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Shirakawa-go Bus Guide: Kanazawa and Takayama, Both Directions

Which bus to take to and from Shirakawa-go, whether to reserve, how to buy in English and what changes on December 1, 2026, from the operators' own pages.

Researched & written byRural Japan GuidesHow I researchSources14 sourceslisted at the endLast checkedDetails can change — check the official site before you travel.Read8 min
A city bus in front of the glass dome at Kanazawa Station East Exit, with snow piled beside the bus loop

Kanazawa Station East Exit in snow. Buses to Shirakawa-go leave from the West Exit. Photo: Aspere / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

The short answer
  • Takayama – Shirakawa-go takes about 50 minutes and Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go 1 hour 15 minutes; both fares rise from ¥2,800 to ¥2,900 on December 1, 2026.
  • Book the Kanazawa bus ahead: Hokutetsu says every bus has reserved seats, while Nohi Bus says only some buses are reservation-only.
  • A through Kanazawa – Takayama ticket is void once you get off in Shirakawa-go, so stopping there means two tickets, ¥1,400 more than the through fare.
My pick

Reserve a seat on any bus you can, and plan to leave by 17:30.

From Takayama there are 16 round trips a day; from Kanazawa, 9 buses each way. The two operators describe the reservation rule differently, so a reserved seat is the safe choice.

On the current timetable, the last buses leave Shirakawa-go at 17:30 for both Takayama and Kanazawa.

  1. 1From TakayamaAbout 50 min, ¥2,800 (¥2,900 from Dec 1)
  2. 2From Kanazawa1 hr 15 min, ¥2,800 (¥2,900 from Dec 1)
  3. 3From NagoyaAbout 2 hr 30 min, ¥3,600–¥4,700 by date

Shirakawa-go has no railway, so every trip without a car ends on a bus. This guide covers the two main lines, from Takayama and from Kanazawa, in both directions, plus the buses from Toyama, Takaoka and Nagoya. Fares, rules and times are from the operators' own pages, checked October 15–21, 2026.

For the village itself, where to stay and what changes in each season, see my Shirakawa-go guide.

Shirakawa-go bus at a glance

Route Operator Time Adult fare From Dec 1, 2026 Buses Reserve?
Takayama – Shirakawa-go Nohi Bus About 50 min ¥2,800 ¥2,900 16 round trips a day Some buses
Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go Hokutetsu, Nohi Bus 1 hr 15 min ¥2,800 ¥2,900 9 each way Book
Kanazawa – Takayama (through) Hokutetsu, Nohi Bus 2 hr 15 min ¥4,200 ¥4,400 9 each way Book
Shirakawa-go → Toyama Nohi Bus About 1 hr 20 min ¥2,400 Not yet announced — Some buses
Nagoya → Shirakawa-go Meitetsu Bus, Hokutetsu About 2 hr 30 min ¥3,600–¥4,700 — 2 each way —

Fares are one way for adults. "—" means not confirmed on the operator's pages on October 21, 2026. Nohi Bus changes the Toyama fare on December 1, 2026, but has not announced the new amount, so check it before you ride. Times are the operators' estimates, except Nagoya, which is the tourist association's figure; Hokutetsu gives 2 hours 40 minutes for Nagoya, and the tourist association gives about 1 hour 20 minutes for Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go.

Takayama to Shirakawa-go (and back)

Takayama – Shirakawa-go — Nohi Bus

  1. Leaves from Takayama Nohi Bus Center.
  2. About 50 minutes, 16 round trips a day; some buses are reservation-only.
  3. Fare: ¥2,800 one way, ¥2,900 from December 1, 2026.
Watch outbuses marked ◆ in the timetable do not run on weekends, holidays, August 13–15 or December 29 – January 3.
  • Booking in English: Nohi Bus points English speakers to Japan Bus Online. Mobile tickets are sold only for buses that need no reservation.
  • From December 1, 2026: Nohi Bus restores some Takayama → Shirakawa-go buses as reservation-only buses, so check whether your bus needs a reservation. Buses from Shirakawa-go to Takayama do not change.
  • Back to Takayama: the last bus leaves Shirakawa-go at 17:30 and reaches Takayama Nohi Bus Center at 18:35.
The front of Takayama Nohi Bus Center, with numbered bus bays and a coin locker sign
Takayama Nohi Bus Center, where the Shirakawa-go buses start.Photo: Umako / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go (and back)

Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go — Hokutetsu and Nohi Bus

  1. Leaves from Kanazawa Station West Exit, stop 4.
  2. 1 hour 15 minutes to Shirakawa-go; the same buses continue to Takayama.
  3. Fare: ¥2,800 one way, ¥2,900 from December 1, 2026.
Watch outbook a seat; the two operators describe the rule differently (see below).
  • Buses: 9 a day leave Kanazawa between 8:10 and 16:00, and 9 leave Takayama between 7:50 and 16:30, on Hokutetsu's timetable revised April 1, 2025.
  • Back to Kanazawa: the last bus leaves Shirakawa-go at 17:30 and reaches Kanazawa Station at 18:45.
  • From December 1, 2026: Nohi Bus adds a direct bus between Takayama and Kanazawa that does not stop at Shirakawa-go. Check that the bus you book lists Shirakawa-go as a stop.
  • Fares from December 1: Nohi Bus has published them (¥2,900); Hokutetsu's own page still shows the April 2025 timetable.

Shirakawa-go to Takayama or Kanazawa: the last buses

On the current timetable, the last buses leave Shirakawa-go at 17:30:

To Leaves Shirakawa-go Arrives
Takayama Nohi Bus Center 17:30 18:35
Kanazawa Station 17:30 18:45
  • Buses back to Takayama: Nohi Bus says its buses from Shirakawa-go to Takayama do not change on December 1, 2026.
  • Buses to Kanazawa: these times are from Hokutetsu's timetable revised April 1, 2025; its page did not show the December 2026 timetable on October 21, 2026.
  • Day visits: the village asks day visitors to come between 8:00 and 17:00, so the 17:30 buses fit the end of a day visit.

Do you need a reservation?

Operator What it says Where
Hokutetsu All seats reserved; "please be sure to book before you ride" Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go – Takayama page (Japanese)
Nohi Bus Only some buses are reservation-only Takayama – Shirakawa-go page (English)

The two pages describe the same line differently, and I could not find out which buses Nohi means. Book whichever bus you take, especially on the Kanazawa side.

How to buy tickets in English

  1. Japan Bus Online (English) lists Nohi Bus's Takayama / Shirakawa-go – Takaoka / Toyama / Kanazawa line, with stops at Takayama Nohi Bus Center, Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi), Kanazawa Station West Exit stop 4, Toyama Station and Shin-Takaoka.
  2. Hokutetsu takes bookings by phone (+81 76-234-0123, 8:00–18:00) or on the Hassha Orai Net booking site. Seats open on the same date one month before travel.
  3. At Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal: it sells and reserves tickets (8:30–17:30).

If you hold the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass, you cannot book through Japan Bus Online. The site sends pass holders to the Nohi Bus reservation center at +81 577-32-1688.

Stopping in Shirakawa-go between Kanazawa and Takayama

To see Shirakawa-go on the way from Kanazawa to Takayama, plan for the ticket rule: Hokutetsu says a through ticket is void once you get off on the way, so you need two tickets:

Until Nov 30, 2026 From Dec 1, 2026
Through, Kanazawa – Takayama ¥4,200 ¥4,400
Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go + Shirakawa-go – Takayama ¥5,600 ¥5,800
Extra cost of stopping ¥1,400 ¥1,400

Book both legs before you travel. The village asks day visitors to come between 8:00 and 17:00, and the last buses leave at 17:30.

Planning the day

With two tickets, the day can look like this on the current timetables:

  1. Morning: the first bus leaves Kanazawa at 8:10, and the trip to Shirakawa-go takes 1 hour 15 minutes.
  2. In the village: the tourist association says a walk around the village takes about 2 to 3 hours, and Wada House, the largest gassho house, is open 9:00–17:00.
  3. Onward to Takayama: buses leave for Takayama during the day, and the last one leaves at 17:30 and arrives at 18:35.

The same plan works in reverse: the first bus from Takayama on Hokutetsu's timetable leaves at 7:50, and the last bus to Kanazawa leaves Shirakawa-go at 17:30. If you have luggage, read Luggage on the bus below before you book.

Other routes: Toyama, Takaoka and Nagoya

  • Toyama: an express bus runs from Toyama Station in about 1 hour 20 minutes, and some buses are reservation-only. The fare from Shirakawa-go to Toyama is ¥2,400. Nohi Bus changes the Toyama fare on December 1, 2026, but has not announced the new amount, so check it before you ride.
  • Takaoka: Nohi Bus's line continues to Shin-Takaoka and Takaoka stations. The World Heritage Bus, run by Kaetsuno Bus, also links Shirakawa-go and Shin-Takaoka Station.
  • Nagoya: Meitetsu Bus and Hokutetsu run 2 buses each way from Meitetsu Bus Center, at fares of ¥3,600–¥4,700 depending on the date. Nohi Bus does not run this route, and its Takayama – Shirakawa-go tickets are not valid on it.

When you arrive at Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal

All the buses on this page stop at Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal in Ogimachi, the main village (1086 Ogimachi). The village lists:

  • Hours: 8:30–17:30.
  • Tickets: bus tickets are sold and reserved here.
  • Facilities: coin lockers, a bus waiting area, multi-purpose toilets with a nursing room and free Wi-Fi (SHIRAKAWA-Go Free Wi-Fi).
  • Into the village: the village is about a one-minute walk away.
  • The view from above: a shuttle bus leaves from in front of Wada House for the observation deck, 9:00–15:40 with no buses in the 12:00 hour; the fare is ¥300 one way, paid in cash when you get off.
The main street through Ogimachi, Shirakawa-go, lined with wooden houses below forested hills
The main street through Ogimachi.Photo: DimiTalen / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

Luggage on the bus

  • The hold: Nohi Bus says the luggage hold on its Takayama – Shirakawa-go buses is shared and has limited space, so large bags may not fit. It takes no responsibility for damage, loss or theft.
  • Power banks: keep them with you on board.
  • At Shirakawa-go: the bus terminal has coin lockers (the village does not list the price), and a paid storage service takes small and medium bags from ¥500 and large ones from ¥1,000, 8:00–17:00, same day only.
LuggageTraveling with big suitcases?
  • Coming back to Takayama: leave them there. Lockers in Takayama are covered in where to leave bags around Shirakawa-go.
  • Going on to the next city: the hold may still have no room for them. At Shirakawa-go, the paid storage service keeps bags until 17:00 on the same day, so collect them by 17:00.

Winter: New Year cancellations and snow delays

WinterBuses can run more than 2 hours late

Nohi Bus warns that heavy snow, traffic or a closed expressway can delay the Takayama – Shirakawa-go buses by more than 2 hours. Buses marked ◆ in the timetable do not run from December 29 to January 3.

  • Gokayama Suganuma: the bus stops there only from April 1 to November 30.
  • Leave room for delays: if you have a train or flight to catch after the bus, allow for a delay of 2 hours or more.
  • The light-up: on the four light-up evenings in January 2027 (17:30–19:30), entry is by advance reservation only. The regular buses leave before it starts, and the bus companies run special reserved tour buses instead. The tourist association says new bookings for light-up-only buses are currently "very difficult", and light-up stays in the village are allocated by lottery (applications close October 31, 2026 at 23:59 Japan time). Details are in my winter light-up guide and on the tourist association's light-up page.

Passes that cover this bus

The Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass costs ¥19,800 for adults and ¥9,900 for children 6 to 11, for 5 consecutive days. Its bus section lists:

  • Takayama Nohi Bus Center – Shirakawa-go – Kanazawa / Toyama
  • Takayama – Shirakawa-go – Shin-Takaoka
  • The World Heritage Bus, Shirakawa-go – Shin-Takaoka

The pass page says Nohi Bus seats need a reservation, with some exceptions, and online booking opens at 10:00 (Japan time) on the same date one month before travel. The pass page does not list the Nagoya – Shirakawa-go bus.

Alternative: a guided day tour

Regular bus Nohi sightseeing bus
From Takayama or Kanazawa Takayama
Price ¥2,800 each way (¥2,900 from Dec 1) ¥9,000 (children ¥7,000)
Schedule Your own 8:30–15:50
Also visits — Ainokura in Gokayama
Booking See above Required, from 3 months ahead

The sightseeing bus runs all year from Takayama and also stops at Ainokura in Gokayama.

Japanese you will see on signs

English Japanese Where
Shirakawa-go 白川郷 Bus stop name
Takayama Nohi Bus Center 高山濃飛バスセンター Takayama
Kanazawa Station West Exit 金沢駅西口 Kanazawa
Reservation required 予約制 Timetables
Not running 運休 Notices
What I could not confirm yet
  • Which Nohi Bus buses are reservation-only on the current timetable.
  • Whether the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass is sold and valid in December–February.
  • Hokutetsu's own fares and times from December 1, 2026.
  • The Toyama and Takaoka fares from December 1, 2026, and the number of buses.
  • Locker prices at Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal.
  • Size limits for bags in the bus hold.

I will update this page when the operators publish these details.

Getting to Shirakawa-go from Tokyo or Osaka

From Tokyo

Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa (in the November 2026 timetable the Kagayaki 503 leaves Tokyo at 7:20 and arrives at 9:44; check its operating days), then the bus from Kanazawa Station West Exit, stop 4. Book the bus ahead.

From Osaka

Limited express Thunderbird to Tsuruga and the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa, then the bus from Kanazawa Station West Exit.

Frequently asked questions

How long is the bus from Takayama to Shirakawa-go?

About 50 minutes on Nohi Bus, with 16 round trips a day. The adult fare is ¥2,800 one way, rising to ¥2,900 on December 1, 2026.

Do I need to book the Shirakawa-go bus from Kanazawa?

Yes, book ahead. Hokutetsu, which runs the line with Nohi Bus, says all seats are reserved and asks every rider to book; Nohi Bus's English page says only some buses are reservation-only. Seats go on sale on the same date one month before travel.

Can I stop in Shirakawa-go on the Kanazawa – Takayama bus?

Not on one ticket. Hokutetsu says a through ticket is void once you get off on the way, so buy Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go and Shirakawa-go – Takayama separately. From December 1, 2026 that is ¥2,900 + ¥2,900 = ¥5,800, against ¥4,400 for the through fare.

Can I use the Nagoya – Shirakawa-go bus with a Takayama ticket?

No. The Nagoya bus is run by Meitetsu Bus and Hokutetsu, not Nohi Bus, and Nohi's Takayama – Shirakawa-go tickets are not valid on it.

Are there lockers at Shirakawa-go bus terminal?

Yes. The terminal has coin lockers, but the village does not list their price. A paid storage service also takes bags from ¥500 (small and medium) and from ¥1,000 (large), 8:00–17:00, same day only.

What time is the last bus from Shirakawa-go?

17:30, both to Takayama (arriving at Takayama Nohi Bus Center at 18:35) and to Kanazawa (arriving at Kanazawa Station at 18:45), on the current timetable.

Is there a bus from Shirakawa-go to Toyama?

Yes. Nohi Bus runs an express bus between Shirakawa-go and Toyama Station in about 1 hour 20 minutes; the fare from Shirakawa-go to Toyama is ¥2,400, and some buses are reservation-only. Nohi Bus changes this fare on December 1, 2026, but has not announced the new amount.

More on this route

Shirakawa-goReach Shirakawa-go by bus from Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama or Nagoya: fares, reservations, luggage, staying overnight and what changes in snow season.Japanese Alps without a carThe Japanese Alps by bus and train: Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Takayama, Kamikochi, Matsumoto and Hakuba, with fares, reservations and winter closures.Japanese Alps itineraryDay-by-day 5- and 7-day Japanese Alps itineraries by bus and train: where to sleep, where your luggage goes and estimated transport costs by season.

Sources

  1. Takayama – Shirakawa-go bus (English) — Nohi Bus
  2. Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa and Toyama buses: timetable and fares — Nohi Bus
  3. Fare change from December 1, 2026 — Nohi Bus
  4. Timetable change from December 1, 2026 — Nohi Bus
  5. Highway bus timetable and day tours (March 2026) — Nohi Bus
  6. Kanazawa – Shirakawa-go – Takayama bus — Hokuriku Railroad (Hokutetsu)
  7. Nagoya – Shirakawa-go bus — Hokuriku Railroad (Hokutetsu)
  8. Takayama / Shirakawa-go – Takaoka / Toyama / Kanazawa line — Japan Bus Online
  9. Shirakawa-go Light-Up 2027 — Shirakawa-go Tourist Association
  10. Access — Shirakawa-go Tourist Association
  11. FAQ: sightseeing, lockers and the observation deck shuttle — Shirakawa-go Tourist Association
  12. Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal — Shirakawa Village
  13. Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass — JR West and partners
  14. Kagayaki 503 (Tokyo – Tsuruga), November 2026 — JR East

Researched and checked by Rio, based in Japan. I read Japanese timetables, operator PDFs and prefecture notices, cross-check them and date every fact. Published . Updated . How I research →