Private Tour

Private Tour of Shirakawago from Kanazawa (Half Day)

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours

Mobile ticket

Explore the world heritage hamlet of Shirakawa-go on our 4-hour package tour with access to a private vehicle exclusively for you and your fellow travelers. Our English-speaking driver will take you to the World UNESCO site of Shirakawa-go.

We collect you from your hotel lobby and whisk you off to the UNESCO village of Shirakawago. Our morning or afternoon driving tours are designed for those looking for convenient access to this beautiful but remote mountain village

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Specialized infant seats are available

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

Shirakawago

Our English speaking driver will take you directly to the hamlet of Shirakawago. The UNESCO village of Shirakawa-go is nestled in the Japanese alps. You will spend 1 and half hours here, exploring the town and taking in lunch. Crossing the spectacular pedestrian bridge across the Sho river, your senses will be filled with the sounds and smells of authentic rural life. This fairy-tale village is bound to inspire you as one of Japans most picturesque sites.

2 hours • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Private transportation

English Speaking Driver

All Fees and Taxes

Private Car

Lunch

Dinner

Breakfast

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

1~9 People

Vehicles for your group size: 1-3 people ... Spacious Sedan class, 4-6 people ... Luxurious Alphard class, 7-9 people ... Comfortable Minibus/Hiace class
Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

23 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Nice half day trip
Lori R,,Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Nice and quaint village is a great place to visit. I can see why it’s a UNESCO site. Easy pick up and drop off.
We had the Best...
Vikram G,,Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We had the Best experience. Ian was not only a good driver but also a good guide with thorough knowledge. He made our journey very comfortable through out.
Shirakawago with Ian
nicholasfI2862VK,,Aug 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Ian took us on a private tour of Shirakawago. He made it special for us with lots of interesting facts and information. Highly recommended! Nick
Absolutely recommend!
leighcecilia,,Aug 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This was such a great tour - we learned a ton from Ian, who was friendly and open to all of our questions, and Shirakawago was delightful. This touring company was very intentional about planning our visit to get there before the larger crowds arrived, and thank God they did because there was a line of cars two miles long waiting to get there by the time we left. The village is adorable with a really interesting history, and we learned a lot about what it means to be a UNESCO Heritage designated site. My only suggestion for improvement would be to allow an hour more so that we didn’t have to choose between the actual walking tour and sitting down to enjoy a real lunch in the village. There’s a restaurant there that my friend highly recommended called 合掌茶屋孫右エ門 that we did not have time to visit. Overall, however, such an enjoyable morning. Thanks to Ian!
Fabulous tour of this Village!
Elisa D,,Jul 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Ian from Kanazawa Tours was fabulous! I enjoyed walking with him and learning about Shirakawaga. He was incredibly knowledgeable, kind and lovely to have as my introduction to the historical village! You must go. I hope you get him for a guide!
Worth the money!
Shawna R,,Jun 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Tetsuro was an amazing guide who explained Shirakawa-go and the Ghasso-zakuri houses. We were able to even see workers repairing a thatch roof. We really enjoyed our tour. After he dropped us off at the train station I realized that I had left my purse in the van. Tetsuro was so kind to return it quickly. I hope all our future tours are as pleasant and informative as this one.
A beautiful town with fantastic guides
Kimcarp,,May 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We have been on a lot of guided tours and would have to say this was one of our favourites. Our guides, Yasushi (Yeah Sushi) and Aiko were absolutely fantastic. They gave us a great introduction to Shirakawago as we drove from Kanazawa, which allowed us to understand what the town was known for, where to go and what to do. It can be a bit crowded, so was nice not to have to fight through the "mosh pits", and have to deal with the other tour's "scrums". We could really enjoy at our own pace. The town is beautiful and lots to see, and taste!! Definitely recommended.
Long but beautiful drive...
Nickolas M,,Apr 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Long but beautiful drive through the mountains. We went in April so there was lots of snow on the ground. There's an overlook that's about a 20 minute uphill walk or you can take a shuttle bus in town to get up there. Practically no trash cans in the town so be prepared to carry any trash you make with you until you arrive back in Kanazawa. Overall a very relaxing, unique experience!
Shirakawa - wow!
victortY8973TH,,Mar 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a great trip to Shirakawago. Our guide Tetsuro picked us up at our hotel. We had a quiet drive out. As the ladies slept, Tetsuro told me a bit about the region and Japan. The name means village by the white river, it takes a month of courses to get your driver's license in Japan, interesting tidbits like that. We were fortunate it was a sunny day and Tetsuro remarked that he had never seen the parking lot so empty. His quiet demeanor and knowledge really made our trip memorable. Would definitely recommend this trip with Tetsuro.
It’s a UNESCO site, you’ll probably only visit it once, make it worth your while and get a guide
Vacationer815569,,Jan 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A half day trip of Shirakawago was the perfect amount of time for our family. It was definitely made better having Tetsuro to get us there, guide us around and share interesting facts about, not only Shirakawago but also Kanazawa, that we would not have known if not for him. All in all a great day out, finished off with a delicious, authentic lunch of soba noodles.