Shirakawa-go and Gokayama: Traditional Japanese Villages

Explore Shirakawa-go, Gokayama, and Inami’s woodcarving on a day tour from Kanazawa. Experience traditional crafts, historic homes, and UNESCO sites.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Inami - Arrive at Inami to explore the main street full of wood carvers and their interesting creations throughout the townscape. This will be followed by a walk around Zuizenji Temple to see the place where all the wood carving starting.
  • Gokayama - Arrive at the first stop in Gokayama, the Ainokura Village, where you have a short amount of…
What's Included
  • Guided Tour at the Wood Craft Town Inami and Shirakawa-go UNESCO site
  • English speaking guide
  • Entry fee at Zuisenji Temple
  • Japanese Paper-Making Experience Fee
  • Transportation to and from Shirakawa-go and all other destinations
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
Additional Information

Deep in the mountains of Japan lies the quaint villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, with their beautifully preserved gassho-style houses. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites, some of the buildings are over 250 years old, gives a glimpse into the ways of Japanese traditional farming communities. On the way from Kanazawa to those stunning sites, there are…

Location
Kanazawa Station
The meeting point is outside of the Shinkansen Ticket Gates, across the concourse and in front of the information center. Look for a four large sumo wrestlers under the information center sign. Be sure to look for our guide wearing the SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tag.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(53 Ratings)
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Kathryn
Jul 11, 2025
Experienced quality time with our guide,driver and fellow travellers. We had a fabulous day out with Daniel. - We experienced a fabulous day out with Daniel,our driver and fellow travellers. We were lucky enough to have a small group, so there were many opportunities to chat and learn about past and present Japenese culture. Our guide was generous with both his time and kindness to make our day trip truly memorable. Thanks from Kathryn and Karen
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Paulcn6598kw
Jul 8, 2025
10/10! - Amazing experience that I'd recommend to anyone wanting to be amazed with the countryside of Japan! The tour guides were great and made for a great learning experience.
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140staceym
Jul 7, 2025
Amazing experience with knowledgeable guide - Mike was very friendly and knowledgeable. He answered all of our questions and had a clear and organised plan for the day. We had a fantastic day and everything was clearly explained. There was a great balance of tour information and free time. We would recommend this trip to everyone.
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Jasondv6780ue
Jul 7, 2025
Ask for the Only Scot in Kanazawa - The entire experience was amazing. Our Guide, Mike, was really personable and took a genuine interest in each person on the tour. He answered all questions with detailed information, gave some great tips, and was a willing photographer for the group. It was a marvelous day and everything went smoothly. Would book again in a heartbeat.
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Viranajan
Jul 4, 2025
Fastest trip to Shirakawa-go, Ainokura, and Inami city Samurai Edo period - This was an absolutely fantastic trip. Both my daughter and I had an amazing time. Our guide Mike was an absolute gem of a person. He is extremely knowledgeable and friendly to hang out with. We visited the wood carving village of Inari city with cute little cats and a majestic Buddhist temple. Thereafter, we went to Ainokura Zukuri village with its UNESCO heritage huts, pristine landscape, lush green rice fields, vegetable gardens, paper-making experience, and delicious tempura lunch. We then topped it off with a visit to Shirakawa-go village with amazingly beautiful flower garden, gorgeously lush rice fields, UNESCO heritage homes, and delicious ice-cream. If you are in Kanazawa, you must take this tour as it is a lifetime exoerience. You will have gone back in time to the Samurai Edo period and you want the time to be frozen!!!!
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Nicolasmf7246qr
Jun 17, 2025
Visit to traditional Japanese cities - A very nice walk, good explanations and anecdotes. We take the time to observe things. Activities for making super nice paper to do. Very good guide, to do absolutely
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170kh
Jun 10, 2025
Must do day trip from Kanazawa - It was an all day trip but well worth the time and was an unforgettable trip. Mohamed was the tour guide and he was very knowledgeable and accommodating. I think the selections of places to visit on this package was perfect and highlighted the region's beauty and uniqueness. Each stop focused on the town's specialty and felt we had enough time for each place. I personally liked Inami and Gokayama which were smaller and more intimate than Shirakawa-go.
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Ying
Jun 9, 2025
An unforgettable day! - We had a great experience on this tour. Our guide, Mohammad, was knowledgeable and courteous. Besides exploring the UNESCO villages, visiting the wood carving historical area, and participating in paper making were truly memorable. Highly recommended.
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Markcosav
Jun 4, 2025
UNESCO Gems and Hands-On Tradition in Japan - We had a truly memorable experience visiting Inami and Gokayama. As someone who loves UNESCO sites, exploring these beautifully preserved towns was a real highlight. The paper-making activity was not only fun but also gave us an authentic cultural insight that made the visit even more special. Our guide, Daniel, was incredibly professional and knowledgeable. He was always polite, caring, and made sure we felt comfortable throughout the day. Nagata-san, our driver, was also so kind and attentive, making the journey between places smooth and enjoyable. The entire tour was very well organized from start to finish. This experience is suitable for a wide range of travelers — families with kids, solo adventurers, and couples alike will all find something to love. Highly recommended!
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Logansx3248vj
Jun 1, 2025
Great time in Kanazawa - Loved the views. Even in the rain; my group was able to get some great photos. Mike was a great guide; he was knowledgeable about the various places visited.
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From $208
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).