Planning a trip from Nagoya to Takayama? The Hida Limited Express is the most comfortable and scenic way to make the journey. In this guide, I’ll walk you through all the different ways to buy your train tickets. Whether you’re traveling with a JR Pass or just picking up a regular ticket, this post will help you figure out the easiest option for your trip.
🎫How to Buy and Use Tickets at the Station
If you’d like step-by-step guidance, you can find detailed instructions on how to buy and use train tickets directly at the station here:
How to buy and use tickets | Central Japan Railway Company
This will help you feel more confident when navigating the machines or ticket gates.
Unlike JR East or JR West, ticket office and vending machine signs usually aren’t green.
🎰Using the Ticket Vending Machines
It is an easier way to buy your ticket instead of going to the JR Ticket Office counter. You can buy one anytime the station is open.
Look for the “Shinkansen/Reserved Seat Ticket Machines” inside JR Nagoya Station.
Choose “Buy a Ticket” on the screen.
Select Nagoya → Takayama as your route.
Choose the date and departure time.
Select Reserved Seat or Non-Reserved Seat.
- Reserved Seat = guaranteed seat
- Non-Reserved Seat = cheaper but first-come, first-served
Pick your seat preference (window or aisle).
Pay by cash, credit card, or IC card (Suica, TOICA, etc.).
The machine prints two tickets (Basic Fare Ticket + Limited Express Ticket).
Some smaller stations don’t have machines, so the office counter is required.
🧑✈️Buying at the JR Ticket Offices
This option is a safe and easy choice if you’re not familiar with ticket machines. It’s a good idea if you’d like some assistance, are traveling with others, or want advice on choosing seats.
Just keep in mind that there may be some waiting during peak travel periods.
Go to the JR Ticket Office in JR Nagoya Station.
Tell the staff to buy a ticket to Takayama on Limited Express Hida, reserved seat.
If you know the date/time, mention it.
Example: “Tomorrow morning, around 9a.m.”
Pay by cash or credit card, then receive the same two tickets (Basic Fare Ticket + Limited Express Ticket).
💻Online Reservations
If you want to get your ticket quickly and conveniently, online booking is a great option. You can choose your preferred train and seat from the comfort of your home or hotel.
In some cases, you may still need to visit a ticket office or vending machine to pick up your physical ticket, but the online reservation makes the process faster and smoother.
For first-time travelers, don’t worry — the English version of the JR West website makes it easy to follow the steps and complete your booking without any trouble.
Click here to book your ticket: JR West Online Train Reservation
🚈Using the JR Pass (or Tourist Pass)
If you have a JR Pass (or a Tourist Pass), you don’t need to buy an extra ticket to ride the Hida Limited Express. Seats aren’t reserved automatically, but you can easily make a reservation if you’d like. Here’s a simple guide to reserving a seat with your Pass.
Before you reserve a seat, exchange your JR Pass Voucher
Online reservation is available for persons who buy a pass on the official website:
How to book a reserved seat | JAPAN RAIL PASS
If you don’t need a reserved seat, you can ride the Hida Limited Express with just your Pass (after exchanging your voucher). However, we recommend reserving a seat for a more comfortable journey.
🧳Where to Store Your Luggage
Here’s a simple guide to where you can keep your luggage when traveling on the Limited Express Hida.
Overhead Shelf:
Perfect for small to medium suitcases (carry-on size). Big suitcases probably won’t fit here, so better leave the large ones elsewhere.
Space Behind the Last Row of Seats in a Car:
Located right behind the very last seats of each car. Can usually fit one large suitcase (around 70–80 L). Space is limited, so try to get there early!
Under the Seat:
Small to medium suitcases can go here. Just make sure you don’t block the aisle.
Near the Deck:
Only small bags are recommended. Avoid putting large suitcases here, as it can block other passengers.
| Place | What Fits | Notes |
| Overhead shelf | Small to medium suitcases (carry-on size) | Large suitcases usually won’t fit |
| Under your seat | Small to medium suitcases | Just make sure you don’t block the aisle |
| Space Behind the Last Row of Seats in a Car | One large suitcase | Space is limited, so it’s first come, first served; size may vary by car |
| Near the train deck | Small bags only | Not recommended for large luggage as it may block people passing through |
💡 Try Takkyubin!
Regular limited express trains don’t have reserved oversized luggage spaces like the Shinkansen.
If you’re traveling with multiple large suitcases, sending them ahead to your hotel using a luggage delivery service (takkyubin) is a great idea. It makes your journey much more relaxing, especially in places like Takayama or Shirakawa-go.
⏰Quick Tips
- Travel time: about 2 hours 30 minutes.
- Reservation is strongly recommended, especially on weekends or holidays.
- You always need two tickets:
Basic Fare Ticket + Limited Express Ticket (the machine/office will issue both together).
✅Conclusion
There are three main ways to get a ticket for the Hida Limited Express:
Ticket Vending Machine: Fast and available at most major stations.
JR Ticket Office: Good option if you prefer personal service.
Online Reservation: Convenient if you want to book ahead.
Note for JR Pass (or Tourist Pass) holders:
You can reserve a seat with your pass at a machine or counter without paying extra.
Whether you choose the ticket machine, counter, or online site, all options are straightforward and easy to use.
For more details on getting from Nagoya to Takayama, check out below.
