5 Day Kanazawa, Takayama & Shirakawa-go Discovery

Welcome to Kanazawa, a former castle town on the Sea of Japan coast, known for its preserved samurai and geisha districts, its gold leaf crafts and Kenrokuen, one of Japan's most celebrated gardens. On arrival, make your own way to your hotel near Kanazawa Station and check in. The rest of the day is at leisure to settle in, take a first walk around the neighbourhood and find a local eatery for dinner. The evening is at leisure.Special InformationAirport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal may offer the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.Your 5-day Takayama-Hokuriku Area Pass is included and covers rail travel from Kansai Airport, Osaka and Kyoto to Kanazawa, as well as the highway buses between Kanazawa, Takayama and Shirakawa-go. The pass is valid for 5 consecutive days.

Today is free to explore Kanazawa at your own pace, or to join one or more of the optional experiences below.Kenrokuen Garden and the grounds of Kanazawa Castle Park sit side by side and make an easy morning, with flat paths and plenty of places to rest. Nearby, the Nagamachi samurai district has narrow lanes lined with earthen walls, and Omicho Market is a good stop for a seafood lunch. In the afternoon, the Higashi Chaya District is known for its old teahouses and gold leaf shops, and the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art is a short walk from the garden. The evening is at leisure.Special InformationOptional experiences in Kanazawa can be combined, so you can choose more than one.

After breakfast, check out and travel by highway bus into the mountains of the Hida region to Takayama, using your included Takayama-Hokuriku Area Pass.On arrival, your guide meets you at your Takayama hotel for a full-day walking tour of this historic town. Wander the Sanmachi Suji streets, lined with Edo-period merchant houses and sake breweries, visit Yoshijima Heritage House, known for its woodwork, and follow the Higashiyama Walking Course past temples and shrines on the edge of town. Along the way, your guide may include a sake tasting or a stroll through quieter parts of town.The tour finishes back in town and the evening is at leisure. Takayama is known for Hida beef, and there are small restaurants close to the old town for dinner.Inspiring HighlightsTakayama guided walking tourSanmachi Suji old townYoshijima Heritage HouseHigashiyama Walking CourseSpecial InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 2.5 hours.Seat reservations on the highway bus between Kanazawa and Takayama are strongly recommended and can be made with your pass. Space for large suitcases is limited, so travelling light or using a luggage forwarding service is recommended.Today includes a full day on foot of around 7 hours, with uneven paving and some steps at temples and shrines.

After breakfast, board a morning bus from Takayama for the scenic journey through the Hida mountains to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage village known for its steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses.Cross the suspension bridge into Ogimachi and wander the lanes at your own pace. Step inside Wada House, one of the largest farmhouses in the village, visit the thatched Myozenji Temple, and stop for a lunch of local Hida beef or soba. In the afternoon, head up to the Shiroyama viewpoint for the classic view over the village rooftops.Catch the bus back to Takayama in the afternoon. The evening is at leisure to enjoy the old town.Inspiring HighlightsShirakawa-go UNESCO World Heritage villageWada HouseMyozenji TempleShiroyama viewpointSpecial InformationYour travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.Today's visit to Shirakawa-go is self-guided. Your bus fare is included, and seat reservations are strongly recommended.Shirakawa-go receives heavy snow in winter and paths can be icy. Very heavy snowfall can occasionally delay or cancel bus services.

Enjoy a final breakfast in Takayama before your tour comes to an end.Depending on your onward plans, there may be time for a last walk through the morning market along the river before you check out. Your Takayama-Hokuriku Area Pass remains valid today for travel onwards to Kanazawa, Kyoto, Osaka or Kansai Airport.Thank you for travelling with Inspiring Vacations. We hope you had a memorable experience.Special InformationAirport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.The rail journey from Takayama to Osaka or Kyoto takes around 4.5 to 5 hours, so a same-day international flight from Kansai Airport is not recommended unless it departs late in the evening.