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Shirakawago local guide tour
This is the World Heritage Shirakawago guided walking tour.
We meet at the bus terminal or parking lots in Shirakawago village and stroll with detailed explanations about the history, culture, and daily life.
Meeting Point
Shirakawago busterminal or Shirakawago public parking
Visit one of the gassho farm houses
We visit one of the beautifully preserved Gassho farmhouses where a family still lives and maintains their lifestyle.
We can see the logical and unique construction as well.
Observation point
Visit the observation point where you can see the whole village as well as the sacred mountain called Mt. Hakusan.
Ending Point
Shirakawago busterminal or Shirakawago public parking at 11:30am
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
Admission fee for a Gassho farm house
Shuttle bus fee to the observation (if needed)
Food and snack
Tour Important Information
・Please respect the privacy of local people, as Shirakawago is a real village with an active local community.
・The meeting time is flexible. Please let me know your convenient time.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Shirakawago Tour Reviews
Amit S.
One day Private tour in Takayama and Shirakawago
Customized
“Private tour - Takayama and Shirakawago”
We had an incredible day exploring Takayama and Shirakawago with Keith. Having already spent a day in Takayama on our own, we could really appreciate the difference Keith made to our experience. He came well-prepared, equipped with an iPad featuring a detailed presentation of highlights and images. He would seamlessly bring it out to answer our questions, which added a lot of value to our trip. Keith's English was impeccable, likely due to his time in Canada, which made our conversations effortless and enjoyable. This was particularly important for our daughters, who were full of questions—a rarity for them unless they feel completely comfortable with the language. Being a local, Keith greeted people as we walked around, which gave us an authentic feel of the area. It was a wonderful experience, and we felt truly immersed in the local culture.
Kyohei Y.
(3 reviews)Hi Amit-san, Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m really glad to hear that you and your family enjoyed the day exploring Takayama and Shirakawago with me. It was a pleasure to share the highlights and history of these beautiful places with you. It’s great to know that the girls felt comfortable asking questions—curiosity always makes for a more enjoyable trip! I hope you took home some wonderful memories, and if you ever decide to visit again, I’d love to show you even more of what this region has to offer. Safe travels, and thanks again for the lovely review!
David L.
"HALF DAY"- private Tour based on your requests in Takayama
“Spring Festival in Takayama”
Keith was a warm and engaging host, showing us the beautiful town of Takayama. We highly recommend him as knowledgeable and about this beautiful region in Japan. As our visit coincided with Spring festival he was able to advise on what to expect during this exciting time.
Kyohei Y.
(3 reviews)Dear David, Thank you very much for joining my tour in my hometown of Takayama. I believe you enjoyed the first day of the festival in this beautiful season with lots of cherry blossoms. Hope you are enjoying the rest of the tour in Japan! Arigato!
Mikey P.
ONE DAY - private Tour based on your requests in Takayama
“The most amazing guide in the most unexpected place!”
While designing our amazing 3 week tour of Japan, we decided to go a bit off the typical path and visit Takayama and the Japanese Alps. Wow, are we glad we did. Amazing scenery and great history in a place that is a bit more laid back. AND, we got to meet the most amazing guide. We were searching for a true Takayama native--not someone coming in from another town and Kyohei (Keith) was the guy. We had such fun. Keith is incredibly kind and knowledgeable about the area. He met us (in his own car) at the Shirakawa-go bus terminal and gave us a wonderful tour there (went way up into one of the houses.) Then we hopped in his car and went hunting for waterfalls and ended up in this incredible snowy onsen. What an experience. Next day we toured the town and he helped arrange a private sake tasting with one of the brewery owners. Everywhere we went--like all through the markets, he seemed to always know someone. That made it super fun. He comes across as pretty serious in his video, but he is actually very enthusiastic, warm and cheery!! Finally, I am somewhat physically challenged. He always was conscious of what I could and could not do and never missed a beat, handling my shortcomings in a compassionate way. He even helped us find this amazing condo rental in town and identified one of the best hida beef restaurants and got us a table for dinner on the spur of the moment! No small feat in a town that has way too few restaurants for the number of visitors. It was sad leaving Takayama. It was a beautiful place and we felt like Keith had become a great friend.
Kyohei Y.
(3 reviews)Dear Mr. Mikey and Mr.Brian, Thank you so much for your kind feedback about your experience in my hometown! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your time with me. It was a pleasure having you, and I hope to welcome you again in the future. I believe you saw cherry blossoms in Tokyo and took some great shots!! See you again!! Arigato!
