The Gokayama Grand Tour: UNESCO Sites, Iwana Delights & Washi Art
A scenic day trip in a convenient car from Toyama Station to Gokayama Ainokura, a UNESCO World Heritage site, focusing on cultural immersion and local cuisine. The trip involves exploring a traditional Japanese village, savoring local dishes, and engaging in a hands-on paper-making experience.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Toyama Station
Ainokura Village
World Heritage Exploration: Discover Ainokura Village, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and marvel at its distinctive Gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Capture stunning photos from various viewpoints within the village.
Lunch at Iwana Restaurant
Unique Culinary Experience: Enjoy a delicious lunch at "Iwana" restaurant, renowned for its fresh char (iwana) dishes. Don't miss their specialty iwana sushi and fried iwana.
Gokayama Washi no Sato
Traditional Washi Paper Making: Participate in a hands-on washi Japanese paper making experience, learning traditional processes and creating your own unique paper items like postcards or bookmarks.
Ending Point
JR Toyama Station
Want to personalize this tour?
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This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee
Gasoline fee
Toll fee
Car type: Suzuki Jimny
Parking lot fee for Ainokura: 1,000 JPY
Entrance fee for Ainokura Museum : 150 - 300 JPY (Child - Adult)
Lunch: 1,500 yen to 2,500 yen per person
*Entrance fee and lunch fee for the guide is also not included.
Fee for washi making experience is 800 yen per person. (available every day)
As an option, you can also enjoy a Kokiriko Bushi dance performance, the oldest folk dance in Japan, after your meal. The fee for this is ¥15,000 per group, plus the admission fee. Please note that you need to book this at least one week in advance. If you choose this option, your itinerary will be delayed by one hour, and your return to Toyama Station will be at 6:00 PM.
Tour Important Information
1) What To Bring
Cash: you may pay by cash as you have to pay for admission fee, restaurant lunch, experience fee)
Sunglasses: you may want to use sunglasses in Ainokura if the sun is strong.
Rain gear: you may need to use an umbrella or wear a rain jacket in Ainokura if it is rainy.
2) Food: if you have any preference or restrictions, please advise us in advance.
3) Vehicle: Based on the group size, I will arrange a private car upon request. Please contact me in advance, as the tour's total price and related car costs will be adjusted
You will be kindly required to sign the consent form to be passengers for the guide tour vehicle before boarding it.
Important message from the supplier
I can guide you in Takayama and Shirakawago, Gifu if you pay my transportation fee.
I can make flyfishing trip during the fishing season: March 1st to September 30th.
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
About Tour Guide Naoto K.
Hello! Thank you for considering me as your guide. My name is Naoto, and I'm a licensed local guide interpreter. I was born in Kurobe, Toyama and grew up in Toyama and other Hokuriku region, Kanazawa and Takayama before living and working overseas.
My global experience in other countries and several decades of life in Tokyo made me realize that the Toyama and Kanazawa area offers the most authentic, worthwhile Japan—the kind international travelers truly desire when visiting Japan. I specialize in helping you go beyond the typical tourist path, immersing you in Toyama, Kanazawa and its surrounding areas to reveal the pristine culture and natural beauty that await in this hidden gem.
Whether your interests lie in history, architecture, arts and crafts, lively festivals, unique food culture, or nature watching (including music, manga, anime and pop culture), I've got you covered. I particularly enjoy uncovering local treasures, like a secluded restaurant tucked away in the mountains near a temple. And for those who love the outdoors, I'd be delighted to organize a hiking or fishing trip to showcase Toyama's natural beauty.
Since every tour can be customized according to your interests and needs, I will personally help you have a one-of-a-kind experience here in the Toyama and Kanazawa area.
Please contact me to start planning your future trip!
Reviews
Savannah L.
“Awesome Private tour guide!”
I requested a personalized tour to see all the places from the movie “wolf children ame & yuki” It was lovely to see all the sights. He took some pictures for me and then showed me some really cool places around Toyama too! The Mountain View was incredible and so was the ocean! (The weather just happened to be super clear without a cloud in the sky perhaps naoto is a lucky tour guide haha!)
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Naoto K.
Thank you very much for such a wonderful review on my guiding. It was actually one of the best days for my guiding too. We had a perfect weather and also the schedule was very smooth. We could see more than what you actually wanted to see. Above all I was very happy that your dream to visit Wolf Children house came true after all. You must have loved Toyama very much. So please visit here again for your third trip. Have a great time for the rest of the trip in Japan. Stay in touch. Naoto
$301/ per group
More tours by Naoto K.
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Full Day Kanazawa's Best Loop Bus Tour
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Full Day Toyama & Takaoka Highlights
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Takaoka Highlights Walking Tour
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Great Historic Takaoka and Great Scenic Amaharashi Coast Trip
This tour blends culture and nature. The morning explores Takaoka's historical heart: visit the great Takaoka Buddha and wander the preserved Edo-period streets of Yamamachi-suji and Kanaya-machi. Enjoy a local lunch before the afternoon's highlight. Take the scenic JR Himi Line to the Amaharashi Coast for a breathtaking view of the majestic Tateyama Mountain Range across the sea. This seamless day trip perfectly combines rich history with spectacular coastal scenery.
Great Historic Takaoka and Great Scenic Amaharashi Coast Trip
Other Popular Car Tour (driving guide) Tours in Toyama
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The tour starts from where you like and ends where you like. It is possible to do this because the tour is done by car. There are attractive sites, but they are dispersed in the countryside. So I have planned this tour for tourists using a car. Let's go to where it is difficult to access!
Takaoka car driving tour
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<PRIVATE CAR TOUR> Gokayama Inami Historical Tour - Full Day
Gokayama and Inami in Nanto city have a lot of historical spots. I will show you the best spots in these areas. We go to Ainokura Gassho-zukuri Village, Zuisenji temple in Inami district. The Itinerary is one of example. I can customize this tour for you.
<PRIVATE CAR TOUR> Gokayama Inami Historical Tour - Full Day
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Takaoka light hiking in Mt. Futagami
Mt. Futagami is located at the west of Toyama area. It is a 274m high mountain. There is abundant nature in the mountain. It is familiar with locals. People from the region often walk, run, and hike around the mountain for having their relaxing time. Also, there are some attractive sites like a huge statue of goddess of mercy, observatory which can look over the scenery of the town and the sea, and a huge bell.
Takaoka light hiking in Mt. Futagami
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Takaoka Yamacho-suji street & Kanayamachi old town
Takaoka city was made 400 years ago. Kanayamachi old town is known as the birthplace of Takaoka copperware, which is one of traditional crafts in Toyama. Yamacho district is the general term of which consists of 10 towns. Yamachosuji street is one of streets of Yamacho district. Guests can appreciate the atmosphere of the town with traditional houses. Through the tour, guests can know the history of Takaoka.
Takaoka Yamacho-suji street & Kanayamachi old town
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