On this private tour of Takayama and Shirakawago, you'll learn about daily life in the two authentic cultural treasures of Japan with an English-speaking guide. Are you ready to discover the traditional essence of the Japanese Alps?
Tour Details
At the indicated time, we'll meet at the JR Takayama Station to begin this exciting tour. We'll begin our route through the markets of Jinya-mae and Miyagawa, two of the oldest and biggest markets in Japan. Across more than 60 stalls, you'll find vegetables, fruit, deserts, handicrafts and unique souvenirs. You'll be fascinated by the variety and freshness of its products!
Afterwards, we'll head to the historic centre of Takayama, walking along the famous Sannomachi Street. This area is known for its traditional sake breweries, charming cafés and craft shops. Its houses, with architecture dating back to Japan's feudal era, will transport you back in time, making you feel the history in every corner.
After exploring Takayama for 1.5 hours and enjoying its delicious food, we'll return to the station to take a public bus to the village of Shirakawago. During the almost hour-long journey, we'll admire impressive views of the Japanese Alps. Don't forget to bring your camera!
Upon arrival in Shirakawago, we'll take a tour of this World Heritage village. From the viewpoint of Ogimachi Castle, we'll get a spectacular view of the Gassho Zukuri style houses, built to withstand the heavy snowfall of the region. We'll even get to visit one of them!
Afterwards, we'll continue strolling around Shirakawago and, if you're hungry, you'll have the option to try some of the local delicacies at the street stalls, such as the famous gohei mochi or hida beef. If you prefer a more traditional meal, we'll take you to a restaurant where you can try hida beef hoba yaki style, accompanied by homemade soba noodles—a real treat for the palate!
Finally, after 2.5 hours in Shirakawago, we'll say our goodbyes at the bus station. There, we'll accompany you to get the public bus that we will have already booked for you to return to Takayama on your own. You'll arrive at the same meeting point 6 hours after the start of the tour.
