1-Day Takayama Tour: Discover Traditional Japan in Takayama and Shirakawago

Embark on a 1-day tour of Takayama and Shirakawago, where you can explore their charming streets and get a glimpse into traditional Japanese village life. Led by a knowledgeable guide, this cultural experience is a must-visit in central Japan.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 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…
What's Included
  • English speaking guide
  • Entrance to the Takayama Jinya
  • Transportation between all destinations
  • Guided walks at both Takayama and Shirakawa-go
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Nestled deep within the heart of Japan’s central mountains, away from the constant activity of urban centers like Tokyo and Osaka, you’ll discover the charming and impeccably preserved towns of Takayama and Shirakawa-go. Takayama, a former land gifted to the Shogun, mesmerizes with its exquisite woodcrafts and traditional alleyways that ooze a…

Location
Takayama Station
The meetup point is outside of the ticket gates at JR Takayama Station. Once you have left the gates, look to your left to see a walkway and a carving depicting an ornate wagon. You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Please look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tag
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(98 Ratings)
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407patricko
Sep 30, 2025
Fantastic Day in Takayama & Shirakawago with Yogi - We booked the 1-Day Takayama Tour: Explore Scenic Takayama and Shirakawago and had an amazing time. We were lucky to be the only ones on the tour, which made it feel really personal. Our guide, Yogi, was fantastic – his English was excellent, he was very knowledgeable, and his enthusiasm for the places we visited made the day even more enjoyable. The itinerary was well paced, and both Takayama and Shirakawago were stunning. Highly recommend this tour, especially with Yogi as your guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Annette
Sep 30, 2025
Great day trip - We had a fantastic day with Yogi. He was extremely knowledgeable about Japanese history and the historic sites of old Takayama and Shirakawago. This is a great tour if you are short on time and want to get an insight into Japanese culture in the alps. Thoroughly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennifersm7129vc
Sep 16, 2025
It’s nice to do a private tour where someone can ask questions and learn the history with great views! - We had a very nice trip! There was lots of information provided by a guide who spoke very well. We also had many options to try some good street food and had good recommendations for restaurants. We went with our two children and it was great. The bus we had was roomy with lots of space for the stroller. They even had a car seat for my 1 year old baby
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C8976aqgabrielm
Sep 16, 2025
Great, worth it - good pace. good tournof takayama and shirakawa-go. guide was friendly and knowledgeable. patient with our slow pace with kids
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Bethany
Sep 5, 2025
Amazing cultural and historical exploration through the streets of Takayama and Shirakawa-mura - We started at the Edo period government building with our excellent guide, Hemi. He did a phenomenal job weaving the historical, cultural, and architectural aspects and making it engaging. The tour from the streets of the Sanmachi Suji district of Takayama to the pathways of the Shirakawa-mura was breathtakingly stunning. We also had many opportunities to try local cuisine, shop, and take beautiful photos along the way. Highly Recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Debbie_h
Sep 2, 2025
It was very informative... - It was very informative and magical. The scenery is gorgeous, even better than the pictures. Yoshi was a fantastic guide and would thoroughly recommend anyone to go on this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Gabec458
Aug 16, 2025
10/10 experience! - Had such a fun time! Our tour guide was super helpful and knew a lot about the area, very interesting stuff! Our group was just me and my wife so basically private which was awesome! Super pretty scenery, definitely a highlight of our trip! The driver took us right back to our hotel and then actually drove us to the train station since we were leaving takayama immediately.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Arturo
Jul 16, 2025
Full tour very well taken advantage of. - I recommend this tour. The Yuko guide very professional. Very good transport. Perfect day in Sirakagawago and Takayama in full.
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Diegohf1665nb
Jul 12, 2025
Good photos and Interesting Facts - The views were amaizong and the tour guide, Yoshi, vas very kind and share a lot of interesting data of Takayama and Shirakawago
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Juditv682
Jul 2, 2025
Amazing day with Yogi - We had a perfect day exploring Takayama and Shirakawago thanks to our amazing guide, Yogi. He helped us with everything throughout the day — from navigating the area to sharing local history and culture in a way that was fun and easy to understand. His kindness, knowledge, and attention to detail made the experience truly special. Thank you so much, Yogi!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $179
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).