In a small pond called 'Monet's Pond', many fancy Japanese carps 'KOI' are swimming through water-lilies and algae to make you feel relaxed. After having Unagi‒lunch at Seki and visiting the Traditional Swordsmith Museum, you move to Mino where you stroll around well-preserved traditional housing streets visiting old Washi merchant houses, paper museums and souvenir shops.
At JR Gifu station or at JR Nagoya station
Monet's Pond is located in a small village in mountains. Many beautiful colored Japanese carps 'Koi' are swimming through waterlilies and algae. It just looks like one of Monet's paintings which makes you so relaxing and feel comfortable and happy.
you have a lunch break eating delicious Japanese dish of 'Unagi' (eel) and visit the Seki Traditional Swordsmith Museum and Gifu Cutlery Hall. You will learn why this small town has developed as one of the most famous three towns for manufacturing knives in the world.
you visit Mino, a hometown of traditional hand‒made paper ’Washi’. You will stroll around the important Traditional Preserved Buildings Area dropping by some museums and shops.
At JR Gifu Station
guide fee and hotel pick-up
transportation fee about 6000yen/person for both guests and guide, lunch fee 3500yen/person for guests and guide, entrance fee 800yen/person for guests
1) Monet's Pond is located in the deep mountains and the condition of transparency is influenced by the weather since the previous day. Therefore, depending on the comprehensive situation, the destinations might be changed.
I can guide in Kyoto in case you support transportation fee.
“Very enjoyable visit to Shirakawago”
Tetsuji was very professional and we had a great time!
Richard Z.
Monet's Pond, Knife‒city Seki & Washi‒hometown Mino
“Detailed plan with flexibility, strong local knowledge”
Due to the bad weather, Tetsuji offered alternative to Monet's pond with Inuyama Castle. The change worked out well. The eel lunch in Seki was very good again. Perfect recommendation that only local knows. The old town of Mino and washi paper arts are memorable. Seki was the town for sword making. Traveling 3 cities with local trains within one day needs detail local knowledge. Tetsuji worked out detail plan, also with flexibility due to the weather change. I would recommend Tetsuji for non Japanese speakers want to visit local towns. That will make the trip much easier.
Tetsuji Y.
(33 reviews)Thank you for a superb review full of praise of my job. Now, I have got emotional with so much detailed nice words for me. I feel extremely honored to have worked as a guide for a lovely intelligent couple for two days in a row. I enjoyed myself not only guiding but also talking with you and Jane. I really hope you visit Japan and chat with me again. Please give my best regard to Jane.
“Well planned tour with many details”
Tetsuji guided us to Shirakawa-go. The tour was great. Starting from Gifu with train ride to Takayam, the train ride is a tour itself. The view was so beautiful that making the train ride was enjoyable. Right after arrived Shirakawa-go, Tetsuji put our name for a very good restaurant that serves hida beef. The lunch was perfect. Tetsuji was very detail person. Every detail is planned. All the activities that Tetsuji planned have their meanings, which we can feel it. And, Tetsuji took so many pictures of us. I believe those pictures will help us to reminding us about this trip. I would recommend Tetsuji to anyone that come to Shirakawa-go for the first time.
Tetsuji Y.
(33 reviews)Thank you for a superb review full of praise of my job. Now, I have got emotional with so much detailed nice words for me. I feel extremely honored to have worked as a guide for a lovely intelligent couple for two days in a row. I enjoyed myself not only guiding but also talking with you and Jane. I really hope you visit Japan and chat with me again. Please give my best regard to Jane.