How to Get to Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go & Takayama from Tokyo — And Is the JR Pass Worth It?

Tarry Laurensia
14 hours ago
4 min read

If you’ve been asking how to travel from Tokyo to Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, and Takayama — you’re not alone. I get this question all the time, especially from travelers planning their first Japan trip.

How to get to kanazawa from tokyo using shinkanse hokuriku — Shinkansen Hokuriku

This guide breaks down the routes, ticket options, and whether a JR Pass (especially the Hokuriku Arch Pass) actually makes sense — based on real travel patterns.

I’ll also include a comparison table below (scroll down!) so you can quickly see the numbers side-by-side.

Getting from Tokyo to Kanazawa

The easiest and fastest way is by Hokuriku Shinkansen (bullet train).

Travel time: about 2.5–3 hours
Cost: around ¥14,000 one way
Covered by JR Pass / Hokuriku Arch Pass

Tokyo and Kanazawa are directly connected by this line, making it a very straightforward journey.

The distance is roughly 470 km, and trains depart from Tokyo or Ueno Station directly to Kanazawa Station.

The fastest service (Kagayaki) can do it in about 2.5 hours, while slower services take closer to 3 hours.

👉 This leg is usually the biggest cost component of the itinerary — which is why pass vs ticket comparisons matter.

Alternative: Highway buses exist (7–8 hours, ¥4,500–8,000), but they’re significantly slower and better suited for budget travelers.

Reaching Shirakawa-go & Takayama

Unlike the Tokyo–Kanazawa segment, these parts are typically bus routes, not JR trains — meaning:

They’re not covered by JR rail passes
You’ll purchase separate tickets

This is why itineraries like Tokyo → Kanazawa → Shirakawa-go → Takayama rarely gain huge savings from rail passes alone — your table comparison reflects that reality.

(You can insert your fare breakdown here)

So… Is the Hokuriku Arch Pass Worth It?

The Hokuriku Arch Pass is a 7-day rail pass for foreign visitors allowing unlimited JR travel between Tokyo and Kansai via the Hokuriku region.

Current price:

About ¥30,000 (rising to ¥35,000 from March 2026)
Unlimited rides on covered JR routes including Hokuriku Shinkansen

It’s designed for travelers moving across multiple cities — not just one return trip.

When it DOES make sense

You’re traveling multiple long JR segments
Including airport trains or extra stops
Doing multi-city exploration within 7 days

Example: a roundtrip including airport transfers can cost about ¥34,000 individually — making the pass cheaper.

When it DOESN’T

You only go Tokyo ⇄ Kanazawa
Or most legs are buses

A Tokyo–Kanazawa roundtrip alone already nearly equals the pass cost — meaning savings are limited unless you add more train travel.

==> This is why comparing your exact route (like in the table below) is critical before buying.

ROUTE	Individual Ticket	JR Pass Hokuriku Arch
[Shinkansen] Tokyo to Kanazawa	14,380	29,700
[BUS] Kanazawa to Shirakawago	2,800	2,800
[BUS] Shirakawago to Takayama	2,800	2,800
[BUS] Takayama to Kanazawa	4,200	4,200
[Shinkansen] Kanazawa toTokyo	14,380	0
TOTAL	38,560	39,500

If you’re booking independently, I usually recommend sorting these before departure:

JR Pass / regional pass purchase. If you decided to buy JR-Pass you can buy easily here.
Data eSIM is important especially if you are planning to small town. get your e-sim here.

What About Day-Tripping from Tokyo?

Some readers ask if Kanazawa can be visited as a day trip.

Technically yes:

Train time: ~2.5 hours each way
Total transit: ~5–6 hours ==> most of your time spent on the road, and too little time to explore Shirakawa-go and Takayama

This is doable because the shinkansen is fast and direct.

But realistically: