Detailed Itinerary
Regular Day Tour (Daily)

• 08:30: Meet driver-guide at Nagoya Station, depart for Takayama.

• 11:00-13:00: Takayama Old Town (120 mins): Explore Sanmachi-dori, shop crafts (woodenware, wool).

• 11:00-13:00: Takayama Old Town (120 mins): Wander Sanmachi-dori—Edo-era wooden merchant streets lined with sake breweries, traditional sweet shops, and craft stores (look for hand-carved Hida wooden dolls & woolen goods).

• 14:00-16:00: Shirakawa-go (120 mins): Visit Wada House (300yo Gassho-zukuri farmhouse) to learn local history.

• 14:00-16:00: Shirakawa-go (120 mins): Explore the UNESCO-listed village with over 100 Gassho-zukuri farmhouses (steep thatched roofs shaped like hands in prayer). Tour Wada House—a 300-year-old farmhouse open to the public—inside you’ll see traditional irori (sunken hearth), tatami rooms, and tools for sericulture (silk farming), plus learn how villagers adapted to harsh mountain winters. Wander the snow-dusted lanes (winter) or lush rice fields (summer) for postcard-perfect photos.

• 16:00-19:30: Return to Nagoya.

Special Light-Up Tour (2026 Dates Only)

• 10:00: Meet at Nagoya Station, depart.

• 12:30-14:00: Takayama Old Town (90 mins): Stroll Edo streets, browse handicrafts.

• 12:30-14:00: Takayama Old Town (90 mins): Stroll Sanmachi-dori’s cobblestone streets, admire Edo-era machiya (wooden townhouses) with lattice windows, and browse specialty shops for Hida crafts (woodenware, lacquerware).

• 15:00-17:00: Shirakawa-go: Explore snow-dusted village before light-up.

• 15:00-17:00: Shirakawa-go: Explore the snow-covered village—visit the Shirakawa-go Folk Museum to see traditional farming tools and clothing, or wander to the riverbank for panoramic views of the thatched-roof houses. And settling in for the light-up.

• 17:30-19:00: Shirakawa-go Light-Up (90 mins): Witness glowing thatched roofs (no observatory access).

• 17:30-19:00: Shirakawa-go Light-Up (90 mins): Witness the magical winter highlight—warm yellow lights strung around the snow-capped Gassho-zukuri roofs, creating a fairy-tale atmosphere. Capture photos from designated viewing areas (no observatory access) as the village glows against the dark mountain backdrop. Your guide will point out the best photo spots and share stories about the light-up tradition.

• 19:00-22:00: Return to Nagoya.

Note: Shirakawa-go limits to 9-seater vehicles. Light-up tours split into small groups, each with English guide.