Getting Here
Tokiwa-za is in Takayama, a district of Nakatsugawa in Gifu Prefecture (not the city of Takayama in Hida). By public transport, take the train to JR Nakatsugawa Station, a local bus to the Takayama stop, and walk the last 1.6 km.
At a glance
- Nagoya → Nakatsugawa: JR Chūō Line, about 50 min by Limited Express Shinano or about 1 h 15 min by rapid train
- Nakatsugawa Station → Takayama bus stop: Kitaena Kōtsū bus, about 19 min, ¥590
- Takayama bus stop → Tokiwa-za: about 1.6 km on foot, 15–20 min
By train from Nagoya
Take the JR Chūō Line from Nagoya to Nakatsugawa, a distance of about 71.5 km. The Limited Express Shinano takes about 50 minutes; rapid and local trains take about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Traveling with bags? The Nakatsugawa City Tourist Information Center, next to JR Nakatsugawa Station (Nigiwai Plaza, 1st floor, 9:00–17:00), stores luggage for ¥700 per item, or ¥500 for up to 2 hours (fees published by Nakatsugawa City in April 2026).
By bus from Nakatsugawa Station
From the bus stop in front of Nakatsugawa Station (Nakatsugawa-ekimae), take a Kitaena Kōtsū bus on the Tsukechikyō Line or the Kashimo Line and get off at Takayama (高山). The ride takes about 19 minutes and the fare is ¥590.
Buses are not frequent. On the timetable revised on October 1, 2025, 15 buses a day run from Nakatsugawa Station via Takayama on weekdays, and 12 on the timetable marked 休日 (holidays; check on the timetable which days it covers).
Plan your return before you set off: the last bus from Takayama back to Nakatsugawa Station leaves at 19:16 on weekdays and at 18:49 on the holiday (休日) timetable. Timetables change, so always check the latest one, and which days it covers, on the Kitaena Kōtsū website.
On foot from the Takayama bus stop
From the Takayama stop it is about 1.6 km to Tokiwa-za. Allow 15 to 20 minutes: Kitaena Kōtsū gives about 20 minutes, the theater’s pamphlet about 15.
Step-by-step walking directions from the bus stop: to be added.
By taxi
Taxi companies operate near JR Nakatsugawa Station. The fare to Tokiwa-za, the journey time and whether drivers speak English are to be confirmed.
By car
From the Nakatsugawa IC, follow National Route 19 and then Route 257 toward Gero. Sources give 20 to 30 minutes for the drive. Nakatsugawa City’s directions say to turn left at the Takayama intersection on Route 257.
Parking: to be confirmed. None of the sources we checked mention parking at Tokiwa-za.
From Magome
We have not found a direct bus between Magome and Tokiwa-za. The route we can confirm changes at Nakatsugawa Station: take the Kitaena Kōtsū Magome Line from Magome to Nakatsugawa Station (about 25 minutes), then the bus to Takayama described above.
We have not checked other options, such as shared or sightseeing taxis and tours. Ask at Magome-juku BASE in Magome or the Nakatsugawa City Tourist Information Center, both of which offer tourist information.
Example on a weekday (timetables revised October 1, 2025): Magome 9:45 → Nakatsugawa Station 10:10; bus at 10:45 → Takayama 11:04; walk to Tokiwa-za, arriving around 11:20. That is about 1 hour 35 minutes, including a 35-minute wait. This example is worked out from the timetables and has not been tested in person.
For ideas on fitting Tokiwa-za into a Nakasendo trip, see Magome & the Nakasendo.
Map
Search for Tokiwa-za on Google Maps. Sources give two different street numbers for Tokiwa-za, so check the pin before you set off.
Sources
- Kitaena Kōtsū: Tokiwa-za (Japanese)
- Kitaena Kōtsū: bus routes and timetables (Japanese)
- Trip.com: Nagoya Station to Nakatsugawa Station (Japanese)
- Nakatsugawa City: Tokiwa-za (Japanese)
- Nakatsugawa City: Fukuoka area sightseeing information (Japanese)
- Tokiwa-za pamphlet, PDF (Japanese)
- Gifu Prefecture official tourism site: Tokiwa-za (Japanese)
- Gifu Prefecture official tourism site: Ji-kabuki performances in Nakatsugawa (Japanese)
- Nakatsugawa City: Luggage storage and transfer services (Japanese)
All sources were checked on September 27, 2026. Most of them are in Japanese.