Discover the mountainous city of Takayama and the village of Shiragawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on this full-day trip from Nagoya. Explore the markets and try local specialties in Takayama, then admire the picturesque landscapes in Shiragawa-go. To begin the tour, make your way to the meeting point, 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 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 (not included). 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.

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 artifacts, 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. Afterward, head to the downtown 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 savor 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 main street. Finally, start your trip back to Takayama to conclude the tour.

Located in Gifu Prefecture on the main island of Honshu, Takayama (or Hida-Takayama) is filled with historic charm and is also renowned for its natural beauty. Explore this ancient city with a local guide and see the best of what it has to offer on a private walking tour. Below are some things included as part of a typical itinerary that can be customized based on your wishes. Sanmachi Street has many houses and stores that date back to the Edo period (1603-1868). The area is lined with shops carrying local specialties and has a lively atmosphere with many people stopping to shop and eat here. Hida Folk Village is an open-air museum exhibiting over 30 traditional houses from the Hida Region, the mountainous district of Gifu Prefecture around Takayama. The houses were built during the Edo period and were relocated from their original places to create the museum in 1971. The Takayama Jinya served as the local government office headed by the officials dispatched from Edo (present-day Tokyo). The building complex was in official use until 1969 and is now open to the public as a museum. Hida-Takayama Miyagawa Morning Market is held daily in Takayama between 7:00 AM (8:00 AM in winter) and 12:00 AM. The Miyagawa Market along the Miyagawa River in the old town and the Jinya-mae Market in front of the Takayama Jinya sell local crafts, snacks, and produce. Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall shows key aspects of the Takayama Festival. The festival takes place for two days each spring and autumn and, along with Kyoto's Gion Matsuri and the Chichibu Yomatsuri, is considered to be one of Japan's three most beautiful. Hida Kokubunji Temple is a Buddhist temple. Its iconic three-storied pagoda was constructed in 1820. A Buddhist statue thought to have been made in the Heian period is enshrined in the main building. Be sure to check out the huge gingko tree on the grounds. It is over 1260 years old. Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine in Takayama is the venue for the Takayama Festival in the autumn. Next to the shrine is the Takayama Festival Floats Exhibition Hall, or Yatai Kaikan, where four of the actual floats used in the festival are on display. The Kusakabe Folk Museum is a historic private residence that has been opened to the public. The building was constructed during the Meiji period in an Edo architectural style. The entire building is designated important cultural property of Japan.

Get an insider’s view of Takayama’s most vibrant neighborhoods on a walking tour of the Old Town alongside a local guide. Begin your urban walking adventure by meeting your guide in the city center. Make your way through the Old Town and learn about the local people's lifestyle and culture from your local guide. Discover why Takayama was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage site. Turn the corner towards Nakabashi bridge and snap photos with this famous red bridge. Stroll to Takayama Jinya, the former government office. Witness the hustle and bustle of the Jinya morning market and grab a bargain with the help of your guide. As you stroll, your friendly local guide will tell you interesting facts and anecdotes about the city’s past and the people who have lived here.   Finally, arrive at Yamazakura shrine, your last stop, where you can learn about Japanese religion. Your guide will be happy to point you in the direction of the nearest subway station or bus stop. Or feel free to ask them for local recommendations on great places to eat or drink nearby.This is normally English tour but if you need other languages like Chinese, Italy, French, etc. please let us know.

The first activity on this tour will be 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, where your guide will give a brief introduction to the market and its place in Takayama culture. 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. Once this time is up, you will meet your guide at the entrance to the market. 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. If you are lucky, you may even spot some pheasants or deer on the way! You will then arrive at Shirakawa-go, and start the second half of your tour. You will start at 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 then lead you through the town of 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. Once the guided portion is complete, you will have around 1 hour of free time – if you choose – 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. Guests who wish to continue onwards to Kanazawa should not expect to be back any earlier than 18:40.