Takayama, Shirakawa-go & Kanazawa road trip planner: drives, closures
Key points
- Kamikochi is closed to private cars, including rental cars, all year. Park at Akandana (Hirayu, Gifu side) or Sawando (Nagano side) and take a shuttle bus or taxi.
- National Route 158 between central Takayama and Hirayu has been fully closed at Shioya since a landslide on 25 February 2026. Gifu Prefecture asks drivers to detour via Routes 41, 471 and 361 and aims to reopen it by the end of March 2027.
- By expressway, Takayama IC to Shirakawa-go IC is about 36 minutes (40.1 km), and Shirakawa-go IC to Kanazawa-morimoto IC about 52 minutes (62.5 km).
- Several mountain roads close for winter, including the Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road from 11 November and Route 360 over Amo Pass from 4 November 2026. The Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway can also close in heavy snow.
- On Shirakawa-go winter light-up days, every car needs a parking reservation.
This guide covers Hida-Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa and Okuhida, starting from Komatsu or Toyama airport, Kanazawa or Takayama station, or Chubu Centrair. By expressway, Takayama IC to Shirakawa-go IC is about 36 minutes and Shirakawa-go IC to Kanazawa-morimoto IC about 52 minutes. Two things change most plans: Kamikochi is closed to private and rental cars all year, and National Route 158 is closed at Shioya, between central Takayama and Hirayu. Several mountain roads also close for winter, so check the roads before you set off.
Which roads are closed or restricted?
| Road | What applies | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Kamikochi Park Line (to Kamikochi) | Private cars, including rental cars, banned all year. Park at Akandana (Gifu side) or Sawando (Nagano side) and take a shuttle bus or taxi | All year. Closed to all traffic 19:00, 15 Nov 2026 – 07:00, 17 Apr 2027 (planned) |
| National Route 158 at Shioya (Takayama – Hirayu) | Fully closed after a landslide. Gifu Prefecture asks drivers to detour via Routes 41, 471 and 361 | Since 25 Feb 2026. Reopening aimed for the end of March 2027, no date set |
| Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road (Shirakawa-go – Hakusan) | Winter road closure | From 11 Nov until early June |
| Route 360, Amo Pass (Hida-Furukawa side – Shirakawa-go) | Winter road closure | 4 Nov 2026 – 21 May 2027 (planned) |
| Norikura Skyline (to Mt Norikura) | Private cars banned whenever open, then winter road closure | Closed 18:00, 31 Oct 2026 – 07:00, 15 May 2027 (planned) |
| Prefectural Road 5, Hirayu Pass | Winter road closure | 2 Nov 2026 – 14 May 2027 (planned) |
| Route 158 old road over Abo Pass | Winter road closure. Use the Abo Tunnel (Abo Toge Road, toll) | Nagano side from 4 Nov or 13 Nov 2026 by section (planned) |
Source: Nagano Prefecture; Ministry of the Environment; Gifu Prefecture; Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road (checked on 27 October 2026)
Kamikochi. Only permitted vehicles, buses, taxis and bicycles can use the road. At Akandana Parking in Hirayu (about 850 spaces), a car costs ¥600 per 24 hours. From the Nagano side, park at Sawando (about 2,000 spaces). Mt Norikura works the same way: you cannot drive your own car to the summit, so park at Hoonokidaira or Akandana on the Gifu side.
Route 158. A city road on the opposite bank is the local detour, but it is narrow in places and has vehicle size limits. Gifu Prefecture asks drivers to take the wider detours instead. Check its latest notice before you go. The closure affects the drive from Takayama towards Hirayu, Shinhotaka, Kamikochi and Matsumoto.
Snow on the expressway. When heavy snow is expected, the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway and the roads beside it, such as Routes 156 and 158, may be closed together in advance. On 24 January 2026, for example, the expressway closed between Mino IC and Hida-Kiyomi IC, together with part of Route 156. If heavy snow is forecast, think about changing your departure time or route.
Source: MLIT, Gifu Prefecture, NEXCO Central Japan and Gifu Prefectural Police (checked on 27 October 2026)
Winter tires are required on snowy or icy roads in Gifu Prefecture. When a tire chain requirement is in force, you need chains even with winter tires. See winter tires and chains.
How long are the main drives?
| Drive | Distance | Time | Toll (standard car, ETC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ichinomiya IC – Takayama IC | 137.1 km | about 105 min | ¥3,500 |
| Takayama IC – Shirakawa-go IC | 40.1 km | about 36 min | ¥840 (cash ¥1,240) |
| Shirakawa-go IC – Kanazawa-morimoto IC | 62.5 km | about 52 min | ¥1,860 |
| Shirakawa-go IC – Kanazawa-nishi IC | 73.4 km | about 59 min | ¥2,150 |
| Toyama IC – Shirakawa-go IC | 73.4 km | about 56 min | ¥2,150 |
| Komatsu IC – Kanazawa-nishi IC | 23.2 km | about 14 min | ¥790 |
| Matsumoto IC – Takayama IC (via Route 158) | 96.3 km | about 114 min | ¥790 |
Source: Drive Plaza toll and route search, standard car, weekday 10:00 departure (checked on 27 October 2026). Times are between interchanges only.
Matsumoto IC – Takayama IC is mostly on Route 158, an ordinary road, and this route is cut at Shioya while the closure lasts. Ichinomiya IC is northwest of Nagoya, on the Meishin Expressway. Except for Takayama IC – Shirakawa-go IC, the toll was the same with ETC and in cash in our weekday search.
Komatsu IC is ETC-only, and Kanazawa-morimoto IC is scheduled to become ETC-only from 14:00 on 30 November 2026. Without ETC, use the lane marked “ETC/サポート” or “サポート”, stop, and follow the staff’s instructions. See expressways and ETC.
No expressway pass for visitors covers this area. The Central Expressway Pass has ended. See expressway passes.
Where do I pick up the car?
| Company | Where | How you get to the car |
|---|---|---|
| Nippon Rent-A-Car | Komatsu Airport | “NR counter” in front of the arrival gate, then to the office (shuttle provided). 8:00–19:30 |
| ORIX Rent-A-Car | Komatsu Airport | Counter inside the airport, then free shuttle (about 3 minutes). 8:00–19:30 |
| Nippon Rent-A-Car | Toyama Airport | “NR counter” in front of the arrival gate, then a 2-minute walk. 9:00–18:00 |
| ORIX Rent-A-Car | Toyama Airport | Counter in the 1F arrivals lobby, staffed only around reservation times. No ETC card, no one-way rentals |
| Nippon Rent-A-Car | JR Kanazawa Station | About 60 m from the West Exit roundabout. 8:00–20:00 |
| Toyota Rent a Car | JR Takayama Station | 1-minute walk from the Hakusan (West) Exit. 8:00–20:00 |
| Times Car Rental | Chubu Centrair Airport | Access Plaza 1F, within a 2-minute walk of the terminal. 9:00–19:00. Credit card only |
Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car; ORIX Rent-A-Car; Toyama Airport; Toyota Rent a Car; Times Car Rental (checked on 27 October 2026)
Nippon Rent-A-Car fits winter tires as standard for pick-ups in Ishikawa, Toyama and Fukui from 1 December 2026 to 31 March 2027. Toyota Rent a Car Takayama Station and ORIX Komatsu Airport Higashi allow one-way rentals; ORIX’s Toyama Airport counter does not. See one-way drop-off.
What can I see between Takayama, Shirakawa-go and Gokayama?
| Stop | Notes |
|---|---|
| Michi-no-Eki Sakura-no-Sato Shokawa | Right by Shokawa IC, on Route 158. Hot spring. 8:00–17:00 (9:00–16:00 December–March) |
| Michi-no-Eki Nanamori Kiyomi | On Route 158 between Shokawa and central Takayama. Weekdays 9:00–17:00 |
| Seseragi Park Parking | Village-run car park for Shirakawa-go, about 5 minutes from Shirakawa-go IC. ¥2,000 per car. 8:00–17:00. Cars cannot enter the village lanes |
| Michi-no-Eki Shirakawa-go | On Route 156, with a Gassho Museum. 8:30–17:00 |
| Michi-no-Eki Hida Hakusan | Hot spring on Route 156, about 15 minutes from Shirakawa-go IC. Closed Wednesdays and the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays |
| Michi-no-Eki Kamitaira Sasarakan | On Route 156 in Gokayama, with tourist information. Free 24-hour parking |
| Suganuma Gassho-zukuri Village | About 1 minute from Gokayama IC. Parking ¥1,000, entry until 16:00 |
| Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village | About 16 minutes from Gokayama IC. Parking ¥1,000 |
| Michi-no-Eki Taira (Gokayama Washi-no-Sato) | Washi paper-making, about 20 minutes from Gokayama IC. 9:00–17:00 |
Source: Gifu Prefecture; Shirakawa Village; Shirakawa-go Tourist Association; Gokayama Tourist Information Center; VISIT TOYAMA JAPAN (checked on 27 October 2026)
Shirakawa-go light-up. On winter light-up days, every vehicle needs a parking reservation, and cars must move to Terao temporary parking by 15:00. Car reservations for the 2027 light-up are sold online only on the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association website, by credit card. The first round has sold out, and the second round opens on 1 December 2026 at 13:00. In the autumn-foliage season, car spaces at Seseragi may be reduced and staff may send you to a temporary car park.
What can I see around Takayama and Okuhida?
| Stop | Notes |
|---|---|
| Takayama Jinya | No dedicated car park; use the city car parks nearby. 8:45–17:00 (8:45–16:30 November–March). ¥500 |
| Michi-no-Eki Alp Hida Furukawa | On Route 41, north of Takayama towards Hida-Furukawa and Toyama |
| Michi-no-Eki Okuhida Onsengo Kamitakara | On Route 471, towards Hirayu and Shinhotaka |
| Shinhotaka Parking | For the Shinhotaka Ropeway. Lots 1 and 2 all year; Lots 3 and 4 summer and autumn only, web reservation |
| Akandana Parking | In Hirayu. Transfer point for Kamikochi. About 850 spaces, ¥600 per 24 hours |
Source: Takayama Jinya; Gifu Prefecture; Takayama City; Okuhida Onsengo Tourism Association; Ministry of the Environment (checked on 27 October 2026)
Route 158 is closed at Shioya, so check how to reach Hirayu and Shinhotaka on Gifu Prefecture’s road information site before you set off.
Where do I park in Kanazawa?
Kenroku Parking is Ishikawa Prefecture’s car park below Kenrokuen Garden, with 480 car spaces, five EV charging units and signs in five languages. Kenrokuen is open 7:00–18:00 from 1 March to 15 October and 8:00–17:00 from 16 October to the end of February. Adult admission is ¥320.
Source: Ishikawa Prefecture (checked on 27 October 2026)
FAQ
- Can I drive my rental car to Kamikochi?
- No. Private cars, including rental cars, are banned all year beyond the Kama Tunnel entrance of the Kamikochi Park Line. Park at Akandana in Hirayu (about 850 spaces, ¥600 per 24 hours) or at Sawando on the Nagano side (about 2,000 spaces) and change to a shuttle bus or fixed-fare taxi. The road is closed to all traffic from 19:00 on 15 November 2026 to 07:00 on 17 April 2027 (planned).
- Is National Route 158 between Takayama and Hirayu open?
- Not at Shioya in Nyukawa, Takayama. It has been fully closed since a landslide on 25 February 2026 (status as of 1 October 2026). Gifu Prefecture aims to reopen it by the end of March 2027 but has set no exact date, and asks drivers to take wider detours via Routes 41, 471 and 361. Check Gifu Prefecture's latest notice before you go.
- How long does it take to drive from Takayama to Shirakawa-go?
- Takayama IC to Shirakawa-go IC is 40.1 km and about 36 minutes by expressway, according to Drive Plaza. The standard-car toll was ¥840 with ETC and ¥1,240 in cash in our search. Add the time to and from the interchanges.
- Can I take the White Road from Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa in winter?
- No. The Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road is closed from 11 November until early June the next year. In winter, use the Tokai-Hokuriku and Hokuriku Expressways instead.
- Do I need to book parking for the Shirakawa-go light-up?
- Yes. On winter light-up days every vehicle needs a parking reservation. Car reservations for the 2027 light-up are sold online only on the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association website, by credit card. The first round has sold out and the second round opens on 1 December 2026 at 13:00.
- Is there an expressway pass for this area?
- No expressway pass for visitors covers this area. The Central Expressway Pass for central Japan has ended. See our guide to expressway passes.
Sources
- Gifu Prefecture: Route 158 closure at Shioya, Nyukawa, Takayama (Japanese)
- Nagano Prefecture: Kamikochi traffic restrictions (Japanese)
- Ministry of the Environment: 2026 Kamikochi traffic restrictions leaflet (Japanese, PDF)
- Gifu Prefecture, Takayama Civil Engineering Office: winter closures 2026–2027 (Japanese, PDF)
- Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road (official): news (Japanese)
- MLIT, Gifu Prefecture, NEXCO Central Japan and Gifu Prefectural Police: pre-emptive closures in heavy snow (Japanese, PDF)
- Shirakawa-go Tourist Association: 2027 light-up car parking reservations (Japanese)
- Drive Plaza (NEXCO): Toll and route search, Takayama IC – Shirakawa-go IC
- NEXCO Central Japan: ETC-only toll gates (Japanese)
- Nippon Rent-A-Car: Winter season (winter tires)
Update history
- Published.