Day Tour from Takayama: Explore Takayama and Shirakakwa-go

Once a direct land holding of the Shogun, Takayama will enthrall you with its beautiful woodwork and traditional streets. And explore Shirakawa-go a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 1995.
This tour will start at Takayama Station, in front of the ticket gates, at 9:00 A.M. Your guide will greet you there and escort everyone directly to the beautiful, 300+ year old Takayama Jinya.

The tour will begin there, with a 1-hour guided experience inside the Jinya where your guide will explain about the history of the building and the city of Takayama itself. The Jinya includes both rooms for official business as well as rooms that were used by high-ranking officials for their own relaxation.

The Jinya also houses a number of artifacts, including art, books, and tools, from its heyday in the 17th through 19th centuries. Unlike a visit to a typical museum, at the Takayama Jinya you will be able to enjoy viewing these pieces of history in a building that is as old as the items on display!

Afterwards, you will be heading to the traditional downtown of Takayama, known as the “Sanmachi”, for a 30-minute guided walk, wherein your guide will show you around the area and make sure you don’t miss any scenic views. This portion of the tour will conclude at the entrance to the Miyagawa Morning Market.

You will then have around 1 hour and 30 minutes of free time, where you may peruse the market, return to the Sanmachi to get a closer look at some of its shops, or head to some local restaurants to enjoy the delicious food of the Hida region. For guests who are interested, there are shops offering local sake for taste testing, and even sushi made with wagyu beef from local ranches!

Meet back up with your tour guide. From there, you will begin your journey to Shirakawa-go. Taking roughly 1 hour, this drive will not be boring as there is scenery of great beauty just outside the window for almost the whole ride.

Arrive at Shirakawa-go, and start the second half of your tour. You will have a chance to go up to the famous look-out point from which the whole town of Shirakawa-go may be seen at once. Your guide will then lead you down the road, descending into the rice paddies and quaint streets that make up the village. Your guide will also lead you around Shirakawa-go, introducing its highlights, during which time they will explain more about the town and answer any questions you may have about the sights you will be seeing.

Followed by 2 hours of free time to explore at your own pace, and revisit places you want a better look at. During this time, you may also eat lunch, enter into those farm houses which allow you to do so, or sample some of the snacks that are sold along the main street.

Finally, you will meet up again with your guide at 17:00 to conclude the tour and start your trip back to Takayama, a journey which will take roughly 1 hour. You can expect to be back in Takayama around 18:10.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

Cancellation is not possible. If you cancel it anyway or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity and the money you paid will not be refunded.