Shirakawago tour from osaka overview
You can take a day tour from Osaka to Shirakawago. There are some private tours available from Osaka to Shirakawago such as Private & Custom OSAKA-KANAZAWA-SHIRAKAWAGO Day Tour by Toyota HIACE (Max 9 Pax). Private tours are suitable for small groups.
If you feel that the private tours from Osaka to Shirakawago are too expensive, you can take the train from Osaka to Kanazawa and join a tour from Kanazawa to Shirakawago.
Packaged Osaka to Shirakawago day trip via Kanazawa
To visit Shirakawago from Osaka, you take an express train from Osaka Station to Kanazawa Station. Then take a half-day tour to Shirakawago departing from Kanazawa, if you only have a day.
For example, "Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)" departs from Kanazawa Station at 12:30pm. If you take the Tunderbird 13 Express Train from Osaka, which departs from Shin Osaka Station at 09:12, you will arrive in Kanazawa at 11:58. This will give you time for a quick lunch at Kanazawa Station before joining the tour. The tour takes 4-5 hours. So you'll be back at Kanazawa Station around 17:00. You can easily catch another Thunderbird train to Osaka within the same day.
If you can spend overnight in Kanazawa, there are many kinds of Shirakawago tours available.
Shirakawago Day tour from Osaka via Kanazawa
If you like to visit Shirakawago in a day from Osaka, take express train from Osaka Station (not Shin-Osaka Station) to Kanazawa Station, then take tours from Kanazawa. 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 Osaka. You can make it within a day. If you can have more time, then choose a two-day tour that include Takayama.
If you are wondering how to come to Kanazawa or which tour to choose, contact us from the form or leave message on our Facebook page for free advise.
Timetable of JR Express train from Osaka Station in early morning
The return-ticket is about 16,000 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.
| 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.
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 Osaka
07:40 Depart from Osaka 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
18:39 Arrive at Osaka 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) | 85,000 |
| 1-6 | Toyota Alphard | 102,000 |
| 1-9 | Toyota Hiace Wagon | 102,000 |
| up to 13 | Nissan Caravan | 122,000 |
| up to 18 | Mini-bus | 122,000 |
Shirakawago and Takayama 1-day tour from Shin-Osaka by Shinkansen and minibus from Gifu-Hashima Station
An alternative route from Osaka to Takayama and Shirakawago is take Shinkansen bullet train from Shin-Osaka Station to Gifu-Hashima Station, and then take a 10-hour Takayama and Shirakawago tour by a minibus. Smaller cars are not available in this option, so this plan is recommended for a group of 5-17 pax. Smaller groups should consider the plans via Kanazawa.
Shinkansen return ticket from Shin-Osaka to Gifu-Hashima is about 12,000 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.
7:50-8:46 Shin-Osaka 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
19:32-20:26 Gifu-Hashima Station - Shin-Osaka Station by Shinkansen Hikari 523
Price of the tour is fixed at 160,000 yen (18-seater minibus) including driver, highway tolls, parking fees, an English-speaking guide, and sales tax. Meals and entrance fees are not included.
During Christmas and New Year's holiday season, high season rate is applied.
There is only one each of van and mini-bus available a day. So please ask for the availability.
Shirakawago and Takayama 1-day tour from Shin-Osaka by Shinkansen (Shin-Osaka-Naogya), express train (Nagoya-Takayama) and car (Takayama-Shirakawago)
Make your own trip from Shin Osaka to Nagoya by Shinkansen, and then to Takayama Station by JR express train. You need a ticket of Shin-Osaka-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 Shin-Osaka - Nagoya - Takayama is about 22,000 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.
Prices include a private car, English-speaking 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.
The price of the car hiring from Takayama to Shirakawago
| 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 |
If you are looking for an inexpensive packaged group tour from Takayama to Shirakawago, check this one.
Model itinerary
Shin-Osaka to Nagoya
07:17-08:25 Shinkansen Hikari 508
or
07:30-08:20 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 Shin-Osaka
20:13-21:03 Shinkansen Nozomi 123
or
20:09-21:16 Shinkansen Hikari 525
Note: You cannot use JR Pass for Shinkansen Nozomi. Choose Hikari instead.
Shirakawago and Takayama 2-day tour from Osaka
For those who can spend 2 days for Takayama and Shirakawago, this itinerary is for you.
Make your own trip from Osaka to Takayama by JR Express Wide View Hida. You need a ticket from Osaka Station (not Shin-Osaka Station) to Takayama Station. If you have Japan Rail Pass, you can use it from Osaka 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.
The price of this tour is about 80,000 yen for a group of 4-9 pax and 70,000 yen for a group of 1-3 pax. This include a private car (Takayama-Shirakawago), highway tolls, parking fees and sales tax.
JR Express fares (Osaka-Takayama) (about 17,000 yen per person), accomodation in Takayama (10,000-30,000 yen per person), meals and admissions can be included upon request. Smaller cars are available for smaller groups and buses are also available for larger groups.
Day 1
7:58-12:22 Take Express Wide View Hida from Osaka 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 Osaka Station by Express Wide View Hida
Please note that there is only one direct train between Osaka and Takayama for both way. If you change the time for leaving from Osaka, then you have to take Shinkansen and the fare will be significantly higher.
Other types of Shirakawago tour from Osaka
Other types of tours such as 2-day or 3-day round trip from Osaka to Takayama-Shirakawago-Kanazawa tour is also available upon request.