International Railroad Discussion > Japan - Hida Express

We will be taking the Hida Express in a couple of weeks from Nagoya to Takayama.

I understand that it's possible to look out the front of the train and wonder if there is a seating and car number diagram that would help in reserving the "railfan seat"?

Also, I'm under the impression that there is a special class of service to ride in the lead car.

Thanks.

wzd Wrote:
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> We will be taking the Hida Express in a couple of
> weeks from Nagoya to Takayama.
>
> I understand that it's possible to look out the
> front of the train and wonder if there is a
> seating and car number diagram that would help in
> reserving the "railfan seat"?
>
> Also, I'm under the impression that there is a
> special class of service to ride in the lead car.
>
> Thanks.

Unfortunately, JR Central (a.k.a. JR Tokai) retired the Kiha 85 DMU (nicknamed "Wide View Hida" early on) on March of 2023. New HC85 DMUs do not have the front/rear observation seats like the Kiha 85. 

But don't take my word for it - there should be information on the Internet to collaborate my claim. Information on Hida on the English wikipedia page regarding the observation seats seem obsolete.

Having ridden this line many times, may I suggest that the most awesome portion is north of Takayama to Toyama on the Sea of Japan. In particular the section between Hida-Furukawa and Inotani is spectacular. From Toyama you can catch the Shinkansen back to Tokyo. Better yet, visit nearby Kanazawa on the same Shinkansen line just west of Toyama.