Nagoya JR Gate Tower Hotel
Meieki 1-chome, next to Nagoya Station
The shortest walk to the Hida and Shirasagi platforms, so the 08:43 Hida to Toyama or the 07:51 Shirasagi costs you no extra minutes.
Check rates ↗Oct–NovTwo good ways. Four Hida limited expresses a day run straight up the mountains to Toyama with no change, in about four hours. The Shirasagi to Tsuruga and a change to the Shinkansen is about 40 minutes quicker.
Nagoya to Toyama takes 3h 12m by Shirasagi and Shinkansen (¥10,070, one change at Tsuruga) or 3h 49m on the Hida limited express (¥7,790, no change). Four Hida a day run straight through, leaving Nagoya at 08:43, 10:48, 12:48 and 14:48 by way of Gero and Takayama. The Shirasagi leaves eight times a day and a Tsurugi Shinkansen carries you on from Tsuruga. The highway bus takes 3h 37m and costs ¥4,300–5,800.
The Shinkansen route is the fastest and has eight departures, but you change at Tsuruga and pay ¥2,280 more than for a reserved Hida seat. The Hida is the one with the view: it follows the Hida River gorge up to Takayama, then the Jinzū River down to Toyama, with no change and a fixed seat, but only four trains a day run through. The bus is the cheapest and about as quick as the Hida, but it is the least comfortable if you have a large suitcase. Heading on to Kanazawa instead? See Nagoya to Kanazawa, or every route from Nagoya in Nagoya to Hokuriku. Tokyo and Osaka readers: Tokyo to Toyama.
The Shinkansen route wins on time, the bus on price and the Hida on the view.
| Route | Time | Fare, one adult | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirasagi + Shinkansen | 3h 12m–3h 30m | ¥10,070 reserved, one ticket | 1, at Tsuruga | The fastest: eight a day, 07:51 to 19:48 |
| Tokaido Shinkansen to Maibara + Shirasagi + Shinkansen | about 2h 50m | ¥11,040 | 2 | A later start: a Hikari catches the same Shirasagi at Maibara |
| Hida limited express, direct | 3h 49m–4h 6m | ¥7,790 reserved, ¥7,260 unreserved | none | The scenery, a fixed seat and no stairs with luggage |
| Hida with a stop in Takayama or Gero | your choice | ¥9,560 for Takayama, as two tickets | none, a break | An old town or a hot-spring soak on the way |
| Daytime highway bus | 3h 37m | ¥4,300–5,800 by date | none | The lowest price and no change |
| Night bus | 5h 20m | ¥5,190 | none | Skipping a hotel night |
Regular-season reserved fares for one adult. Reserved-seat charges move about ¥200 with the calendar (¥400 at the peaks); the unreserved Hida fare does not. The Shirasagi has no unreserved cars. Train times are the JR timetable of 14 March 2026, which runs to mid-March 2027 (Hida: timetable of 23 October 2026). The Maibara variant is the Toyama to Nagoya fare checked on 12 December 2026 (11:40 from Toyama, 14:30 in Nagoya). Checked 24 Oct 2026.
Four a day, all via Gero and Takayama. ¥7,790 reserved, ¥7,260 unreserved.
| Hida from Nagoya | Reaches Takayama | Leaves Takayama | Reaches Toyama | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08:43 · Hida 3 | 10:58 | 11:03 | 12:32 | 3h 49m |
| 10:48 · Hida 7 | 13:12 | 13:17 | 14:51 | 4h 3m |
| 12:48 · Hida 11 | 15:12 | 15:17 | 16:44 | 3h 56m |
| 14:48 · Hida 13 | 17:13 | 17:18 | 18:54 | 4h 6m |
The train reverses at Gifu and stops at Takayama for 5 minutes, so you stay on your seat. The other six Hida a day end at Takayama (see Nagoya to Takayama). Reserved seats go on sale at 10:00 one month before; outside JR Central's peak periods there are unreserved cars too. Last through Hida: 14:48 from Nagoya, Toyama 18:54.
Four a day too, same fares.
| Hida from Toyama | Leaves Takayama | Reaches Nagoya | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:58 · Hida 6 | 09:36 | 12:04 | 4h 6m |
| 09:54 · Hida 8 | 11:35 | 14:04 | 4h 10m |
| 13:08 · Hida 14 | 14:46 | 17:05 | 3h 57m |
| 17:14 · Hida 20 | 18:48 | 21:03 | 3h 49m |
The last Hida from Toyama is the 17:14, in Nagoya at 21:03. After it, the Shinkansen and Shirasagi (below) or the bus (19:00) are the way back. Times are the JR timetable of 23 October 2026.
Eight Shirasagi a day, each timed to a Shinkansen at Tsuruga. All ¥10,070 on one ticket.
| Shirasagi from Nagoya | Reaches Tsuruga · change | Shinkansen from Tsuruga | Reaches Toyama | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07:51 · Shirasagi 1 | 09:27 · 19 min | 09:46 · Tsurugi 8 | 11:07 | 3h 16m |
| 08:51 · Shirasagi 3 | 10:27 · 31 min | 10:58 · Hakutaka 562 | 12:21 | 3h 30m |
| 09:48 · Shirasagi 5 | 11:26 · 13 min | 11:39 · Tsurugi 16 | 13:00 | 3h 12m |
| 11:48 · Shirasagi 7 | 13:27 · 14 min | 13:41 · Tsurugi 22 | 15:04 | 3h 16m |
| 13:48 · Shirasagi 9 | 15:26 · 15 min | 15:41 · Tsurugi 28 | 17:03 | 3h 15m |
| 15:48 · Shirasagi 11 | 17:26 · 12 min | 17:38 · Tsurugi 34 | 19:00 | 3h 12m |
| 17:48 · Shirasagi 13 | 19:27 · 12 min | 19:39 · Tsurugi 42 | 21:01 | 3h 13m |
| 19:48 · Shirasagi 15 | 21:26 · 16 min | 21:42 · Tsurugi 48 | 23:04 | 3h 16m |
The Tsurugi is the stopping Shinkansen: it runs on from Kanazawa to Toyama in 22 minutes, 1h 21m from Tsuruga, and leaves from the platform just above the Shirasagi. The 08:51 Shirasagi is the one exception: its usual Tsurugi (12, 10:43) ends at Kanazawa, so take the Hakutaka 562 at 10:58 instead. One ticket is ¥990 more than Nagoya to Kanazawa and books both seats at once; the change at Tsuruga takes 8 minutes at the very least (how the Tsuruga transfer works). For a later start, ride a Hikari to Maibara and board the same Shirasagi there (about 25 minutes later from Nagoya, ¥11,040). The last connection reaches Toyama at 23:04.
Seven connections a day, 07:37 to 18:41 from Toyama. ¥10,070 on one ticket in this direction too.
| Tsurugi from Toyama | Reaches Tsuruga · change | Shirasagi from Tsuruga | Reaches Nagoya | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07:37 · Tsurugi 9 | 08:59 · 12 min | 09:11 · Shirasagi 4 | 10:49 | 3h 12m |
| 09:40 · Tsurugi 17 | 11:01 · 9 min | 11:10 · Shirasagi 6 | 12:48 | 3h 8m |
| 11:40 · Tsurugi 21 | 13:02 · 8 min | 13:10 · Shirasagi 8 | 14:48 | 3h 8m |
| 13:40 · Tsurugi 25 | 15:02 · 8 min | 15:10 · Shirasagi 10 | 16:49 | 3h 9m |
| 14:39 · Tsurugi 29 | 16:01 · 8 min | 16:09 · Shirasagi 12 | 17:49 | 3h 10m |
| 16:37 · Tsurugi 37 | 17:59 · 9 min | 18:08 · Shirasagi 14 | 19:46 | 3h 9m |
| 18:41 · Tsurugi 45 | 20:02 · 13 min | 20:15 · Shirasagi 16 | 21:54 | 3h 13m |
No Tsurugi from Toyama arrives in time for the 07:11 Shirasagi from Tsuruga, so the first connection is the 07:37 for Nagoya at 10:49. The last is the 18:41 for the 20:15 Shirasagi, in Nagoya at 21:54. A Hikari from Maibara instead of the Shirasagi saves about 20 minutes: for example 11:40 from Toyama and Nagoya at 14:30, ¥11,040.
The shortest walk to the Hida and Shirasagi platforms, so the 08:43 Hida to Toyama or the 07:51 Shirasagi costs you no extra minutes.
Check rates ↗A newer business hotel (opened 2021) on the Shinkansen side of the station, for an early train without the station-tower price.
Check rates ↗Platform to platform.
The Hida starts at Nagoya, so you board early with a fixed seat. It runs along the Tokaido Line to Gifu, reverses there and follows the Hida River up through the Hisui Gorge (飛水峡) past Gero Onsen. The new HC85 hybrid trains have big windows; sit on the right facing the way you are going from Gifu. Every stop and the Gero soak.
North of Takayama the line leaves the mountain basin and follows the Jinzū River gorge down to the Toyama plain in about 1h 30m (¥3,420 reserved if you buy it on its own). Sit on either side: the river swaps. If you miss a through train you ride a local from Takayama, changing at Inotani, which takes about 2h 15m.
Follow the signs up to the transfer concourse, put both tickets in the gate together and go up again to the Shinkansen. The minimum is 8 minutes; the table shows 12 to 19 on the usual connection. The Tsurugi then takes about 1h 21m to Toyama.
About 3h 37m, no change, from ¥4,300 on quieter dates.
| Leaves Meitetsu Bus Center | Reaches Toyama Station |
|---|---|
| 07:10 | 10:47 |
| 08:10 | 11:47 |
| 09:10 | 12:47 |
| 10:40 | 14:17 |
| 12:10 | 15:47 |
| 14:10 | 17:47 |
| 15:40 | 19:17 |
| 17:10 | 20:47 |
| 18:40 | 22:17 |
| 19:40 | 23:17 |
This is the ten-departure timetable, in force on busy dates such as Saturday 31 October. On quieter dates Meitetsu runs a seven-departure timetable instead: 07:10, 08:10, 11:10, 12:10, 14:10, 16:10 and 18:10, reaching Toyama at 10:47, 11:47, 14:47, 15:47, 17:47, 19:47 and 21:47. Meitetsu Bus and Toyama Chitetsu Bus share the line, with 4-across seats and a toilet on most buses. Stops: Meitetsu Bus Center (3F, bay 6) in Nagoya; Nishikamibukuro, Toyama City Hospital-mae, Sogawa and Toyama City Hall-mae before Toyama Station (bay 1). Fare ¥4,300–5,800 by date (¥5,800 on busy Saturdays). Every seat is reserved: book on Highway Bus.com (高速バスドットコム) or by phone on the Meitetsu Highway Bus Reservation Center, 0570-08-0489, 9:00–18:00. The night bus, JR Tokai Bus Hokuriku Dream Nagoya 1, leaves Nagoya Station at 22:40 and reaches Toyama Station South Exit at 04:00 for ¥5,190. Times from Meitetsu Bus and ekitan, 24 Oct 2026.
About 3h 40m, ten a day on the busy-date timetable.
| Leaves Toyama Station | Reaches Meitetsu Bus Center |
|---|---|
| 05:50 | 09:30 |
| 07:20 | 11:00 |
| 08:20 | 12:00 |
| 09:50 | 13:30 |
| 11:20 | 15:00 |
| 13:20 | 17:00 |
| 14:50 | 18:30 |
| 16:20 | 20:00 |
| 17:50 | 21:30 |
| 19:00 | 22:40 |
Quieter dates use another list: 05:50, 07:20, 08:20, 10:20, 11:20, 13:20, 14:20, 15:20, 17:20 and 18:20 from Toyama, reaching Nagoya at 09:30, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00, 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, 21:00 and 22:00. Some buses drop at Midland Square before the bus center. Traffic and snow add time, so do not plan a tight flight connection on the last bus. The night bus Hokuriku Dream Nagoya 2 leaves Toyama Station South Exit at 23:34 and reaches Nagoya Station at 05:20, ¥5,190.
Buy two tickets: a limited-express ticket ends when you leave the train.
Nagoya to Takayama is 2h 15m–2h 42m and ¥6,140 reserved; Takayama to Toyama is about 1h 30m and ¥3,420, so ¥9,560 in all as two tickets. After the old town, the through Hida leave Takayama at 11:03, 13:17, 15:17, 17:18, reaching Toyama at 12:32, 14:51, 16:44, 18:54. Hida seats go quickly at weekends, so book the Takayama to Toyama leg when you book the first. Takayama guide.
Gero is 1h 32m–1h 56m from Nagoya, ¥4,700 reserved. The public bath Shirasagi-no-yu (白鷺の湯) is a 10-minute walk from the station: ¥430, 10:00–21:00, closed Wednesdays. Get off the 08:43 Hida (Hida 3) at 10:15, bathe and lunch, then catch the 12:29 (Hida 7), which runs through to Toyama at 14:51. Full Gero guide.
Toyama is the gateway. These three are the reasons people come.
The Toyama Chiho Railway leaves from Dentetsu-Toyama, next to the station, and the whole crossing to Shinano-Ōmachi takes 6–7 hours and costs ¥14,360. The 2026 season runs to 30 November 2026; the 2027 opening date is not announced (it opened on 15 April in 2025 and 2026). You can cross the other way too: Hida to Takayama, the bus to Ōgizawa, the six vehicles to Tateyama, and finish in Toyama (ticket set below). Alpine Route guide.
Only the Hakutaka stops at Kurobe-Unazukionsen. From Nagoya the 07:51 Shirasagi, then the 09:58 Hakutaka from Tsuruga, gets you there at about 11:33; a local line takes 26 minutes on to Unazuki Onsen (¥740). The Kurobe Gorge Railway runs to 30 November 2026; Unazuki stays open all winter. Kurobe Gorge guide and Unazuki Onsen.
A working fishing port with a canal quarter and a midday auction of red snow crab that you can watch for ¥100 (September to May, 12:30). It is the sort of stop the Shinkansen skips and the tram does not. Shinminato guide.
Worth it if the Alpine Route is the reason you are going to Toyama.
A join-in coach tour from Nagoya that crosses the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route with a night in between. Seasonal, because the route closes on 30 November 2026. Check the listing for the stops, the meals and whether the route ticket is included.
See the tour ↗A bus from Takayama to Ōgizawa, then all six vehicles of the route to Tateyama in one set, one way or round trip. It saves up to ¥1,000 on separate tickets, and it suits the Hida-then-Alpine-Route plan above.
See the tickets ↗Kanazawa, Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Fukui from Nagoya, with times and fares in the same format as here.
All routes from Nagoya →Not for Nagoya to Toyama on its own. The Hokuriku Arch Pass (¥35,000) covers only Tsuruga to Toyama, not the Shirasagi.
Covers the Hida from Nagoya through Takayama to Toyama, the Shinkansen from Toyama to Tsuruga and the Shirakawa-go buses, but not the Shirasagi from Tsuruga to Nagoya or the Nagoya to Toyama highway bus. The Hida alone is ¥7,790 in tickets, so for this trip: no. It starts to pay when the loop runs on through Shirakawa-go and Kanazawa. Our pass guide.
See the pass ↗Covers the Hida from Nagoya to Takayama and Toyama, the whole Alpine Route and the Shinano back from Matsumoto: about ¥29,000 in tickets. Seasonal: sales end on 6 November 2026 and the pass is valid to 10 November. Worth it only if you cross the Alpine Route. Pass guide.
See the pass ↗Covers the Hida, the Shirasagi, the Hikari and the Shinkansen (no Nozomi), with reserved seats free, but not the highway bus or the Toyama Chiho Railway. This trip is ¥7,790 to ¥10,070, so it pays only when the week has a lot more rail. JR Pass guide.
See the pass ↗Five minutes on foot from the station, a tram stop outside and a large breakfast buffet. Good value.
Across the road from the south exit. The pick for a late Shinkansen in or an early one out.
International-chain rooms beside Toyama Castle, six minutes by tram. East-facing rooms can see Tateyama.
The fastest is 3 hours 12 minutes: the Shirasagi to Tsuruga (1 hour 36 minutes), a 12 to 19 minute change, then 1 hour 21 minutes on the Tsurugi Shinkansen. The Hida limited express has no change and takes 3 hours 49 minutes to 4 hours 6 minutes, four times a day. The highway bus takes about 3 hours 37 minutes.
The Shirasagi and Shinkansen cost ¥10,070 one way with reserved seats, bought as one ticket, at regular-season 2026 fares. The Hida costs ¥7,790 reserved or ¥7,260 unreserved. The highway bus is ¥4,300 to ¥5,800 depending on the date.
Yes, four Hida limited express trains a day run through without a change, leaving Nagoya at 08:43, 10:48, 12:48 and 14:48. The other six Hida stop at Takayama. There is no direct Shinkansen: since March 2024 the Shirasagi ends at Tsuruga, where you change.
Yes. Meitetsu Bus and Toyama Chitetsu Bus run reserved highway buses from the Meitetsu Bus Center to Toyama Station, 7 to 10 a day depending on the date, in about 3 hours 37 minutes for ¥4,300 to ¥5,800. The JR Tokai Bus Hokuriku Dream Nagoya night bus leaves Nagoya Station at 22:40 and reaches Toyama at 04:00 for ¥5,190.
The Japan Rail Pass covers the Hida, the Shirasagi and the Shinkansen, but not the highway bus. The Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass (¥19,800, 5 days) covers the Hida all the way to Toyama but not the Shirasagi. The Hokuriku Arch Pass covers only Tsuruga to Toyama. None pays for this trip alone.
Yes, through Toyama. Take the Hida or the Shirasagi and Shinkansen to Toyama, then the Toyama Chiho Railway from Dentetsu-Toyama to Tateyama in about 1 hour. The route runs until 30 November 2026, and the 2027 opening date is not announced. You can also cross it the other way from Takayama and finish in Toyama.
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