Shirakawa-gō & Gokayama Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Between April and late November, Nōhi Bus Company (0577-32-1688) operates five buses daily linking Shirakawa-gō with Takayama (¥2400, 1¾ hours). Two buses a day connect Kanazawa with Shirakawa-gō (¥3300, 3½ hours). Schedules vary from December to March and depend largely on the weather.

Just before Ainokura, buses divert from Rte 156 for Rte 304 towards Kanazawa. From the Ainokura-guchi bus stop it’s about 400m uphill to Ainokura.

Between Ogimachi and Gokayama, Kaetsuno Bus (0766-22-4888) operates four buses a day, stopping at all the major sights and continuing to Takaoka on the JR Hokuriku line (one hour). If you want to get off at unofficial stops (eg Kuroba Onsen), tell the driver.

By car it’s about two hours from Takayama, with interchanges at Gokayama and Shōkawa. From Hakusan, the scenic toll road Hakusan Super-Rindō ends near Ogimachi (cars ¥3150). During colder months, check road conditions in advance with regional tourist offices.