Shiragawa-go, Hida Takayama UNESCO Full-Day Tour from Nagoya
Description
Explore the rich cultural heritage of Japan on our one-day tour of Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go. Begin your journey by wandering through the charming streets of Hida Takayama, often referred to as "Little Kyoto," where you'll discover well-preserved Edo-era architecture, taste local delicacies like Hida beef and Takayama ramen, and shop for exquisite handcrafted items. Visit the bustling Miyagawa Morning Market, one of Japan's top three morning markets, to experience the vibrant local culture. Then, immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its unique gassho-zukuri farmhouses nestled amidst stunning mountain scenery. Ideal for cultural enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike, this tour promises unforgettable encounters with Japan's traditional way of life and breathtaking landscapes.
Tour Options
Itinerary
To begin the tour, make your way to the meeting point(8:30AM), meet your guide, and board your transportation. Then, drive to the mountainous Hida region in the Gifu Prefecture to reach the beautifully preserved city of Hida Takayama. Upon arrival, take a walk along Sannomachi Street, taste local delicacies like Hida beef and Takayama ramen, and see the work of local craftsmen. Head to one of the morning markets — Miyagawa Market or Jinya-Mae Market — and get a taste of local life. You will also receive recommendations for the best spots to have lunch.
After lunch, head to Gasyomura in Shiragawa-go and take in the scenery of mountains, paddy fields, and trickling rivers. Come to understand why Shiragawa-go is known as the kingdom of forests and streams, and see why the origin of the name Shirokawa-go means "the white river." Head to the Ogimachi Castle Site Observatory to enjoy the beautiful views of Gassho-mura village and Mount Hakusan. Have some time to pop into the Ochiudo cafe, famous for its big dogs, decorative coffee cups, and snacks. Afterward, the tour returns to Nagoya.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 1.If you wish to visit the observation deck(Shiragawago), please select the option of including observation deck.
- 2.The observation deck will be closed: Dec.25th, Jan.8th/15th/22th/29th, Please refer to the official announcement for the exact closure time.
- 3.If you choose the option of including observation deck, the departure time is 8:30am, the option of excluded observation deck is 9:00am
- 4.Look for the tour guide holding a yellow Gogoday flag at the meeting point. Tell the guide the name you booked under to join.Please come 15 minutes ahead of time. Refunds will not be given for late or missed arrivals.
Reviews(7)
Im living in Japan for 6 months and this was my favorite "excursion" -- it was a beautiful place and the sense of history really came alive. Our tour guide did a really nice job of giving us relevant cultural and historical context of Takayama and Shiragawa-go without boring us or going on for too long. I would HIGHLY recommend this tour and kind of wish it was a two-day experience to really soak in everything
This is a great self-guided tour of Shiragawa and Hide Tateyama UNESCO site. The bus driver/guide gave proper rest breaks as the drive is pretty far & each site is pretty easy to navigate. It would be nice to have more time at each site but overall, a great way to get around to these iconic sites for the price.
Leo did a great job and was very informative. The tour was well paced with the right amount of time at each stop. Also, excellent price for what you get.
Overall a good tour but a bit rush at most stops. Tour guide Leonardo was nice and informative. He also provided many recommendations via watsapp to all of us on the tour. Shiragawa-go tour is still worth going instead on our own using the bus.
Unfortunately our itinerary was changed and we could not go to Shirakawa-go due to road closures (weather). Information about where we were going instead was confusing and rushed, but we decided to go to make an adventure of it. We stopped at the Enyako Gorge for a restroom break and photos, and then went to Magome which the tour guide told us had many amazing restaurants. Unfortunately nearly every restaurant in town was closed that day, so we wandered the town and left hungry. Our last stop was Inuyama Castle, one of Japan's oldest castles, which offered some nice views. Overall, we had an okay time. Obviously the weather cannot be controlled but we were a bit disappointed with the final itinerary, dining options that were said to be available but weren't, and level of communication.
I am sorry that the trip did not meet your expectations and thank you for your understanding of the weather reasons. We’ll work on improving these aspects to ensure a smoother experience in the future. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Shiragawa-go: lucky to be there during their Fall festival. Lots of colorful costumes, and beautifully painted old cart-floats. There were many open air 'flea market' booths for the event. Hida-Takayama: So serene in this unique Heritage village up the mountains from Nagoya. The small thached roof houses were incredible to see. It lays along a small river, with a breathe taking mountain back drop. I felt bad for the locals being visited by an overwhelming number of tourists.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience at Shirakawa-go and Hida-Takayama! We're glad you enjoyed the Fall festival and the serene beauty of the Heritage village. We understand your concern about the number of tourists and appreciate your thoughtful reflection on the local community.
