This guided tour will bring guests to one/some of traditional destinations in Hokuriku and Hida region which cover the traditional streets, old government office building in Takayama and UNESCO's gassho-zukuri (A-shaped) houses in Shirakawago/Gokayama. The whole tour can be flexibly arranged based on guests' preferences and requests on either one way and round trip between Kanazawa and Takayama.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Guest's hotel in Kanazawa / Takayama
- The guide will pick up the guests by private car.
Shirakawago
The guided tour strolling around the largest UNESCO's village called "Ogimachi" in Shirakawago. The tour can optionally stop over Shiroyama Observatory Deck / Wada-ke Traditional House / Myozen-ji Temple.
Gokayama
The guided tour will bring you some highlights in Gokayama area including Sunanuma village (UNESCO's smallest village), Ainokura village (UNESCO's medium-sized village) and Iwase-ke Traditional House. The tour can optionally add Gokayama Washi no Sato to try experience the workshop of either washi-paper making or soba making.
Takayama
The guided tour strolling around the old town deep in the mountains in Hida region. The tour can stop over Miyagawa Morning Market / Takayama Festival Float Museum / Takayama Jinya (Old government office of Tokugawa Shogunate)
Ending Point
Guest's hotel in Kanazawa / Takayama
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
- Guide service fee
- Private car and other relevant costs: 30,000JPY (1-3 pax), 34,000 (4-6 pax)
- Admission fees
Takayama Jinya: 440JPY
Takayama Festival Float Musem: 1,000JPY
Wada-ke Traditional House: 400JPY
Shuttle bus to Shiroyama Observatory Deck: 300JPY
* Guest is supposed to pay private car fee (pre-calculated actual cost for the drive) by cash when meeting with guide.
* As all destinations proposed here are severely cold in winter, it is advisable to be dressed warmly.
* The local dishes here largely contain wheat / buckwheat noodles, beef, miso paste, soy sauce. Please mention your food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
* This tour contains 4-hour drive back and forth between Kanazawa and Takayama. Therefore, it can spare only 2 hours at maximum for each places. If you would like to focus on or spend more time in one specific place, it would become difficult to visit the other in time.
Hello, I'm Yuichi, an English tour guide in Hokuriku region.
If you are thinking about traveling to historical places
such as Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go and Takayama, I am willing to offer a tour.
I can bring you to those popular destinations
from my base, Toyama city.
These are the examples of my tour:
Kanazawa - Shirakawago - Takayama
Takaoka - Gokayama - Shirakawago - Takayama
Toyama - Tateyama Kurobe Alipne Route - Omachi (Nagano Pref.)
During the tour I like to provide simple explanations about Japanese history,
and small tips for using the Japanese language on your request.
My interests are food, cooking, sake and wine
as well as Japanese novels and movies.
It would be possible to add those tastes to our tour
including a visit to local wineries, movie scenes, etc...
Finally, I will do my best to give you a pleasant stay.
Looking forward to seeing you in Hokuriku!
Ana margarida S.
“Yuichi is the best! Highly recommended”
YUICHI IS AMAZING, VERY KIND AND POLITE, VERY COMMUNICATIVE, SPEAKS MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND HIS ENGLISH IS BRILLIANT. YUICHI SHARED SO MUCH OF JAPANESE CULTURE WITH US, DROVE THROUGH BEAUTIFUL PLACES WITH VERY SCENIC VIEWS. HE IS SO KNOWLEDGEABLE AND CLEVER, GAVE US A FULL EXPLANATION ABOUT SHIRAKAWA GO TRADITIONAL HOUSES AND ALSO TOOK US TO TAKAYAMA WICH IS EQUALY STUNNING. TOOK US TO AN IMPERIAL RYOKAN TEMPLE WICH WAS STUNNING. TALKED ABOUT HIS PASSION FOR TRAVELLING, GAVE US RESTAURANTS RECOMMENDATIONS, TALKED ABOUT THE PREVIOUS POLITICS DITACTURE AND THE NEW DEMOCRACY REGIME WHICH GAVE THEM A LOT OF FREEDOM. GAVE ME AN EXPLANATION ABOUT GEISHAS LIFE AND THEIR RULES. WE LEARNED SO MUCH. YUICHI IS FRIENDLY AND OPEN MINDED, ALSO EXPLAINED US ABOUT THE EXISTANCE OF SOME JAPANESE CULTS. WE HAD SO MUCH FUN... VERY EASY TALKING AND FUN. THANS A LOT, CAN NOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. YOU ARE AN AMAZING PERSON AND VERY PROFESSIONAL AND PUNCTUAL.
Yuichi W.
Hi Ana, I don't know how to thank you for such a warmest comment! Absolutely, it was a great honor for me to guide such a wonderful people as Sergio and you. In particular, I cannot help showing my respect to Sergio who made a fantastic decision in the middle of your journey. Besides, it was also fun for me to talk with you, two. On our way to each destination, I think I could provide you with recent interesting topics about Japan's society. Although I think I have to brush up my English, I'm so motivated by receiving such a warmest comment here from you. Please keep in touch. I'm looking forward to seeing you again in Toyama Pref. or somewhere in Europe!
Irene G.
“An experience to remember”
Yuichi was a very good guide who tailored our tour to what we want to see and exper. The tea ceremony was something we added and he facilitated where we could get tickets and also able to navigate everything for us and explained to us what each place signifies. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a good guide in Kanasawa.
Yuichi W.
Hi Irene, so nice to hear from you. I'm so delighted to hear you enjoyed the whole course of our trip. I was also able to have a good time in Kanazawa with such a nice family group like you. I wish we could more leisurely travel around Kanazawa and Toyama Pref., if you would come next time!
Angela H.
“History comes to life ”
Yuichi was a personable and knowledgeable guide. He brought the history and culture alive.
Yuichi W.
Hello Angela. Thank you so much for sharing the history tour with me on March 14th. It was also fun talking with Peter about the politics of Japan and Australia when we were driving. I know you two are veteran Japan traveler but please remember there are more and more to offer in Japan's rural areas including Toyama Prefecture :)
$224/ per group