Train Tickets from Kanazawa to Takayama

4 Number
of daily departures
2h00 Shortest
travel duration
$39 Our best
available price
07:19 / 16:40 Earliest / Latest
departure time

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY TO TAKAYAMA!


Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture in Hokuriku, and it is often referred to as a “Mini-Kyoto”. The city was practically untouched during the last World War, with its historic districts like Higashicha-ya standing as they did in the past. But Kanazawa is by no means a “watered-down alternative” to Kyoto, as its distinct cuisine, artisanal crafts, and charming atmosphere make it a worthy destination all its own. 

Moving more inland into Gifu Prefecture, Takayama is an amazing representation of rural Japan. While Kanazawa itself is a charming, smaller city on the Japan Sea Coast, the collection of urban buildings are replaced with rolling rivers that pass through quaint wooden buildings and structures with nearby green pastures and farmland. An amazing look into the Japan often seen only in movies and television!

If you want to travel by train between the two locations, you can take the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa Station to Toyama Sttaion.  From there, you can take the Hida Express Line that goes all the way to Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture. Get off at Takayama Station, one of the Line’s major stations, and enjoy the charming rural getaway! It is a quick and convenient trip that takes about two hours.

Advantages of taking the train from Kanazawa to Takayama

shinkansen nozomi 700s jr central
Efficiency

Covering the distance of 148km between Kanazawa and Takayama in a little over 2 hours, Shinkansen bullet trains are one of the fastest ways to reach your destination relaxed and worry-free.

shinkansen 700s interior seat seating japan train nozomi jr central
Comfort

Comfortable seats, plenty of space to relax your legs, regularly cleaned carriages and peace and quiet for a relaxing journey. 

shinkansen driver agent jr
Reliability

With hundreds of departures per day and an average delay per train estimated at 24 seconds, the Shinkansen is very reliable. 

shinkansen 700s nozomi eco friendly green
Eco-friendly

Your Kanazawa to Takayama itinerary corresponds to 5kg of CO2 emissions by Shinkansen, compared to 37kg by plane on the same journey. Traveling by train is 7 times more eco-responsible than flying!

How to book your Kanazawa to Takayama train tickets

Pick your time, date, and seat

You can book up to 9 months prior to your travel date.

Confirm and purchase

Order your train ticket securely online.

Receive your QR code

Get your QR code by email 1 month before departure.

Exchange and enjoy

Follow the instructions received on how to exchange your QR code and enjoy your ride.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KANAZAWA STATION AND TAKAYAMA STATION

How to get to Kanazawa Station

Ishikawa's capital is divided into two parts by Kanazawa Station, which is situated directly in the middle of the city. Although the majority of trains to and from Kanazawa Station travel to nearby prefectures such as Toyama and Fukui, as well as other towns within the prefecture, Kanazawa boasts a rather substantial bus network that focuses around the station. Enjoy shopping at the station and the nearby department store Forus, while you wait for a Shinkansen departure.

 

Where to go from Takayama Station

The small Takayama Station is situated relatively close to Hida Takayama's center region. It's easy to walk to center Takayama and the many hotels in the neighborhood, but buses leave the station that head to other sections of the region, including Shirakawago and Hida Furukawa, the station that was featured in the 2016 mega hit "Your Name." The train travels through Gifu Prefecture and ends at Toyama Station on the Japan Sea Coast, so Takayama Station is not the last station on the Hida Express Line. 

Why Book your Train Tickets with Japan Experience?

Official seller

Our train tickets are issued through an official partnership with the National Japan Railways Group (JR).

Secure payment

You're in control! We offer different payment options.

Quality at our core

Our team of passionate individuals based in Japan works with you directly, no intermediary needed.

Customer support

We're here to help, 7/7. And available through all channels.

READ MORE ABOUT THE EXCHANGE PROCESS, CONDITIONS, AND VALIDITY OF TRAIN TICKETS BELOW

How far in advance can I book train tickets?

You can book train tickets in Japan between 9 months prior to your train's departure date and 3 days before departure. 

Is there a special train ticket fare for children?

Yes, there are special fares applicable for children. Ages 12 and up are considered adults, but kids aged from 6 to 11 benefit from a reduced fare. Children under the age of 6 travel for free and do not need to book a seat. This free fare is limited to 2 tickets, meaning any additional child under 6 will then pay the classic child fare and will have to book a seat. 

Where to exchange your train tickets in Japan depending on the region

train tickets exchange map japan
 

In the JR West area (blue), you can exchange your QR code for a physical train ticket at reserved seat ticket machines in stations, or at Midori-no-Madoguchi ticket windows with station staff. In the JR Central area (orange), you can exchange your QR code at reserved seat ticket vending machines at indicated stations. In the JR East area (green), you can exchange your train tickets at Shinkansen stations, major stations in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and Narita Airport stations. 

How to use your train tickets in Japan 

To use your train tickets once you have exchanged them, simply head to Kanazawa Station, insert your train ticket into the automatic gates (don't forget to take it back), and head to the right platform to hop on your train. On board the train, find the seat number that is on your ticket if you have a seat reservation, and enjoy the ride! Once you've arrived in Takayama, insert the ticket again at the gates upon exiting Takayama Station, and the city is now yours to explore. 

You can find the conditions of modification and cancellation of our train tickets in our “Frequently Asked Questions” section at the bottom of the page.

Eligibility

All persons above the age of 12, with no restrictions of residence status or nationality, are eligible to purchase individual train tickets (unlike the Japan Rail Pass and some JR regional passes, for example). Japanese individuals as well as foreigners living in Japan can thus purchase train tickets online. Under the age of 12, the aforementioned child fare conditions apply. 

Validity of train tickets

Train tickets issued are only valid for the date and time indicated on your booking, and are to be used only on the Kanazawa to Takayama route. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Train Tickets in Japan