From Takayama: Guided Day Trip to Takayama and Shirakawa-go
10/10
10 out of 10Features
- Free cancellation available
- 1d
- Mobile voucher
- Instant confirmation
Overview
- Feel like you're taking a step back to the times of the samurai
- Stroll through the narrow streets of Takayama's historic old town
- Explore Takayama Jinya, a centuries old government outpost
- Marvel at wooden merchants’ houses dating to the Edo Period
- Take a look at traditional Japanese village life in Shirakawa-go
Activity location
- Takayama
- Takayama, Gifu, Japan
Meeting/Redemption Point
- Japan, 〒506-0053 岐阜県高山市昭和町１丁目２２−２ | Meet outside the ticket gates at JR Takayama Station. Once you have left the gates, look to your left to see a walkway and a carving depicting an ornate wagon. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a “Snow Monkey Resorts” tour tag. There is also a waiting room with benches nearby for guests who have arrived early and would like to sit down. However, please make sure that you have left the waiting room and are in place at the meetup point at 9:00 AM.
- 高山市, 岐阜県, Japan
Check availability
From Takayama Station, Ending at Kanazawa Station
- 1d
- English
What's included, what's not
- Return transport from Takayama
- Guide
- Entry to Takayama Jinya
- Walking tour of Shirakawa-go
- 1.5-hour walking tour of Takayama
- Lunch
What you can expect
Discover Takayama’s well-preserved old town and jinya, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go on a full-day trip. Take guided walking tours at both spots along with free time to explore, eat, and shop on your own.
Meet your guide at Takayama Station and be escorted to the 300+ year-old Takayama Jinya, a local governor's office from the Edo period. Enter the jinya for a guided tour and learn all about the history of the building and the city of Takayama itself.
See several artefacts, including art, books, and tools, from its heyday in the 17th through 19th centuries. Unlike a visit to a typical museum, the Takayama Jinya offers pieces of history in a building that is as old as the items on display.
Afterwards, head to the city centre of Takayama, known as the “Sanmachi”. See as your guide points out the highlights of the area. Enjoy scenic views and conclude this part of the tour at the entrance to the Miyagawa Morning Market.
Next, enjoy 1 hour and 30 minutes of free time to walk around the market, return to the Sanmachi for a closer look at the shops, or savour the food of the Hida region at a local restaurant. You can treat yourself to a sake tasting, or feast on sushi made with wagyu beef from local ranches.
Then, meet your tour guide to continue your journey to Shirakawa-go. Sit back and soak in the scenery on your bus ride. Then, begin the second half of your tour. Go up to the famous lookout point for a breathtaking view of the town of Shirakawa-go.
Follow your guide down the road, descending into the rice paddies and quaint streets that make up the village. See the largest hamlet of gassho-zukuri-style houses in Japan. Get introduced to the highlights of Shirakawa-go, learning more about the town.
After the tour, explore the town on your own, and revisit places you want a better look at. During this time, you may also grab lunch, head to a traditional mountain farmhouse, or sample snacks sold along the high street.
Finally, start your trip back to Takayama to conclude the tour.
Location
Activity location
- Takayama
- Takayama, Gifu, Japan
Meeting/Redemption Point
- Japan, 〒506-0053 岐阜県高山市昭和町１丁目２２−２ | Meet outside the ticket gates at JR Takayama Station. Once you have left the gates, look to your left to see a walkway and a carving depicting an ornate wagon. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a “Snow Monkey Resorts” tour tag. There is also a waiting room with benches nearby for guests who have arrived early and would like to sit down. However, please make sure that you have left the waiting room and are in place at the meetup point at 9:00 AM.
- 高山市, 岐阜県, Japan