Kyoto to Shirakawago day trip
From Kyoto to Shirakawago day trip is possible.
You can make a day tour from Kyoto to Shirakawago. Private tours from Kyoto to Shirakawago are very expensive. You can take a train from Kyoto to Kanazawa, and then join in a local Shirakawago tour from Kanazawa station.
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 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.
Timetable of JR Express train from Kyoto Station in early morning
The return-ticket for Kyoto-Kanazawa is about 15,000 yen per person (adult, low season price) for a reserved seat. If you have a JR Pass, then you don't need to buy tickets but just make reservation at nearest JR station. Tickets are available at the ticketing counter of nearby JR stations.
| Train name |
Dept Osaka |
Dept Kyoto |
Arrive Kanazawa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird 3 | 07:00 | 07:29 | 09:38 |
| Thunderbird 5 | 07:40 | 08:09 | 10:25 |
| Thunderbird 9 | 08:42 | 09:11 | 11:14 |
| Thunderbird 11 | 09:12 | 09:42 | 11:58 |
For Osaka and Kyoto, the last train is Thunderbird 48 departing from Kanazawa at 20:48. There are express trains available every one hour. So you can choose a train for your convenience.
For booking Thunderbird, go to a nearby JR Station or check here for online-purchase.
Packaged Kyoto to Shirakawago day trip via Kanazawa
To get a Shirakawago trip from Kyoto, you take an express train from Kyoto Station to Kanazawa Station. Then join in a half-day tour to Shirakawago departing from Kanazawa, if you only have one day.
For example, "Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)" departs from Kanazawa Station at 12:30pm. If you leave from Kyoto by Tunderbird 13 Express Train leaving from Kyoto at 09:42, you will arrive at Kanazawa at 11:58am. So you can have time for quick lunch at Kanazawa Station befor you join in this tour. Tour takes 4-5 hours. So you'll be back to Kanazawa Station at around 17:00 pm. You can easily catch another Thunderbird train to Kyoto within the same day.
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.
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.
Starndard (low season) prices of each tour from Kanazawa
Prices include an English-speaking driver, highway tolls, parking fees and sales tax. Meals, admissions and guide are not included.
5-hour Shirakawago tour
| Size of group (person) |
Car type | Estimated price (yen) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Sedan (hired taxi) | 70,000 |
| 1-6 | Toyota Alphard | 80,000 |
| 1-9 | Toyota Hiace Wagon | 80,000 |
| up to 13 | Nissan Caravan | 100,000 |
| up to 18 | Mini-bus | 100,000 |
6-hour Shirakawago and Gokayama tour
| Size of group (person) |
Car type | Estimated price (yen) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Sedan (hired taxi) | 78,000 |
| 1-6 | Toyota Alphard | 88,000 |
| 1-9 | Toyota Hiace Wagon | 88,000 |
| up to 13 | Nissan Caravan | 108,000 |
| up to 18 | Mini-bus | 108,000 |
9-hour Shirakawago and Takayama tour
| Size of group (person) |
Car type | Estimated price (yen) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Sedan (hired taxi) | 95,000 |
| 1-6 | Toyota Alphard | 112,000 |
| 1-9 | Toyota Hiace Wagon | 112,000 |
| up to 13 | Nissan Caravan | 132,000 |
| up to 18 | Mini-bus | 132,000 |
Kyoto to Shirakawago day trip by Shinkansen and van/minibus via Gifu-Hashima Station
An alternative route from Kyoto to Shirakawago is take Shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto Station to Gifu-Hashima Station, and then take a 10-hour Takayama and Shirakawago tour by a van or minibus. This plan is recommended for a group of 5-17 pax.
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-Hasima Station. So you have to choose Hikari or Kodama. You can use JR Pass for Hikari and Kodama.
Model itinerary for this tour
Please note that in the case of a mini-bus or larger bus, the tour time takes 1 hour longer.
8:05-8:46 Kyoto Station - Gifu-Hashima Station by Shinkansen Kodama 638
9:00 Meet with our driver at Gifu-Hashima Station.
9:00-11:00 Gifu-Hasima Station - Takayama
11:00-13:30 Tour in Takayama and lunch
13:30-14:30 Takayama-Shirakawago
14:30-16:30 Visit World Heritage Shirakawago Village
16:30-19:00 Shirakawago - Gifu-Hashima Station
19:32-20:11 Gifu-Hashima Station - Kyoto Station by Shinkansen Hikari 523
Price of the tour from Gifu Hashima Station is about 180,000 yen (up to 17 persons) including driver, highway tolls, parking fees, an English-speaking guide, and sales tax. Meals and admission fees are not included.
During Christmas and New Year's holiday season, high season rate is applied.
Kyoto to Shirakawago day trip by Shinkansen (Kyoto-Naogya), express train (Nagoya-Takayama) and car (Takayama-Shirakawago)
Make your own trip from Kyoto to Nagoya by Shinkansen, and then to Takayama Station by JR express train. You need a ticket of Kyoto-Nagoya-Takayama. If you have Japan Rail Pass, you can use it. If you don't, you buy tickets. If you like, we include the price of the Shinkansen and train tickets in the price of your tour. We send the tickets to your hotel.
A return ticket for Kyoto - Nagoya - Takayama is about 21,000 yen per person (adult, in low season).
In this itinerary, you meet with the driver at Takayama Station and take a car to Shirakawago. Do your own self-guided tours in Takayama and Shirakawago.
The price of the car hiring from Takayama to Shirakawago
| Size of group (person) |
Car type | Estimated price (yen) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Sedan (hired taxi) | 82,000 |
| 1-6 | Toyota Alphard | 92,000 |
| 1-9 | Toyota Hiace Wagon | 92,000 |
| up to 18 | Mini-bus | from 120,000 |
Prices include a private car with driver, highway tolls, parking fees and tax. For 10 pax and over, you need a mini-bus and a guide. Please ask for the quotation.
Shinkansen and train return tickets (Kyoto-Nagoya-Takayama) can be included upon request (service and posting charge will be added).
If you are looking for an inexpensive packaged group tour from Takayama to Shirakawago, check this one.
Model itinerary
Kyoto to Nagoya
07:32-08:25 Shinkansen Hikari 508
or
07:45-08:20 Shinkansen Nozomi 108
08:43-10:56 Nagoya to Takayama by Express Wideview Hida 3
11:00-13:00 Visit Takayama (including lunch)
13:00-14:00 Takayama Shirakawago by a hired car
14:00-16:00 Shirakawago tour
16:00-17:00 from Shirakawago to Takayama
17:36-20:02 Takayama to Nagoya by Express Wideview Hida 82
Nagoya to Kyoto
20:13-20:48 Shinkansen Nozomi 123
or
20:18-21:11 Shinkansen Hikari 527
Note: You cannot use JR Pass for Shinkansen Nozomi. Choose Hikari instead.
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".
Privete 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. If you like, we include the price of express tickets in the price of your tour. We send the tickets to your hotel.
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.
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.