Departing from Takayama [Regular sightseeing bus] World Heritage Sites Shirakawago and Gokayama Ainokura
Overview
Available languages
7 hours 20 minutes
Mobile ticket
This is a regular sightseeing bus that visits the world heritage sites of Gassho Village in Gokayama Aikura and Shirakawago guided by a bus guide.
We will guide you through the Gokayama and Shirakawago Gassho settlements, which are difficult for individuals to reach, by a safe and comfortable chartered bus.
Please eat your lunch at Gassho Village in Shirakawago.
This tour is a regular sightseeing bus guided by a Nohi Bus bus guide. We offer you a comfortable bus journey to the next level, sharing information about the charms of the World Heritage Site, how to spend your time there, and seasonal information about foods and dialects in the Hida region that are not found in guidebooks. You can join on the day of departure if you have a seat. (However, we may refuse if the seats are full.)
※This tour will be shared with other guests.We operate by medium or large bus.The maximum number of participants on the application form is the maximum number of people who can apply at one time.
※Please beware of fake site products.
Regular sightseeing bus tours of Nohi Bus on Viator are only here.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Ainokura Gassho Community
We will guide you to the Gassho Village of Gokayama Ainokura, a World Heritage site. In the Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, there are 20 Gassho-zukuri houses still in existence, and you can see a variety of Gassho-zukuri houses. People still live in these gassho-zukuri houses.
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go Gassho Style Houses
Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site, is a village where 114 thatched gassho-zukuri houses still retain the nostalgic scenery of old Japan. The steeply sloped triangular roof, which is unique to regions with heavy snowfall, resembles the shape of hands joined together, which is why it is called a gassho-zukuri house. Feel free to stroll around the village for as long as you like. * You can also enter "Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Minkaen".
What‘s Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
Lunch
Options
Departing from Takayama [Regular sightseeing bus] World Heritage Sites Shirakawago and Gokayama Ainokura
Reviews
139 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Would not recommend
Gedeordio,,Feb 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
3.00The tour guide was very informational and I’m very glad we were able to see Ainokura before heading to Shirakawago. Ainokura was very small but peaceful and the viewpoint was beautiful. Shirakawgo was absolutely mobbed with tour buses. It was very sad to see such a unique world heritage sight be overrun by tour buses. There were at least 30 buses in the parking lot the day of our tour. And there was an additional parking lot in the other side of town with more buses. All of the restaurants had long lines for lunch and stopped lunch service by 2pm. My suggestion would be as soon as you arrive in Shirakawago, head directly to a restaurant for lunch because as soon as 12:00-12:30pm hits it will be become very difficult to find somewhere to eat. At times I felt like I was in Times Square with the amount of people walking in the streets. I feel terribly for the residents that live there, it was an absolute zoo. Very different from the videos and photos I saw on social media. I will think twice before doing a tour like this again.
Nice excursion
Muriel B,,Feb 1, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Beautiful day well organized, the driver and guide were professional and sumpathic. The villages were beautiful and pleasant to visit.
Storybook adventure in snowy villages
Tina R,,Jan 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great day visiting a UNESCO world heritage site. Shirakawago and Ainokura were blanketed in snow and felt like stepping into a storybook. Aunokura was less crowded than Shirakawago but both places had a magical feel to them. It was a semi guided tour but our guide and driver both did a great job in informing us where to go, what to see and getting there safely.
100% recommended
K6373BIclaudiaa,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We took this tour and it was 100% worth it. They took us to two villages. The first one was without tourists and we could take beautiful photos and enjoy the silence and snow. The guide and driver were lovely. We learned a lot from the places and the culture.
Lovely guide, safe...
GretchenB,,Jan 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Lovely guide, safe comfortable bus ride, gorgeous stops in historical villages. Yummy food and great gift shops
Great tour
PENNY C,,Jan 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly. The tour itself allows time to explore and relax. Highly recommend this tour.
Family day trip
R1923ELjodied,,Jan 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Wonderful day trip. Winter wonderland. Everything was great. Guide was knowledgeable. Bus driver felt safe. Great experience.
The guide was very...
Shomik D,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The guide was very helpful in explaining the layout, history and things to see. This tour is perfect for those who wish to be informed about the basics and then free to explore as per the timelines provided.
Horrible experience.
jesslina n,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00We booked this tour and at the arrival destination there was no tour operator. Nobody responded after contacting the tour operator as well. Our entire day got wasted because of this. Please dont book this. Its a horrible experience.
It was a comfortable bus...
Jodie K,,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It was a comfortable bus trip up to the village with spectacular scenery just after first snow. Very informative, glad we did it.
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Operated by Nohi Bus