1-Day Takayama Tour: Explore Scenic Takayama and Shirakawago

From JPY 26800

4.86

57 reviews

Check availability

Overview

Available languages

English

9 hours

Mobile ticket

Hidden high in the mountains of central Japan, far from the hustle and bustle of metropolises like Tokyo and Osaka, lie the quaint and well-preserved townscapes of Takayama and Shirakawa-go. Once a direct land holding of the Shogun, Takayama will enthrall you with its beautiful woodwork and traditional streets that offer a more relaxed beauty than cities such as Kyoto and Kanazawa. Shirakawa-go, on the other hand, offers a great example of the village-life experienced by Japanese farmers of ages past, and still experienced today by those lucky few who call it their home. Led by a locally-based and English-speaking guide, this experience will enthrall you with visions of life in Japan during an era very different from our own.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

English speaking guide

Entrance to the Takayama Jinya

Transportation between all destinations

Guided walks at both Takayama and Shirakawa-go

Lunch

Options

Start and end at Takayama City

Start and end at Takayama: Start and end the tour at Takayama Station

End the tour at Kanazawa St

Start the tour from Takayama and end at Kanazawa Station

Reviews

4.86

57 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great sites but disappointing tour
David W,
Apr 23, 2025
- Viator
3.00
The attractions visited were very good and the guides knowledge was excellent. However the day seemed rushed and there was little time to enjoy the environs or buy souvenirs . Almost 2 hours at Takayama Jinya was not required and this resulted in the tour of Shirakawago being rushed and disjointed. It was only a small group but the guide allowed the day to be dominated by an American guest who turned it into her private tour to everyone else’s exclusion.
Takayama and Shirakawago tour
Debra M,
Apr 16, 2025
- Viator
5.00
Our local guide Yoshi was extremely knowledgeable and I learnt so much about Takayama from him. I had been staying in Takayama for a couple of days before the tour and after Yoshi’s recommendations, I tried lots of new food and saw new things in the town I wasn’t aware of. Loved visiting Shirakawago, it was a highlight.
Wonderful Day, Accommodating Tour Company
Gregory C,
Jan 13, 2025
- Viator
5.00
So set tours can certainly simplify and improve travel to popular destinations as Takayama and Shirakawa-go, but the depth of the experience is so vastly different with a knowledgable and friendly guide like Yoshi. Interesting to understand Takayama's place in Japanese history and the Meiji era, what life was like in Shirakawa, and even get some outstanding advice on where to eat dinner in Takayama after the tour. I would also like to commend this tour company on their flexibility. We've had other tours where the operator was shockingly inflexible, but in this case they went out of their way to help us overcome a misunderstanding we had when scheduling our tour. We will actively search for available Snow Monkey Resorts tours on our next Japan vacation.
Worth it
Richard D,
Nov 15, 2024
- Viator
5.00
Yoshi was an excellent, informative and personable guide. His in-depth knowledge and command of English made the tour worthwhile
So much more interesting than exploring on your own
Darcie B,
Nov 11, 2024
- Viator
5.00
You will gain a much better appreciation for both of these places by doing this tour! Our guide was knowledgeable and told great stories about these places in an entertaining way. Especially if you don’t speak Japanese, so much is lost when you just walk around these historic places without a clue. With this tour I learned a lot about Takayama and Shirakawago and had a fabulous time.