Chubu Airport to Shirakawa-go and Takayama: Winter Guide

Takayama and Shirakawa-go are both in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture. From Chubu Airport to Shirakawa-go or Takayama, the road runs north across the plain before climbing into the hills, and the drive usually takes around 2.5 to 3-plus hours depending on traffic. In summer and autumn it is straightforward. Winter is what needs planning: snow lengthens the drive, and the Shirakawa-go light-up has its own reservation rules.

Chubu Airport to Shirakawa-go: landing time and season set your range

• Landing before noon: drive straight to either Takayama or Shirakawa-go and arrive in time for an afternoon stroll or check-in.
• Landing in the afternoon: you will reach the mountains near dusk, and winter days are short. Check in and sightsee the next day.
• Landing in the evening: consider a night in Nagoya first (see Chubu Airport to Nagoya) and drive up in daylight, avoiding snowy roads after dark.

There is a further drive between Takayama and Shirakawa-go, so seeing both on arrival day is a rush. The smoother plan is one on night one and the other on day two, or carrying on from Shirakawa-go towards Kanazawa. Landing very late? See late-night arrival at Chubu Airport.

Winter: snow and seasonal closures

When it snows in the mountains, journeys take longer than usual, so do not promise your ryokan a tight dinner time. The Shirakawa-go Tourist Association also notes that Prefectural Route 451 towards Oshirakawa may close for winter from around late October (see the association's notice). If you plan any detours beyond the village, check the latest notices first.

The 2027 Shirakawa-go light-up: confirm dates and parking first

According to the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association, the 2027 winter light-up runs on just four days: 11, 17, 24 and 31 January.

• Standard-car parking is by reservation, and the first round has already sold out (parking reservation details).
• The association's lodging is allocated by lottery, not first come, first served.
• Separately, from 1 December 2026, vehicles using bus parking spaces at the village car park (including medium buses and microbuses) must reserve in advance (notice).

If you want a private car on a light-up day, how and where it can drop off and wait needs settling in advance. Give us the date and your plan when booking, and our team will confirm the arrangement.

Group size and vehicle

Pricing is per vehicle: the Alphard seats 7 and the Hiace seats 10. Winter luggage tends to include heavy coats and snow boots, so allow for more bags than in summer (see how many bags fit in each vehicle). Takayama and Shirakawa-go are not on our public price list, so please contact our team for a quote; all quotes are confirmed by our team.

Once your season and itinerary are set, head to the booking page with your flight, party size and accommodation address. All Chubu routes are on the Chubu Airport routes page.