Nestled in Central Japan's mountains, Takayama boasts a beautifully preserved Edo Period (1603-1868) historical center, known as the ‘Sannomachi’. This charming old town, once a thriving merchant hub, showcases skilled craftsmanship in its Edo Period buildings. Visitors can wander its narrow streets lined with black-fronted buildings housing museums, galleries, sake breweries, and craft shops, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking Japan's rich history and traditional charm.
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel
- I will pick you up at your hotel in Kanazawa city.
Arrive at / Walk in Takayama
We will spend 3 hours including lunch.
We visit Jinya, Old street, Sake brewery, and Onoya soy sauce shop
Lunch break
Please let me know if you have any allergies, dietary restrictions, or food preference with your budget.
Hida Furukawa
Hida Furukawa: A Timeless Castle Town
Hida Furukawa is a picturesque castle town known for its white-walled storehouses and traditional wooden townhouses. Along the Seto River, the Shirakabe Dozogai Street offers a serene view of colorful koi fish swimming in crystal-clear waters. Renowned for its master craftsmanship, the town preserves its rich woodworking heritage. Every year on April 19-20, the vibrant Furukawa Festival captivates visitors with its powerful Okoshi Daiko drumming and elegant festival floats. With its peaceful atmosphere and deep cultural heritage, Hida Furukawa is a hidden gem where history and tradition come to life.
Depart for Kanazawa
Ending Point
Arrive at Kanazawa and drop you off at your hotel
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
The guiding fee, pickup and drop off at your hotel,
Entrance fee for both participants and the guide
Hida Furukawa Festival Hall 700 yen per person
Lunch for both participants and the guide.
Sake brewery visit 4,000yen per person
Car with your private driver (=guide), gas, highway tolls, and parking fees. 35,000yen (up to 3 people are preferrable)
Car type: Toyota Crown
The car fee would be paid to me by cash directly when we meet.
If you are more than 3 people, please feel free to ask the price of mini van (up to 6 people)
The tour duration would be 9 hours, starting from Kanazawa and ending at Kanazawa. I will be the guide but also your private driver.
Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies, other dietary restrictions or food preferences.
This tour includes the guiding fee, pickup and drop off, a private car with driver, gas, highway tolls, and parking fees.
This tour excludes lunch and entrance fee for both participants and the guide.
This tour doesn't take you to Shirakawago but it is negotiable to go to both Takayama and Shirakawago in this tour. The total cost would be changed. Please contact me if you are interested in visiting both sites.
Thank you,
Hello,
I'm Yoji, based in Kanazawa.
I spent my formative years in Kanazawa and pursued my master's degree in the United States. Having lived in Washington D.C. and California for six years, I then resided and worked in China and various Southeast Asian countries. My passion lies in exploring new destinations and connecting with people worldwide. Now, it's my turn to extend the same hospitality I've received to you. I specialize in crafting personalized tours tailored to your interests and preferences. If you're a food enthusiast, you've come to the right place. For those seeking to delve into Japan's rich history and culture, I highly recommend joining my full-day tour in Kanazawa. Additionally, I offer tours to Shirakawago and Takayama. Let's embark on an unforgettable journey together.
Michele M.
“Personalized and Unforgettable day trip from Tokyo”
We had a fantastic day trip to Kanazawa from Tokyo with Yoji. He tailored the tour to fit the time we had there. He picked us up by car, which made getting around Kanazawa so much easier given the limited time we had. Yoji speaks fluent English, which made communication easy, and his laid-back personality made the experience relaxing and thoroughly enjoyable. He was incredibly accommodating—my husband wanted to photograph the backstreets, and Yoji took us to some amazing hidden spots. He even went out of his way to spend extra time with us and helped us rebook our Shinkansen tickets back to Tokyo. Kanazawa is well worth the trip, and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Japan. We did several private day tours during our stay, and our tour with Yoji was one of our favorites. If we’d had more time in Japan, we would have loved to book another tour with him to explore the surrounding areas that are only accessible by car. Side note: If you have the time, stop by the quaint shaved ice shop Yeti—the shaved ice was absolutely delicious! Thank you, Yoji!
Yoji K.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a wonderful comment for my review. I actually had a great time too and found myself wishing we had one more day together. Out of all the cities you could have chosen for your limited travel time, I’m truly grateful you picked Kanazawa—and that you chose me as your guide. The shaved ice shop was a great find! I’d love to try it myself next time, and with the weather getting warmer, I’m definitely planning to take more guests there. I hope this trip becomes a lasting and memorable experience for you. Again, thank you very much for giving me such a great time with you. Best regards, Yoji
Debbie C.
“Awesome Guide!”
Having Yoji as our guide in Kanazawa was the best decision we made on this trip! My family and I was a group of 6 and were fortunate enough to have Yoji show us around the city. He was so accommodating, patient, caring, and informative. Originally the tour was a walking tour but we requested a private car and Yoji made it happen. We were able to fit in all the destinations we wanted to see and although it was a packed day, we did not feel rushed at all. Coming into Kanazawa, we did not have have much expectations and Yoji made this trip memorable. He walked with us to each site, gave us the history and info about each place, but also never once rushed us. He ate with us, he made reservations for dinner for us, gave us recommendations, I can go on and on. He understood what my family liked and did his best to accommodate us. He even found a local sushi restaurant to accommodate our group because we wanted a sit-down place to eat. At the market, we tried the fresh scallops -- it was soooooo delicious. He even bought us some fried puffer fish to try and paid it out of his own pocket. These were items we would have never tried had it not been for his suggestion. My 5 star review is just another of the same because how can anyone give him anything less? He is simply the best. Yoji, thank you so much for taking the time to show my family and I around your city. Thank you also for your kindness in helping us around the train station! We wish you and your family the best in your next endeavors!
Yoji K.
Debbie san, Thank you so much for such a kind and heartfelt review. It truly means a lot to me. I had a wonderful time as well and genuinely enjoyed every moment we shared. First of all, thank you for taking the time to visit Kanazawa, and for choosing me as your guide. Just reading your comments fills me with gratitude and reminds me how rewarding this job can be. If the tour became even a small part of your memorable experience, that makes me incredibly happy. Thank you again for giving me such a precious opportunity. Kind regards, Yoji
Suzanne C.
“Wonderful day with Yoji”
We had a wonderful day with Yoji in Kanazawa. he was a great guide and we all learned a lot. On top of being a fabulous guide, he was very helpful in assisting some of our group navigate Japan. I will contact him again for further group tours.
Yoji K.
Thank you very much for such a great review on my tour. I had a great time with you. I hope all of you enjoyed the day with me and the rest of your stay in Japan including Awaji. I hope to see you again!
$478/ per group