Private Tour

Gokayama and Shirakawago/Photoshoot by professional photographer

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Overview

Available languages

Japanese
English

Mobile ticket

Regardless of whether you are coming to Japan for the first time, or you’re an obsessed Japan lover, this intimate, private tour will be a unique experience to enhance your treasured memories in Japan. You will be taken to the Japan's most beautiful places, guided by a local English-speaking professional photographer. During the tour I will capture your magical moments, leaving you free to take in the sights without worrying about the best angles and light, or asking a stranger to take your picture! I am experienced in portrait and travel street photography, and my work has been published in many magazines, guidebooks including Lonely Planet and the city guides of tourism boards. A day out with me ensure you will have a knowledgeable, funny, local professional photographer, and Insta-worthy travel photos will be guaranteed!

Additional Info

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

1

Gokayama has 5 valleys dotted with 40 villages. Ainokura and Suganuma villages were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995. Lean Japanese traditional lifestyle with unique Gassho zukuri houses. We will stroll around the village and have a short photo shoot session done by a professional photographer to capture your travel memories.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable
2

Shirakawago

World famous Shirakawago is a must see in Japan. You will feel like you are doing a time travel here. Japanese old tradition and unique Gassho zukuri houses still exist here. Photo shoot session by a professional photographer to capture your travel memories.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off

30 edited digital images of your day out.(selected by photographer)

Location-based photography tips

Private English-speaking professional photographer guide

Highway toll and car parking fee

Free private transportation

Photo sessions by a professional photographer

Lunch

Entrance fee

Entrance fee for photographer if applicable

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

Dep/Finish in Kanazawa

Dep/Finish in Kanazawa
Pickup included

Oneway Kanazawa - Takayama

Oneway Kanazawa - Takayama: Oneway from Kanazawa to Takayama Oneway from Takayama to Kanazawa
Pickup included

Dep/Finish in Takayama

Dep/Finish in Takayama
Pickup included

Dep/Finish in Toyama

Pickup included

Oneway Toyama - Takayama

Oneway Toyama - Takayama: Oneway from Toyama to Takayama Oneway from Takayama to Toyama
Pickup included

Reviews

4.96

52 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

50
2
0
0
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  • Amazing Photo Tour of Shirakawago & Gokayama - Highly Recommended TK Photography

    Cecilia C,,Feb 13, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    My husband and I booked a 1-day tour from Kanazawa to Takayama via Shirakawago & Gokayama. These picturesque UNESCO World Heritage villages were so beautiful and charming in winter. We had an amazing experience with TK. He was a skilled driver, a knowledgeable guide, and also a professional photographer. He knew all the best photo spots. All our photos turned out amazing. Thank you for the lovely memories captured!!

  • Great photography with TK at Shirakawago and Gokayama

    samwong777,,Feb 1, 2026

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    It was my first time to Shirakawago & Gokoyama and what better way than to have TK take us there as a guide and photographer. TK's photography skills are great and he took the time to get the right shots at the right angles. Having someone knowing the right spots to get really good shots is a bonus as he has done this so many times. We covered both places in a day. TK is highly recommended. Also at the price that he is charging, I think it's great value.

    samwong777's photo 1
  • Excellent day!

    batty777,,Oct 26, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    We had a lovely time on this tour! Our photographer and guide was TK. He was a good driver and kind soul. The villages of Shirakawago and Gokayama were so charming, they stole our hearts! We are so glad we were able to visit and were blessed with fantastic weather! We highly recommend choosing the beef restaurant for lunch, as it was delicious! We received our photos just 2 days later, and are very happy with the whole experience. Thank you TK!

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  • Magical Tour with TK Photographer

    C8502XIjacquelinec,,Jun 11, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    What a magical tour with TK, passionate and professional photographer (guide and driver!). He picked us up in Kanazawa and drove into the gorgeous, verdant mountains and to UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, Shirakawago and Gokayama. TK guided us through the historical villages (and knew residents personally!) and treated us to fun photoshoots! We felt pampered being professionally photographed and not having to worry about taking our own photos. Between the two villages, TK took us to a non-touristy restaurant featuring food we requested. We are thrilled with TK's photos of our visit and especially enjoyed spending time with TK, a very calm, personable and knowledgeable person. I would definitely do this again! TK is highly recommended!

  • A must see to walk into the past of Japan with TK.

    Adventurer622981,,Jun 11, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    4.00

    Gokayama & Shirakawago are beautiful and amazing. So peaceful. TK's knowledge of these sites helped us image life in their heyday. And the photoshoot was fun and made us feel important.

  • Wonderful Shirakawago tour with professional photos!

    Adventurer310309,,Jun 9, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Wow, what a fun day touring Shirakawago and Gokayama with TK! He picked us up at our ryokan in Takayama right on time in his spotlessly clean and comfortable minivan. The two-hour round trip drive was scenic and pleasant. Of course, the whole point was to see the best sights of Shirakawago and Gokayama and TK really delivered, aided in part by his timing of the itinerary to avoid the biggest crowds. While you might get that with any guide, what makes this tour special is TK's friendly personality and outstanding photography. He absolutely knew the best vantage points, shooting angles, and he composed wonderful photographs of us in the most beautiful, iconic Japanese village settings. Icing on the cake was the great restaurant he picked out for lunch. All in all, a superb day with TK. I highly recommend him.

  • Unforgettable Photo Tour of Shirakawa-go & Gokayama – Highly Recommend TK Photography!

    I6151BEwinniel,,Jun 2, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    I highly recommend booking a tour with TK Photography if you're planning a trip to Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Since private tours weren’t available on the days I was in Kanazawa, I decided to book with TK—and I’m so glad I did! Hiring a private driver for the day would have cost about the same, so I figured why not get a free photography session included? The booking process was seamless. TK responded promptly to all my questions and even shared his WhatsApp to ensure smooth communication. He picked us up directly from the airport, and the drive through the mountains was absolutely stunning—winding roads with breathtaking lake views along the way. One of the biggest perks of this tour was avoiding the crowds you'd typically encounter on big group bus tours. TK shared interesting stories and background information about the traditional gassho-zukuri houses, which made the experience even more meaningful. My husband is an avid photography enthusiast, and TK took the time to point out the best photo spots and lighting angles. For lunch, he brought us to a small local soba shop—simple, delicious, and authentic. TK’s photography was fantastic. He captured beautiful moments with stunning scenery in the background—far better than anything I could have managed with selfies. We now have keepsake photos that really reflect the magic of the place. TK also offers flexible options if you want to be picked up from Kanazawa and dropped off in a different nearby town, which is great if you're planning to explore the region more extensively. After this experience, I’m already thinking of coming back with my kids to take family portraits in this beautiful part of Japan. Truly a memorable and worthwhile tour!

  • Perfect Experience

    185ravic,,May 5, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    We had an absolutely wonderful experience on our family photography tour of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Our photographer TK was not only incredibly talented-capturing stunning images of our family in these picturesque UNESCO World Heritage villages-but also deeply knowledgeable about the history and culture of each location, which made the day even more memorable. Traveling with an 18-month-old can be challenging, but TK went above and beyond to accommodate our needs, making sure we felt comfortable throughout the day. He was patient, flexible with our requests, and even helped us with some simple poses, ensuring we got the best possible photos while keeping things relaxed and fun for our little one. The private vehicle was spacious and comfortable, making the journey between locations smooth and enjoyable. We appreciated the thoughtful touches, like the child seat provided and the attention to our comfort during the drive. Overall, we highly recommend this tour for families or anyone looking to capture beautiful memories in Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. The combination of expert photography, local insight, and warm hospitality made this an unforgettable highlight of our trip!

  • Memorable day in quaint old style Gassho Zukuri homes in Japan Alps

    RobinRick,,Apr 16, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    Visited magnificent, old gassho zukuri houses in the Japanese Alps near Takayama with professional photographer, TK Kurakawa. Photos quite spectacular and the day stands out for us during our month long journey to Japan. First rate!

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  • Great family day trip

    Freedom04974744530,,Jan 31, 2025

    - Review from Tripadvisor

    5.00

    This tour was very nice. Takatoshi-san is friendly, the car is comfortable - the carseat provided for my son was a very handy, included option. The photos came out great as well!

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From ¥33,500

4.96
(52 reviews)