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Hida-Takayama Driving Guide: Okuhida and Shirakawa-go Routes with Map

How to drive the Hida-Takayama area: a one-day route from Takayama to Shinhotaka in Okuhida, the road to Shirakawa-go, changing buses for Kamikochi and Norikura, the Route 158 closure and detour, parking at each stop, and winter rules.

Edited by Drive Scape Japan · Updated: · Sources verified:

Thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses among flooded rice paddies in Shirakawa-go
The gassho-zukuri village of Ogimachi in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture (Shirakawa-go), photographed in 2011. Not taken on the drive described in this article.Photographed: 2011-06-04 · Emran KassimImage source ·CC BY 2.0
Best first drive

See the old town of Takayama, then go on to the Hida Great Limestone Cave, Hirayu and the Shinhotaka Ropeway and return to Takayama (about 106 km, about 1 h 45 min of driving). Shirakawa-go is about 50 minutes from Takayama

Route 158 closure

About 2.4 km in Niukawa has been closed since February. Standard cars can detour on a city road on the opposite bank, which adds about 10 minutes to the drive to Hirayu

Kamikochi and Norikura

Private cars cannot enter. Change to the bus at the Akandana car park for Kamikochi (¥600 for 24 hours) or at Hoonokidaira for Norikura (free). Norikura runs until 31 October and Kamikochi until 15 November

As of 26 October 2026.

Driving time

From Kanazawa Station
about 1 h 40 min130 km
From Nagoya Station
about 2 h150 km
From Takayama Stationif you rent a car on arrival
about 5 min1 km

Times to Takayama Jinya and old town, calculated from map data without traffic.

Check before you go

Closures and weather change day by day, so check these pages before you set off.

Explore other driving routes →Read rental and planning advice →

The Hida-Takayama area is centred on Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. It covers the old town of Takayama, the Okuhida hot-spring villages at the foot of the Northern Alps, Hida-Furukawa and the thatched-roof village of Shirakawa-go, all of which you can reach by car. The Takayama-Kiyomi Road on the Chubu Jukan Expressway is free and runs from Hida-Kiyomi IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway to Takayama IC. This page sets out a one-day drive from Takayama through Okuhida and a route to Shirakawa-go, and lists the roads and places to stop.

Map of the Hida-Takayama area

  • Views and nature
  • Roadside stations
  1. 1Takayama Jinya and old town
  2. 2Hida Great Limestone Cave
  3. 3Hirayu Onsen
  4. 4Shinhotaka Ropeway
  5. 5Michi-no-Eki Okuhida Kamitakara
  6. 6Michi-no-Eki Hida Asahimura
  7. 7Michi-no-Eki Nanamori Kiyomi
  8. 8Michi-no-Eki Alp Hida Furukawa
  9. 9Michi-no-Eki Shirakawa-go
  10. 10Shirakawa-go
  11. 11Hida-Furukawa Setogawa
  12. 12Hida Folk Village

Line: 1 → Route 158 (detour at Nyukawa) → 2 → 3 → Route 471 → 4 → 5 → Takayama-Kamitakara road → 1

The line on the map is the route described below under "First visit: one day from Takayama to Shinhotaka in Okuhida". The numbers are places to stop: green for views and nature, blue for roadside stations (michi-no-eki). Hover over or tap a number to see its name.

Recommended drives

First visit: one day from Takayama to Shinhotaka in Okuhida

See the old town and Takayama Jinya, then take Route 158 to the Hida Great Limestone Cave and climb to Hirayu. Take Route 471 through the Okuhida hot-spring villages to the Shinhotaka Ropeway, stop at Michi-no-Eki Okuhida Onsengo Kamitakara, and return to Takayama on the Takayama-Kamitakara Line (a prefectural road). It is about 106 km and about 1 hour 45 minutes of driving. Distance and time are calculated from map data and do not include traffic.

Route 158 has been closed since a landslide on 25 February for about 2.4 km between Shioya and Hatahoko in Niukawa. Standard cars can detour on a city road on the opposite bank, which adds about 10 minutes to the drive to Hirayu. Toya Pass on the Takayama-Kamitakara Line closes in winter, so in winter return on Route 158.

Shirakawa-go is about 50 minutes from Takayama

From Takayama you can stop at the Seto River and the white-walled storehouses of Hida-Furukawa, then continue to Shirakawa-go. Shirakawa-go is about 50 minutes from Takayama when the roads are clear. The village's Seseragi Park car park costs ¥2,000 for a standard car and is open from 8:00 to 17:00. From 9:00 to 16:00 cars cannot enter the village of gassho-zukuri houses.

For Norikura and Kamikochi, change at Hirayu

Private cars cannot enter the Norikura Skyline or Kamikochi. For Norikura, change to the bus at the Hoonokidaira car park (free, 1,500 cars), about 35 minutes from Takayama IC. For Kamikochi, change at the Akandana car park (¥600 for 24 hours), about 5 minutes by car from Hirayu. The Norikura Skyline ends its season on 31 October, and the bus to Kamikochi on 15 November.

Roads you can drive

Road What it is Length and toll Hours and rules
Chubu Jukan Expressway, Takayama-Kiyomi Road From Hida-Kiyomi IC on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway to Takayama IC Free Daytime shoulder restriction until 30 October. Motorbikes of 125 cc or less cannot use it
Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway Expressway through Shokawa IC, Hida-Kiyomi IC and Shirakawa-go IC Toll In winter you must carry winter tyres and chains. In the autumn-leaf season traffic backs up from the Shirakawa-go IC exit
Route 41 From Takayama to Hida-Furukawa and Kamioka, or to Gero Free Roadworks in Takayama and elsewhere
Route 158 From Takayama through Niukawa to Hirayu Free About 2.4 km in Niukawa is closed. Standard cars can detour on a city road (about 10 minutes longer)
Abo Pass Road From Hirayu through the Abo Tunnel to Nakanoyu in Nagano Prefecture 5.6 km, toll —
Routes 471 and 475 From Hirayu through Tochio to Shinhotaka Free —
Norikura Skyline From Hirayu Pass to Tatamidaira on Norikura About 15 km. Private cars cannot enter Season ends 31 October. Bus ¥3,400 return
Kamikochi (Nagano Prefecture) Bus from the Akandana car park to Kamikochi Private cars cannot enter Until 15 November. Bus ¥2,800 return

Places to stop

Views and nature

The numbers match the map.

No. Place Parking Notes
1 Takayama Jinya and the old town City car parks (Shinmei 52 cars, Soramachi 128 cars and others). ¥150 per 30 minutes from 8:00 to 20:00 The Jinya is open 8:45–16:30 from 1 November, entry ¥500. Miyagawa Morning Market is open every day, 7:00–12:00
2 Hida Great Limestone Cave 300 standard cars, free 9:00–16:00 from November to March, adults ¥1,100. The third cave is closed until about mid-December
3 Hirayu Onsen and the Akandana car park Akandana: 870 standard cars, ¥600 for 24 hours Where you change to the bus for Kamikochi
4 Shinhotaka Ropeway City car parks: No. 1 (¥800 for 6 hours) and No. 2 (¥2,000 for 24 hours) Ropeway ¥3,800 return. Autumn leaves at Shirakabadaira were at their best on 23 October
— Hida no Sato ¥300 per entry 8:30–17:00, adults ¥700. Autumn-leaf light-up on weekends and holidays until 8 November
— Seto River and the white-walled storehouses of Hida-Furukawa Hida City Hall car park and others, free The carp in the Seto River move to a pond from late November to early April
— Shirakawa-go (Seseragi Park village car park) About 200 standard cars, ¥2,000 8:00–17:00. In the autumn-leaf season, arrive before 10:00

The No. 1 car park at Shinhotaka is a city car park, a 1-minute walk from the ropeway station. The Nabedaira Kogen car park cannot be used from early November to late April.

Roadside stations

No. Station Parking Notes
5 Michi-no-Eki Okuhida Onsengo Kamitakara 28 standard cars, 6 large vehicles 9:00–17:00 (to 16:30 from November to March), closed Wednesdays
6 Michi-no-Eki Hida Asahi-mura 93 standard cars, 3 large vehicles Closed Wednesdays. EV charger
7 Michi-no-Eki Nanamori Kiyomi 79 standard cars, 4 large vehicles Open all year. Restaurants and some other facilities are closed from January to March
8 Michi-no-Eki Alp Hida-Furukawa 90 standard cars, 15 large vehicles In Hida-Furukawa. EV charger
9 Michi-no-Eki Shirakawa-go 55 standard cars, 4 large vehicles Near Shirakawa-go. EV charger

Best seasons and crowds

When What to see and watch for
Mid to late October Autumn leaves at the Shinhotaka Ropeway (Shirakabadaira was at its best on 23 October)
Late October to early November Autumn leaves at Shirakawa-go. One of the busiest times of the year
January Shirakawa-go light-up (11, 17, 24 and 31 January in 2027, reservation only)
Early December to late March Winter tyres are needed at Shirakawa-go. The road ices over even when there is no snow

Busy places and times

  • Shirakawa-go is busiest in Golden Week, the Obon holidays, the autumn-leaf season and the New Year holidays. The peak is around 12:00, and parking can take more than 2 hours. Arriving between 8:00 and 9:00 works best.
  • From Shirakawa-go IC to the car park usually takes about 10 minutes, but on busy days it takes more than 2 hours.
  • The buses to Kamikochi are busy on the mornings of the Obon holidays and the autumn long weekends, and the Akandana car park can fill up.

Closures and restrictions (as of 26 October)

  • Route 158 is closed from Shioya to Hatahoko in Niukawa. Standard cars can detour on a city road. The prefecture aims to reopen it by the end of this fiscal year.
  • The Norikura Skyline ends its season on 31 October and is closed from 1 November.
  • The bus to Kamikochi runs until 15 November and is closed for winter from 16 November.
  • The third cave of the Hida Great Limestone Cave is closed until about mid-December.
  • Reservations for standard-car parking for the Shirakawa-go light-up open at 13:00 on 1 December (¥7,000 for 1 to 5 people).

Getting there and fuel

From Time
Nagoya About 2 hours 15 minutes to Shirakawa-go on the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway
Kanazawa About 1 hour 10 minutes to Shirakawa-go
Takayama IC (Chubu Jukan Expressway) About 35 minutes to Hoonokidaira on Norikura
Matsumoto IC (Nagano Expressway) About 60 minutes to the Hirayu Onsen bus terminal and about 90 minutes to the Shinhotaka Ropeway

On expressways in winter, drive with winter tyres and carry chains. When chain restrictions are in force, chains are required even with studless tyres.

There is no official list of petrol stations in Takayama and Okuhida. Fill up in central Takayama before you head for Okuhida or Shirakawa-go. Shirakawa Village has 2 petrol stations. EVs can be charged at Michi-no-Eki Hida Asahi-mura, Alp Hida-Furukawa and Shirakawa-go.

If you don't have a car

It is a 10-minute walk from Takayama Station to Takayama Jinya. Driving in Japan on a foreign licence needs a 1949 Geneva international driving permit or an official Japanese translation; see Driving in Japan on a Foreign License. If you are picking up a car at the airport, see Renting a Car at Haneda, Narita or Kansai Airport: Pickup and Return.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best one-day drive in Hida-Takayama?

See the old town and Takayama Jinya, then go on to the Hida Great Limestone Cave, Hirayu and the Shinhotaka Ropeway, and return to Takayama through Michi-no-Eki Okuhida Onsengo Kamitakara. It is about 106 km and about 1 hour 45 minutes of driving.

Can I drive Route 158 to Hirayu?

About 2.4 km in Niukawa is closed, but standard cars can detour on a city road on the opposite bank. The drive to Hirayu takes about 10 minutes longer than usual.

Can I drive to Kamikochi or Norikura?

No. Park at the Akandana car park for Kamikochi or the Hoonokidaira car park for Norikura, and change to the bus.

How much is parking at Shirakawa-go?

Seseragi Park village car park costs ¥2,000 for a standard car and is open from 8:00 to 17:00. From 9:00 to 16:00 cars cannot enter the village.

Can I go to Shirakawa-go in winter?

Yes, but from early December to late March you need winter tyres. The light-up in January 2027 is by reservation only, and there are no tickets on the day.

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Sources & verification

Last verified: 2026-10-26

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