The Limited Express Shirasagi is a service jointly operated by JR West and JR Central that links Kanazawa Station to Maibara Station in Shiga Prefecture, and Nagoya Station in Aichi Prefecture. Each day there are 8 round trip services that run between Kanazawa and Maibara, and 8 round trip services that run between Kanazawa and Nagoya.
The Limited Express Shirasagi at Kanazawa Station
At Kanazawa Station the Shirasagi departs from Platforms 1 and 2. The Shirasagi is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Key Destinations
Between Kanazawa and Maibara the Shirasagi runs along the Hokuriku Main Line stopping at the following stations. Stations in brackets are not served by all trains.
Kanazawa – [Matto] – Komatsu – Kaga Onsen – [Daishoji] – Awara Onsen – Fukui – Sabae – Takefu – Tsuruga – [Nagahama] – Maibara
Trains that continue on from Maibara to Nagoya run along the Tokaido Main Line stopping at the following stations:
Maibara – Ogaki – Gifu – Owari-Ichinomiya – Nagoya
For key destinations between Kanazawa and Maibara please refer to our article on the Hokuriku Main Line. Below are the key destinations between Maibara and Nagoya. Example train times and train fares are given from Kanazawa Station.
Carriage flags on the Shirasagi show the final destination
Maibara Station
Transfer here to the Tokaido Main Line or the Tokaido Shinkansen. Nearby Mount Ibuki is popular for hiking, climbing, and skiing. To reach it take the Tokaido Main Line and get off at Omi-Nagaoka Station. The Tokaido Main Line continues on to destinations in Gifu and Aichi prefectures. Passengers for Shin-Osaka, Kyoto, or Tokyo should transfer to the Tokaido Shinkansen.
The Ohmi Railway Main Line can also be accessed at Maibara Station. This local private railway line runs from Maibara Station to Kibukawa Station. View a full map of the Ohmi Railway’s three lines here.
Train fare: 5,180 yen
Train time: 1 hour and 56 minutes
Ogaki Station
Ogaki City in Gifu Prefecture is known for its connection to the haiku poet Matsuo Basho and holds a Basho Festival every November. The city’s attractions include a small Basho museum and the reconstructed Ogaki Castle which was first built in 1500.
Train fare: 6,050 yen
Train time: 2 hours and 27 minutes
Gifu Station
Gifu is the capital city of Gifu Prefecture. The city is best known for its castle which is located on top of Mount Kinka in the middle of the city. Also on the mountain is a restaurant with an observation deck offering dramatic views over the city and a “Squirrel Village” where visitors can enjoy close encounters with the many different species of squirrel that live on the mountain. Among the city’s other attractions are its many museums, the Great Buddha Statue in Shohoji Temple, and summertime cormorant fishing in the Nagara River.
Train fare: 6,380 yen
Train time: 2 hours and 36 minutes
Owari-Ichinomiya Station
This station serves the city of Ichinomiya in Aichi Prefecture. This city’s main points of interest are the Masumida Shrine which according to legend dates from 628 BC, and the 138 Tower Park. The park features a 138m high tower with an observation deck which is the tallest arched tower in Asia.
Train fare: 6,380 yen
Train time: 2 hours and 45 minutes
Nagoya Station
Nagoya is a major port city in central Honshu. Popular tourist attractions include Nagoya Castle, the Hommaru Palace, the Tokugawa Museum and Garden, and Osu Temple and shopping district.
Train fare: 6,810 yen
Train time: 3 hours and 1 minute
Connections to Toyama and Wakura Onsen
Before 2015 Shirasagi services from Maibara continued beyond Kanazawa to Toyama Station and Wakura Onsen Station. These services have now stopped. If you wish to continue on to Toyama Station, you can transfer at Kanazawa Station to the Tsurugi shuttle service on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. If you wish to continue on to Wakura Onsen Station, you can transfer at Kanazawa Station to the Limited Express Noto Kagaribi.
Departure times at Platform 1, Kanazawa Station
Timetables
| Trains from Kanazawa | Kanazawa Station | Maibara Station | Nagoya Station |
| Shirasagi #52 | 5.00 | 6.56 | – |
| Shirasagi #2 | 5.48 | 7.46 | 8.51 |
| Shirasagi #54 | 6.48 | 8.44 | – |
| Shirasagi #4 | 7.48 | 9.44 | 10.48 |
| Shirasagi #56 | 8.48 | 10.44 | – |
| Shirasagi #6 | 9.48 | 11.44 | 12.48 |
| Shirasagi #58 | 10.48 | 12.44 | – |
| Shirasagi #8 | 11.48 | 1.44 | 14.48 |
| Shirasagi #60 | 12.48 | 14.44 | – |
| Shirasagi #10 | 13.48 | 15.44 | 16.49 |
| Shirasagi #12 | 14.48 | 16.44 | 17.49 |
| Shirasagi #62 | 15.48 | 17.44 | – |
| Shirasagi #14 | 16.48 | 18.44 | 19.46 |
| Shirasagi #64 | 17.48 | 19.44 | – |
| Shirasagi #16 | 18.53 | 20.50 | 21.50 |
| Shirasagi #66 | 20.06 | 22.01 | – |
| Trains for Kanazawa: | Nagoya Station | Maibara Station | Kanazawa Station |
| Shirasagi #51 | – | 8.09 | 10.05 |
| Shirasagi #1 | 7.50 | 8.49 | 10.48 |
| Shirasagi #3 | 8.50 | 9.48 | 11.48 |
| Shirasagi #5 | 9.48 | 10.48 | 12.48 |
| Shirasagi #53 | – | 11.56 | 13.48 |
| Shirasagi #7 | 11.48 | 12.48 | 14.49 |
| Shirasagi #55 | – | 13.56 | 15.49 |
| Shirasagi #9 | 13.48 | 14.48 | 16.49 |
| Shirasagi #57 | – | 15.56 | 17.50 |
| Shirasagi #11 | 15.48 | 16.48 | 18.47 |
| Shirasagi #59 | – | 17.56 | 19.50 |
| Shirasagi #13 | 17.48 | 18.48 | 20.50 |
| Shirasagi #61 | – | 19.56 | 21.48 |
| Shirasagi #15 | 19.48 | 20.48 | 22.50 |
| Shirasagi #63 | – | 21.56 | 23.48 |
| Shirasagi #65 | – | 22.48 | 24.39 |
To quickly look up train times, connections, and fares for this route use the JR West Timetable and Route Finder.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
