takayama and Shirakawa-go Day Trip from Nagoya“ (Chinese guide, English accepted) or

“Takayama and Shirakawa-go Day Tour from Nagoya“ (English guide)

Private tours

Tour operators prepare a car for your group. This option is recommended for those who do not like to share a bus, or a group of certain size.

Shirakawago Private day trip from Kanazawa

We offer several types of private day-tours from Kanazawa, or you can have an overnight stay in Kanazawa to explore Kanazawa. If you can come to Kanazawa by yourself, then you can join in one of our Shirakawago tours.

• 5-hour Shirakawago tour
  Visit Shirakawago from Kanazawa by a car.
  Ideal for those who are in rush.
  

  Model itinerary of Shirakawago day tour from Kyoto
  08:10 Depart from Kyoto by JR Express Thunderbird 5
  10:25 Arrive at Kanazawa Station
  10:30 Meet with the driver at Kanazawa Station
  11:45 Arrive at Shirakawago View Point
  12:30 Lunch and walking tour in Shirakawago Ogimachi village
  14:45 Depart from Shirakawago
  15:30 Arrive at Kanazawa Station
  16:00 Depart from Kanazawa by JR Express Thunderbird 34
  18:09 Arrive at Kyoto Station

• 6-hour Shirakawago and Gokayama tour
  Visit Shirakawago and Gokayama (Suganuma Village) from Kanazawa by a car. Ideal for those who are interested in exploring the area more.
• 9-hour Shirakawago and Takayama tour
  Visit Shirakawago and Takayama in a day. You can cover 2 of main tourist attractions in the area in a day.
  If your group size is 10-17 persons, then you’d better to take the tour Shirakawago and Takayama 1-day tour from Shin-Osaka by Shinkansen and van/minibus from Gifu-Hashima Station. There is a specially discounted mini-bus available.
• Optional Kanazawa tour
  You can include a visit to Kenrokuen Japanese Garden etc. in addition to the tour above, especially to 5-hour or 6-hour tours.

Shirakawago and Takayama 2-day tour from Kyoto/Osaka

For those who can spend 2 days for Takayama and Shirakawago, this itinerary is for you.

First option is to join in a packaged tour such as “Shirakawago and Takayama 2 Days Tour from Osaka or Kyoto“.

Private tours

Make your own trip from Kyoto/Osaka to Takayama by JR Express Wide View Hida. You need a ticket from Kyoto Station to Takayama Station. If you have Japan Rail Pass, you can use it from Kyoto to Takayama. If you don’t, you buy tickets.

In this itinerary, you meet with our guide at Takayama Station. This tour has 2 parts. One is self-guide walking tour of Takayama and another one is the tour of Shirakawago by a car.

Accomodation in Takayama (10,000-30,000 yen per person) can be included upon request.

Day 1
7:58-12:22 Take Express Wide View Hida from Kyoto Station to Takayama Station
12:30 Meet with our guide and take lunch near Takayama Station
13:30 Take a car to Shirakawago
14:30 Arriving at the view point of Shirakawago and tour in Shirakawago
16:30 Move from Shirakawago to Takayama
17:30 Arrive at your hotel

Day 2
9:30-12:00 Visit morning market and walking tour in Takayama.
12:00 Lunch in Takayama
13:00-15:00 Free time. Shop around in Takayama Old Town.
15:35-19:51 Leave Takayama Station for Kyoto Station by Express Wide View Hida

Please note that there is only one direct train between Kyoto and Takayama for both way. If you change the time for leaving from Kyoto, then you have to take Shinkansen and the fare will be significantly higher.

Contact us from here for free advice

Other types of Shirakawago tour from Kyoto/Osaka

Other types of tours such as 2-day or 3-day round trip from Kyoto/Osaka to Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa tour is also available upon request.

Contact us from here for free advice