Nagoya Day trips

On the day of our departure from Nagoya, we were very worried about the weather due to news of a typhoon. However, the tour proceeded as planned, and fortunately, when we arrived in Hida Takayama and Shirakawa-go, it wasn't raining, allowing us to truly enjoy our trip. I extend my sincere gratitude to our guide, Lim Ho, who kindly provided tour information in both Korean and Chinese during this tour with my husband. He meticulously shared not only the historical background of the region but also hidden culinary gems and must-try foods, which enriched our tour experience even further. The Hida beef sushi and sake coin tasting we enjoyed, thanks to our guide, were absolutely superb! Although the wait was a bit long, the soba noodles we had at a Michelin-starred restaurant, and the ice cream and soy sauce dango we savored for dessert... it made me understand why this tour is a must-do when visiting Nagoya. Shirakawa-go's Gassho-zukuri village in June was incredibly lush and green, making every photo look beautiful. Usually, when my husband and I travel, we only have individual photos because we're busy taking pictures of each other. However, thanks to Guide Lim Ho, who took wonderful commemorative photos for us, we were able to capture precious couple photos and create great memories together. It was a perfect tour, making our weather worries seem unfounded. Thank you once again!

Our guide, Tao, was very patient and has been deeply involved with Japan for 20 years, so he has a great understanding of Japanese culture. My navigation was a bit off, but Tao patiently guided me to the parking lot. The parking lot was on a slope, and my navigation led me behind it, making me think there was no road.😅 Sorry for the trouble! It rained on the way there and back today, but luckily the weather was clear and sunny during our sightseeing.☀️ We arrived in Takayama at 10:30 AM. Takayama Old Town has many interesting small shops. We passed by Takayama Betsuin and also visited Takayama Jinya, the only existing county magistrate's office in Japan. Around 1:00 PM, we had a Hida beef set meal for lunch. At 1:55 PM, we arrived at Shirakawa-go Gassho Village. The village architecture, with its thatched-roof wooden houses, was truly impressive. We departed at 3:25 PM for Nagoya. The itinerary was excellent and saved us the hassle of traveling on our own.

Saw a TikTok about this place and became super hyperfixated that I NEEDED to go here no matter what. Taking this tour was a great choice as it allowed for an easy transfer to and from Kamikochi. The first stop at Taisho Ike Pond was breathtaking which got me excited for the rest of the walk. the greenery of the forest in mid June was a sight to behold along with the Japanese Apls in the distance. The trial was not super crowded until you reached Kappa Bridge. There is also an additional trail to Myojin Bridge and Myojin First Pond but only if you have an additional 2 hours to spare. I was taking my time on the first trail that couldn’t make it to the second but I would definitely come back to do it!!

◎ The timing was excellent; we not only explored three areas of Ghibli Park but also visited Japan's renowned Toyota Museum. The itinerary was very fulfilling. ◎ The round-trip bus saved us a lot of time we would have spent on transfers. The bus was quite comfortable, and I even fell asleep on the way back. ◎ Our tour guide was a very interesting Japanese gentleman, I believe his name was "Ushida Yasuhiro." On the way there, he patiently introduced the itinerary, counted heads, and kept the atmosphere lively. On the way back, seeing that everyone was tired, he started singing for us and even handed out song sheets (Ponyo's theme song, which Fan Xiaoxuan covered as "Doudoulong"). The trip was quite enjoyable. ◎ Ghibli Park is definitely worth a visit; it's Miyazaki's world everywhere you look. I spent a long time taking photos in the Ghibli's Grand Warehouse. At Mononoke Village, I didn't have the patience to wait in long lines, so I only spent about an hour there and rode the carousel 🎠. There were many tourists from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, and they were all quite enthusiastic and willing to help take photos, which was very nice. ◎ Afterwards, we went to the Toyota Museum and saw many cars, souvenirs, and cultural exhibits. It was excellent.

Kamikochi, known as "God's Homeland," truly is the most beautiful hiking destination. Walking along the Azusa River trail, nestled beneath the Hotaka mountain range, is incredibly refreshing. The breathtaking scenery, where the clear stream intertwines with the Hotaka peaks, is stunning and truly uplifting. Our tour guide, Yukino, was exceptionally dedicated on this trip. She meticulously prepared all the information, including introductions to attractions, suggested routes, and food recommendations, providing comprehensive details to all participants. She also catered to both Chinese and English-speaking guests, proving to be an incredibly diligent and responsible leader. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this tour. Nancy is super knowledgeable and shared a lot of interesting information. It was possible to leave stuff in the bus at different stops, which made the sightseeing much more relaxing.

Shirakawa-go and Takayama Tour is one of the best tours you can get in Nagoya. The tour consists of going to Takayama with some guided excursions. The orientation while inside the bus with the maps provided by the guide was enough for us to be well-guided with the best places to go in Takayama and Shirakawa-go. This tour provided observation deck access, which allowed us to take pictures and buy souvenirs. The tour in Takayama is one of the best tours we had since we were able to roam freely. In Shirakawa-go, we were also able to roam freely.

Cici was a great guide, she was fluent in 3 languages, she gave us freedom to follow her around or to explore by ourselves. Felt a bit rushed in gujo hachiman, but the rest felt we had much much spare time to explore. Going with a tour like these is way cheaper than going by yourself.

The meeting point was easy to find, and the departure was on time. Even though it was rainy and cloudy on the day we went, we were able to comfortably walk the 3.5 km without getting tired. Our guide, Yamada, provided detailed explanations in both English and Japanese. We made three stops at rest areas, and we arrived back in Nagoya on time, around 7 PM.