Day drives from Nagoya: coast and mountain routes across Tokai
Nagoya to Takayama by Car: How to Choose Between Expressway and Local Roads
Driving from Nagoya to Takayama? Here is how the expressway route compares with a slower drive on local roads, with distances, normal times and tolls taken from a public route search.
If you are planning to go from Nagoya to Takayama by car, you have two broad choices. You can take the expressway and get there efficiently, or you can use local roads and make the journey part of the day.
Neither is the right answer for everyone. This guide compares the two approaches, shows what a public route search says about the expressway option, and helps you choose based on what you want from the trip.
Two ways to think about the drive from Nagoya to Takayama
The expressway: save time for Takayama
This approach uses expressways such as the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway to reach Takayama with as little time on the road as possible. It suits days when you want longer to walk the town, eat well and look around once you arrive.
Local roads: enjoy the scenery and the stops
This approach takes you through towns and countryside, stopping where something catches your eye. It suits travellers who are in no hurry and would rather treat the drive itself as part of the trip.
Checking the expressway route
The shortest route and its normal time
A search on ATIS, a Japanese road traffic information service, for a standard car from Nagoya IC to Takayama IC shows a shortest route of 166.6 km with a normal time of 2 hours 3 minutes.
The route runs from Nagoya IC along the Tomei, past Komaki and through Ichinomiya JCT and Ichinomiya-Inazawa-Kita onto the Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway. From Hida-Kiyomi it continues on the Chubu Jukan Expressway (Takayama) to Takayama IC.
The page describes its normal time as the travel time under smooth conditions without congestion. Treat it as a guide for a smooth run, and add time for breaks and possible delays when you plan.
How the other routes compare
The same search results show other options too:
- Via the Tomei, Komaki JCT, the Chuo Expressway, Toki JCT and the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway: 170.4 km, normal time 2 hours 14 minutes
- Another route of 192.9 km, normal time 2 hours 31 minutes
Compared with the shortest route, these take 11 and 28 minutes longer in normal time. If one of them passes somewhere you would like to see, the small difference may be worth it.
Reading the tolls
For the shortest route, the page lists an ETC toll of 2,970 yen and a standard toll of 4,240 yen. The 192.9 km route shows an ETC toll of 4,320 yen.
These figures reflect the results at the time of the search. Tolls can change, so check the latest information before you set off.
Driving from Nagoya to Takayama on local roads
Who local roads suit
Local roads are a good fit if the scenery and the stops matter more to you than the arrival time. You can pull over in a town that looks interesting, take a break at a viewpoint, or change your plans as you go.
The trade-off is that your arrival time is harder to predict. Local roads work best on a day with time to spare, or when you can leave early.
Building in a stop or two
If you choose local roads, it helps to decide on one stop before you leave. It gives the day a shape without filling it.
Our guide to a Gujo Hachiman day trip by car covers the town’s highlights and how to explore it on foot. Our Seseragi Kaido drive guide looks at the views through the seasons.
Keep it to one or two stops. That way you can enjoy each one without watching the clock.
Expressway or local roads: a comparison
Choosing by what matters to you
| What you want | Better choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| To save time | Expressway | Travel time is easier to estimate, leaving more time in Takayama |
| Scenery and stops | Local roads | Easy to stop wherever you like along the way |
| Less time behind the wheel | Mostly expressway | Keeps the driving time shorter |
| Flexibility | A mix of both | Use a different approach each way |
Mixing it up: one way each
You do not have to pick just one. Take the expressway in the morning to reach Takayama early, then come home on local roads if you have time to spare.
Or do it the other way round: wander on the way there and take the expressway home. Fatigue tends to build by the end of the day, so a shorter drive back can make the evening easier.
Before you decide
Check road conditions on the day
Weather and road conditions vary from day to day. Before you leave, check official road traffic information for the day of your drive.
Plan with breaks in mind
On a longer drive, plan around regular breaks rather than squeezing them in. A little slack in the schedule makes the whole day more comfortable.
More on driving around Takayama
For more ideas in the area, read our Hida-Takayama drive guide. For other destinations within reach of the city, see our guide to day drives from Nagoya.
FAQ
How long does it take to drive from Nagoya to Takayama?
According to ATIS, the shortest expressway route from Nagoya IC to Takayama IC has a normal time of 2 hours 3 minutes. That figure assumes smooth conditions, so allow extra time for breaks and possible congestion.
Should I take the expressway or local roads?
If you want more time in Takayama, take the expressway. If you want to enjoy the scenery and make a few stops, take local roads. If you can’t decide, use one for each direction.
Finally
TŌNORI (遠乗り) is a car rental service opening in Nagoya in 2027, offering Japanese and imported cars. We are preparing for launch now.
Members will receive 10% off their first rental, with eligibility details to be announced at launch.
Source
Part of this guide
- Day drives from Nagoya: coast and mountain routes across Tokai
- Into the Gifu hills: drives to Hida-Takayama and Gujo
Related articles
Opening in Nagoya in 2027. Members get 10% off their first rental.
Join for free