Things to do in Takayama

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.

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.

Tour was amazing, our guide Kana was super friendly and provided all the info in advance while on the way, so when you arrive you already know what to prioritize and have a map to go around easily. tour starts early but then, when you arrive, is not that crowded which is nice. Better to follow her recommendation and go to the observatory first, when I went after arrival was almost empty but one hour later it was super full and it continued like that the rest of the day. Lunch was great and nice opportunity to try a traditional lunch. Both places were honestly breathtaking and we were super lucky to have a super sunny day. Bus was also great and it honestly felt nice to not have to check 10 times the public info for transport to make sure I was going in the right direction :) . Overall I think the experience is definitely worth it if you are in the area!

It’s our first international trip and we don’t regret availing this tour package as we really enjoyed the places we’ve been to. Maxwell is very patient as he needs to speak two languages (korean english). He’s very accommodating and friendly. Very knowledgeable about the history of each places. The travel was very smooth and safe. We really appreciate his effort for dropping us by a shoe shop after the tour. Will definetly look for him again when we come back to explore more places in Japan.

Since these locations are over two hours from Nagoya by car, it is definitely worth joining a local tour. The guide was excellent—responsible, well-organized, and provided plenty of free time, which was more than enough for the visit. I loved the first stop the most, it is well worth the trip. The 'Silver Clock' meeting point is very easy to find, and the maps and suggestions provided by the guide were detailed and easy to follow. They also set up WhatsApp and WeChat groups to ensure seamless communication throughout the day.

I highly recommend using the hotel transfer service, especially when traveling with elderly family members and children. The service provider was very thoughtful in asking about our needs and offered direct pick-up and drop-off at the hotel entrance. Because we had a stroller, they even upgraded our vehicle. Our driver, Mr. Lin, was also very friendly, and his driving skills were excellent and safe. The entire trip to our destination took about two hours, which was just right for us to enjoy some free time before meeting back at the drop-off point for our return. Overall, I highly recommend this service.

Booking online has the advantage of not having to queue up to pay at the machine. I just showed the eVoucher to station master and with a few clicks two physical tickets were issued to me and I was good to use the tickets to board the cable car. What a marvellous view from the top of Shinhotaka Ropeway. Great stuff!