Takaoka

Takaoka (高岡) is a port city in Toyama, Japan. While the prefecture's second-largest city, the main reason for travellers to visit is the ferry to/from Vladivostok, Russia. Get in By train Takaoka is located on the JR West Hokuriku Main Line. Its location between Toyama and Kanazawa means that a high number of limited express trains stop here every day. You can reach Toyama by local train in 20 minutes (¥320); limited express trains are slightly faster and more expensive, but with a Japan Rail Pass you can simply hop into a non-reserved car to make the short journey at no charge. The trip to Kanazawa takes 40 minutes (¥740); limited express trains make the run in about 25 minutes. From Tokyo, take the Joetsu Shinkansen to Echigo-Yuzawa and change to the Hakutaka limited express to Takaoka. The journey takes 2 1/2 hours at a cost of ¥12000. Japan Rail Pass holders must pay ¥1450 for the portion of the trip between Echigo-Yuzawa and Naoetsu, operated by Hokuetsu Railway. JR East Rail Pass do not have to pay the Hokuetsu fare, but must pay the ¥3500 fare to continue from Naoetsu to Takaoka over JR West territory. From Osaka and Kyoto, take the Thunderbird limited express train to Takaoka. The trip takes 3 hours from Osaka and 2 1/2 hours from Kyoto (¥8300 and ¥7400, respectively). Takaoka is a stop on the Twilight Express overnight train from Sapporo, and the Nihonkai overnight service from Aomori. The Hokuriku Shinkansen, under construction, will reach the new Shin-Takaoka station by 2014. By ferry Fushiki-Toyama Port (伏木富山港 Fushiki-toyama-kō) is located a fair distance from central Takaoka. From the port, it's a ten-minute walk to JR Fushiki station, three stops away from Takaoka on the JR Himi Line (氷見線) — which, incidentally, means "Ice-Watching Line". While JR Rail Passes are valid for this trip, beware that if you're entering Japan this way, the passes cannot be validated at Fushiki station; the nearest station that officially accepts them is Kanazawa, over 100 km away. The Far East Shipping Company [1], represented in Japan by Bisintour [2], has services roughly once a week between Takaoka and Vladivostok, Russia. The ferry crossing takes two nights and one day, leaving around 6 PM and arriving around 9 AM both ways. Fares start from US$360/person sharing a 4-berth cabin, with meals. Students can travel for US$330, while return tickets are US$600. station list JR Hokuriku Railroad 北陸本線(Hokuriku Line)：（越中福岡(Ettyu-Fukuoka) - 西高岡(Nishi-Takaoka) - 越中高岡(Ettyu-Takaoka) 羽高線(Ukou Line)：（越中高岡(Ettyu-Takaoka) - 越中中川(Ettyu-Nakagawa) - 能町(Noumachi) - 伏木(Fushiki) - 越中国分(Ettyu-Kokubu) - 雨晴(Amaharashi)－ (Hakui direction) 城端線(Jouhana Line)：（越中高岡(Ettyu-Takaoka) - 二塚(Futastuka) - 林(Hayashi) - 戸出(Toide) - Jouhana direction) 高岡万葉電鉄(Takaoka Manyo Electric Railway) 射水本線(Imizu Line)：越中高岡駅前(Ettyu-Takaoka Front of the station) - 末広町(Hirosuemachi) - 片原町(Kataharacyou) - 坂下町(Sakashitacyou) - 本丸会館前(Honmarukaikanmae) - 広小路(Hirokouzi) - 志貴野中学校(Shikino-Cyugakko) - 高岡市民病院(Takaoka-Hospital) - 江尻(Eshiri) - 旭ヶ丘(Asahigaoka) - 荻布(Ogino) - 新能町(Shin-Noumachi) - 米島口(Yoneshimaguchi) - 能町口(Noumachiguchi) - 南吉久(Minami-Yoshihisa) - 吉久(Yoshihisa) - (Toyama direction) Get around The Man'yōsen Tram Line [3] trundles through town, starting at JR Takaoka station. Fares are ¥150-350 depending on the distance. See There are a few sights of mild interest in Takaoka. Takaoka Great Buddha Statue (高岡大仏 Takaoka Daibutsu), (near tram Sakashita-machi (坂下町) stn). Claims to be one of Japan's Top 3 Buddhas, although it's actually only in the top three if the height of the halo is included.  edit Zuiryū-ji Temple (瑞龍寺), (10 min from JR Takaoka south exit), [4]. Daily 9 AM-4:30 PM. A large Soto Zen temple, three of whose buildings have been designated as National Treasures. ¥500.  edit Do Zuiryū-ji Temple: http://soundcloud.com/doctorblackjack/blackjackjonny-feat-cory Buy Eat Drink Sleep Contact Get out Gokayama — World Heritage village famous for its gassho-zukuri houses Kanazawa — perhaps the best-preserved major Edo-period city in the country Routes through Takaoka Joetsu ← Toyama ←  N  S  → Oyabe → Kanazawa This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!