1-Day Takayama Tour: Explore Scenic Takayama and Shirakawago
Overview
Available languages
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
Tour Availability Disclaimer All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Takayama Jinya
Tour the inside of the Takayama Jinya, a beautiful centuries old government outpost built for the Shogun’s representatives, and learn about the history and industry of Takayama.
Sanmachi Suji
Explore the traditional “Sanmachi” district in the heart of Takayama. Lead by your knowledgeable tour guide, you will have a chance to see some of the woodwork this region is famous for and take in its scenic streets.
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
112 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Had a great day with...
Sylvain P,,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Had a great day with Hemy. Having a guide imparting knowledge and explaining things is great, and Hemy is really good a that. If I could change anything, I would have like a bit more time in shirakawa go, but the tour was great anyway.
Refreshing and colorful Shirakawago experience
Daniel G,,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent itinerary from start to finish. Seeing the government office was very interesting with rich history and experiencing local cuisine with the morning markets was tasty. Shirakawago itself is breathtaking during this time of year and we were fortunate enough to see the lovely autumn colors. Hemi is a wonderful guide who struck the right balance of being relaxed and flexible, but also adhering to a schedule so that everyone could enjoy the tour. We will definitely be booking another tour with him and Snow Monkey in the future when we return to Japan!
Great day with our lad, Hemi
erindE810GC,,Nov 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Absolutely breathtaking photo opportunities and well paced. We enjoyed having the opportunity to get food at the market (HIDA beef sandwich! Delicious) and then loved the fairytale setting of shirakawago. Really enjoyed the tours with Hemi!
Great day tour!
Anant G,,Nov 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Hemi is a fantastic tour guide. He is super knowledgeable and friendly and ensured everyone had a great time in the trip. Would do a tour with him again.
The roofs are thatched
yidongc,,Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Very informative and well run day trip. The tour guides are professionals and know their stuff. I went in early November and the colors of the trees in the Autumn are beautiful.
Amazing tour of the Old Town and the Unesco World Heritage Site
jiannac2018,,Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great tour with lots of scenery and a knowledgeable guide! We were given great recommendations during our trip and went through the area at a nice pace. Would definitely recommend booking!
Japanese Alps in autumn!
ljmr2025,,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00In the morning a tour with guide Hemi through Takayama. Learned a lot from Hemi about life back then. Then to the Unesco villages of Shirakawago (just like Boertange and Giethoorn). A traditional village in the Japanese Alps, famous for its old farms. Shirakawago is quite crowded especially by many Japanese. It is really beautiful in the valley surrounded by the mountains that are now green, yellow and orange red. Thank you Hemi for this nice and educational day.
Great trip in and around Takayams
D6597GRelianes,,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I really enjoyed the tour with Hemi. The tour in the history of Takayama Jin‘ya was most interesting and we got a lot of background history during the walk in the old town. Also the visit to Shirakawa with the magnificent autumn leaves was very informative
Educational and informative tour!
hebbinkg,,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Educational and informative tour. We were in Takayama for two days and are glad we chose this tour. Our guide gave an expert tour of the old town and historic Jinya. Then a comfortable taxi bus to Shinagawa, with another beautiful circular walk between the historic houses overlooking mountains in autumn colors. This is a must!
Great one day tour around Takayama Jinja and old town then Shirakawago
J9346RVrobw,,Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great one day tour around Takayama Jinja and old town then Shirakawago. Very informative one day tour with history and anecdotes. Hemi msde the venues come to life.
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![Departing from Takayama [Regular sightseeing bus] World Heritage Sites Shirakawago and Gokayama Ainokura](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-720x480/11/22/87/00.jpg)
Operated by Snow Monkey Resorts Tours (Machinovate Japan Ltd.)