Shirakawago from Kyoto: Kyoto to Shirakawago day trip

From Kyoto to Shirakawago day trip is possible. We recommend you take Shinkansen to Gifu-Hashima Station, and take our tour to Shirakawago.

Many people think that Kanazawa, Nagoya and Takayama are the places where the tours to Shirakawago start. However the route via Gifu Hashima Station is the most convenient. Gifu Hashima Station is only 35 minutes Shinkansen Ride. From Gifu Hashima to Shirakawago is only a 2-hour drive.

If you visit Shirakawago via Kanazawa, you take a super express train to Tsuruga Station. Then you take Hokukriku Shinkansen from there. From Kanazawa you take a bus or join a tour.

If you visit Shirakawago via Nagoya, you take Shinkansen to Nagoya. Then from there you take a bus or join a tour. You may encounter traffic jams around Nagoya because it’s a big very busy city.

If you visit Shirakawago via Takayama, you take a long trip to Takayama by train. And from there you take a bus or join a tour. It’s really time consuming and day trip from Kyoto is not easy by this route.

Kyoto to Shirakawago day trip by Shinkansen and a car via Gifu-Hashima Station

A good route from Kyoto to Shirakawago is take Shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto Station to Gifu-Hashima Station, and then take a Shirakawago tour by a car. This tour is ideal for 1-6 persons.

Shinkansen return ticket from Kyoto to Gifu-Hashima is about 10,100 yen per person (adult, low season price) for a reserved seat. Please note that Shinkansen Nozomi does not stop at Gifu-Hashima Station. So you have to choose Hikari or Kodama. You can use JR Pass for Hikari and Kodama.

Model itinerary for this tour

You may add a visit to Gokayama, Gujo Hachiman or Takayama with an additional fee.

7:54 Leave from Shin-Osaka Station by Kodama 708 bound for Tokyo
8:10 Leave from Kyoto Station by Kodama 708 bound for Tokyo
8:46 Arrive at Gifu Hashima Station and meet with the guides
11:30 Arrive at Shirakawago
Lunch and tour in Shirakawago
14:00 Leave from Shirakawago
16:30 Arrive at Gifu Hashima Station
16:35 Leave from Gifu Hashima Station by Hikari 647
17:12 Arrive at Kyoto Station
17:27 Arrive at Shin Osaka Station

Our car (Toyota Estima) has a capacity of up to 6 guests. If you are 4 or less, you can sit comfortably. If there are five or six of you, it is a bit cramped since three people sit in a row. We prepare child safety seats if you are with children.

For a smaller number of passengers, we may use a smaller car. If you prefer more luxurious Toyota Alphard, we get one for you.

Contact us from here for availability and price

Prices

Prices include a driver, highway tolls, parking fees, fuel, a guide or 2, and sales tax. Shinkansen Tickets, meals and admission fees are not included.

	number of passengers	estimated price including tax	Remark
1) A car driven by the guides	1-6	95,000 JPY	This option is provided from March to November. Not available in winter season if there is snow on the road. Price depends on car size etc. Please see here for the detail
2) Hired car	1-8	Inquire	Driven by a professional driver. Sedan, Alphard or Toyota Hiace van.
3) Minibus	up to 17	Inquire	Minibus provided by a bus company

Tour with a car driven by a guide will be cancelled if there is a possibility of snowfall during the winter season.

During Christmas and New Year’s holiday season, high season rate is applied.

Contact us from here for availability and price

Shirakawago tour directly from Kyoto

There is a good tour “Private Full Day Tour KYOTO KANAZAWA SHIRAKAWAGO“. This tour offers a private car for up to 9 passengers. Fees are fixed regardless of the number of passengers. If you are a group of 5 or more passengers, I recommend this tour. If you are a solo traveler, a couple or a small group, you may consider less expensive tours via Kanazawa or Nagoya.

Via Kanazawa

You take train from Kyoto 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 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 to Nagoya than from Kyoto to Kanazawa. For convenience, we recommend going via Nagoya.

Shirakawago day trip from Kyoto via Kanazawa

If you like to visit Shirakawago in a day from Kyoto, take an express train from Kyoto Station to Tsuruga Station, and change to 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. You can make it as a day trip from Kyoto. If you can have more time, then you may choose a two-day Shirakawago tour from Kyoto that include Takayama.

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

Kyoto 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 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

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 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

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

Contact us from here for free advice