Private Tour Of Shirakawago And Gokayama From Kanazawa

This tour was great. Our guide, Kei was great. He was informative, friendly, had good English and was a great driver. We enjoyed this tour very much. The traditional house tour was fascinating and the UNESCO village was worth the trip. Nothing like it. I would highly recommend this tour.

A beautiful morning spent visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Village - gorgeous mountains, river and trees. Walking around the village was delightful, visiting the observation deck is a must, and eating the local mountain food is highly recommended, especially the award winning Crème Brûlée store. We also discovered a quirky local woodwork and pottery shop, which had beautiful products and was so cheap! Our guide Mai, was kind, caring and highly professional. Highly recommend this tour.

We booked this tour with starting point Takayama. Everything went super smoothly from pickup to drop off back at our hotel. Our guide Kumiko was extremely helpful and knowledgeable of the area. She tried to anticipate our every need and made sure we had the perfect experience. We would definitely book this tour again

We did a private tour from Kanazawa to the World Heritage Site Shirakawa-go and Gokayama - Historical Villages and traditional houses in the Gassho Style. Our guide Kumiko was so nice and showed us around, explained everything. She was very good prepared and had lots of additional information in her magic map. It was fun spending the day with her. Tour starts at 8.00 at Kanazawa, takes roughly an hour to the villages. You can follow her suggestions to visit 2 or 3 villages as well as a hidden gem with personal introduction to historic instruments, music and dance. Return at 3 pm. Thank you for a wonderful day!

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to both locations with a great guide who also did our transfer from Takayama to Kanazawa. Kumiko was a very knowledgeable and professional guide as well as an excellent driver! She explained what we were visiting using diagrams and pictures to reinforce what we either saw or was about to. On arrival she handed us a packet with materials that we could peruse at our leisure or keep as a souvenir. Additionally, she welcomed questions and tried to individualize our tour with special experiences. We thoroughly enjoyed her warm and caring personality and would highly recommend her for her expertise as well as her charming personality. We also appreciated all the ways she navigated around the crowds and included hidden gems on our tour. We highly recommend her and would use her services again.

Had a great day with Ian exploring Gokayama Shirakawago and Takayama. Nice yo get out and explore small UNESCO villages. Ian’s knowledge made village life come alive. It was a long day time wise but felt short with Ian’s explanations filling the time with inters facts and stories. Definitely recommend

We had a wonderful time. Yuka was a great driver/guide. She did a great job catering to my limitations without missing a thing. Thank yo for an excellent day.

During our travels across Europe and Asia, our guide Kumiko stood out as truly exceptional. From the moment she met us at the train station in Takayama, we knew we were in great hands. Her deep, thoughtful knowledge of Japan was remarkable, and her organization kept everything running seamlessly, allowing us to experience a rich and unforgettable itinerary.

A wonderful day for the 4 of us. Large comfortable and clean car. Caring, careful driver. Punctual, kind and was able to get a toboggan for our son to play with while we explored the village. Got us a table for lunch. Highly recommend and would use again.

Hugely enjoyable and interesting. Our driver was knowledgeable and courteous, and the visits to the thatched houses unforgettable.

We had a good time visiting Shinagawa-go and Gokayama with our guide Ian. Ian was great at explaining and sharing insight about the villages. He also shared where we could get great pictures, lookout points, and shops. We enjoyed our time and highly recommend this tour! If you’re thinking about visiting Shirakawa-go, we would also recommend adding Gokayama. It’s a smaller village but there were less visitors. When I was booking, I reached out to the team to ask for advice about which to book and they suggested a shorter tour because it was winter, which we appreciated!

Excellent tour of snowy villages. Our guide, Asako, was prompt, efficient, and helpful. We were able to navigate around the crowds to get the most of our tour. She was also flexible to allow us time to dither at some stops and move ahead in items we were less interested.

We had a wonderful time in the snow! Ian was friendly and very knowledgeable. The timing of the tour was perfect with enough time in both villages. They were so fascinating and beautiful. A comfortable trip to and from Kanazawa and a fabulous family day we won’t forget!

Great communication for our booking and our guide was ready and waiting in the hotel lobby. We had a great day - Yuta customised our trip to our interests and was very informative on the areas that we visited.

It was an interesting tour providing a lot of etnographic information about traditional life in Japan. Our guide Ian Walker took us to two charming villages. We recommend the tour.

Our day with Junpei was absolutely perfect ! He was so easy going, knowledge and showed us a great time seeing the beautiful villages ! Thank you ! Highly recommend !

Very well organized, Gokoyama and Shirakawa-go were very nice and interesting: fantastic postcard with the snow and the sun together! A big thank you to our driver and guide Yuta for his professionalism and kindness

We had a wonderful tour with Yuka who spent time providing us with wonderful insights into everything we saw. She also took the time to answer our many questions and provided wonderful guidance for other things to do and see.

The driver arrived on time and had a spacious vehicle. He was friendly and his English was excellent. Our trip was a driver only and no private guide. It would be best to start the tour as early as possible to avoid the crowds. We spent only about 2.5 hours touring all of the sights. The rest of the time was driving and eating lunch. We would have liked the opportunity to view museums in Shirakawa Go but this was not offered. Also, in terms of natural beauty April is not an ideal time to visit because the trees are bare.

This was an outstanding tour with a great guide. It was less expensive then the equivalent ship's tour, but had a much higher quality. Highly recommend.

Lovely places to visit. Can be very busy. The tour guide was a very nice man but didn’t seem very interested. It was probably a lot cheaper to just book a taxi for the trip.

Our driver arrived on time and gave us a talk on the best way to see the key points of Hiroshima! The highlight of the trip was obviously the Peace memorial which demonstrated the terrible impact of atomic weapons.

Wonderful driver/guide. Very knowledgeable and spoke English clearly. Safe driver in the ice and snow. Beautiful historic villages even in several feet of snow in March.

We drove from Kanazawa to two small mountain towns and saw what part of Japan outside the big cities looks like. Interesting trip back in time to see how people lived hundreds of years ago and how families still live in these homes today.

Two very beautiful towns to visit and learn their history. It’s amazing to think people have lived here for hundreds of years. Tetsuro was a delightful guide with interesting history facts and information on the areas. Well worth the trip.

The view is amazing. Our driver Yuta really nice and helpful. We couldn't make it to Gokayama because of the weather but that's okay we did had lot fun in Takayama

Loved the tour so much! I have to say that the first town is not as beautiful as the first but I loved both. Plus our guide, Tetsuro, was very helpful and very fun to be around! Thank you!

Tetsuro-san was a great guide and very safe driver. Having grown up in the area he shared stories from his childhood and other experiences. We were introduced to places we would never have found ourselves, including an exceptional place for lunch. I would definitely recommend Tetsuro-san as a guide and driver to help you explore Shirakowago and Gokayama!!

We travelled in winter time with heavier snow thank usual (around 2mtrs high snow). Prepare urselves with proper clothings and shoes. Our driver guide, Yuka, is vy helpful. She even recommended a vy yummy soba place for lunch. My husband accidentally left his wallet in the restaurant, we didnt even realized he has left it until Yuka showed up with the wallet in her hand. Bravooo!

Kumiko was an amazing guide and driver. The UNESCO villages are all doable in a day with time for a relaxing lunch! She consulted us on our choices and was easy going if I wanted to shop or use the restroom. Wonderful driver in winter conditions!!! Great tour!

One of the must-see regions in Japan are the remote villages of Shirakawago and Gokayama in Japan’s Alps. These villages are known for a traditional architectural style that included angled thatched roofs which are intended to represent the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer. The roofs are built at a 60-degree angle. Since the area gets a lot of snow, this type of roof helps the heavy amounts of snow that slide off. The houses are known as gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. Gassho-zukuri means "constructed like hands in prayer". No nails or any other metal materials were used during the construction of the houses. Rather the houses were built with the natural resources available such as wood for the structure and straw for the roof. The thatched roofs last for 20 to 30 years before having to be replaced. Wet ropes are tied around the logs of the house. During the drying process, the ropes bind themselves to the logs which helps eliminates gaps and spaces. Because of the construction materials used, the houses are susceptible to fires that cisterns are located close to the houses. All houses face in the same direction to protect them from the strong winds that are common. The houses are not available for sale to outsiders. Instead, they are passed on to generation to generation. The first floor is occupied by the family while the upper floor(s) are used to raise silkworms. A fire is maintained in the central hearth all day to prevent mold from growing on the roof. We visited the Shirakawa-go, the largest village. Since no cars are allowed in the village, visitors must cross the 350-foot Deai Dashi Suspension Bridge that connects the parking lot to the village. From the bridge you have scenic views of the Sho River and the surrounding mountains. It is the bigger of the two villages in that it has more to offer for shopping enthusiasts. There are restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops and tourists but no trash cans so be prepared to take the trash with you. On the other hand, Gokayama is the most remote village in the area and literally means five mountains. The village is surrounded by high mountain ranges and, therefore, was mostly isolated from the rest of Japan. It is not a tourist destination as is Shirakawa-go. Approximately 50 people live here in gassho-style houses made of wood and rope. Homes are shared with two to three generations living together. Some of the homes have been converted into Japanese B&Bs and museums. During the Edo period, the village was a penal colony. For centuries, the only way in and out was through a ropeway with basket carriers. Both villages are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. If you are looking for less crowded and quieter places, then visit Gokayama while Shirakawa-go is more crowded and has more houses and amenities.

The trip was amazing! Our guide Tetsuro was really good. Thank you for beautiful places, interesting stories, wonderful photos and of course Soba place. Highly recommended 🤍

Kanazawatours.com is very recomended. Honestly, we make reservation only 2 days before, and they response so quick. Our tour guide sachiko san is very lovely, she is very informative, on time, and friendly. And her english is very good. Thx so mucg kanazawa tours and sachiko san, we are very happy with evrything, and very grateful that we can enjoy snowing time in shirakawago and gokayama village. And also thank you for helping us taking a lot of picture 😄

This was a great tour to excellent locations. Tetsuro was an excellent host and guide. He was friendly, had great local knowledge and was generally good company. The villages we visited were magical and in the snow it was an incredibly picturesque and exotic experience for us. The lunch stop Tersuro took us to was also a terrific experience of traditional Japanese food- delicious! I would highly recommended this tour to anyone who wants a really interesting experience in rural Japan.

“Today was an unforgettable experience, thanks to our amazing tour guide, Tetsuro! He brought us to Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, two picturesque villages that looked absolutely magical blanketed in snow. He shared fascinating stories about their history, including the unique gassho-zukuri houses with steep thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snowfall. Learning how these villages have been preserved for centuries as UNESCO World Heritage Sites added so much depth to the visit. The guide’s passion for these places truly brought them to life. My family and I were in awe of the serene beauty and loved walking through the snow-covered paths, taking in the breathtaking scenery. The guide also recommended the best spots for photos, which we’ll treasure forever. He made the entire trip smooth and enjoyable, ensuring we were warm, comfortable, and immersed in the culture. It was such a magical day for us, and we can’t thank him enough. If you’re considering visiting Shirakawa-go or Gokayama, don’t miss out on having a guide like him—you’ll learn so much and create memories that will last a lifetime!”

Tetsuro Abai was our driver and guide, and has a good knowledge of Kanazawa, Shirakawa, Gokayama and surrounding area. Tetsuro's advice about Japanese dining etiquette was greatly appreciated, as were the photographs he took on the excursion. It was a great day trip.

Shout out to Jun, the best guide and driver! He made everything a breeze. He was super friendly and shared a lot of information. It was great! I highly recommend him! The car was also spacious and clean which made for a nice relaxing ride. Everything was so picturesque, the villages are stunning. We arrived at Shirakawago early, before the majority of the crowd, so we had some great photo opportunities. We enjoyed a nice stroll through here and even picked up some cute souvenirs! Gokoyama was so quaint and quiet. Definitely my favorite of the two. Much smaller, but very relaxing. Jun even stopped with us at the cafe and soba restaurant here and they were so tasty! I'll be thinking about that cold soba for a long time. All in all, I highly recommend this experience!

This was a great experience! Shout out to Jun, the best tour guide, he was very friendly and super informative. He made the entire experience a breeze. Everything was very picturesque, and we arrived before the crowds at Shirakawago started arriving so we were able to experience everything to the fullest. It was absolutely stunning. Gokayama was so quaint and even better in my opinion. The quiet serenity of this mountain village was exactly what we needed. Also the little cafe and soba restaurant were a delight. And Jun even showed us how to enter and pray at the shrine. All in all, I highly recommend this excursion for everyone. It was definitely worth it.

Easy booking, no complication. Very nice and helpful guide. The car ride was very confortable and smooth. All the family appreciated the tour.

It was a pleasant ride. The car was clean and comfortable. The driver was attentive to our needs including toilet breaks. The driver recommended a few restaurants and we ended up at a cozy one which serves nice beef don set.

We booked a day tour to Shiragawa-go and Gokayama with a driver/guide Yuka. The drive was very interesting from Kanazawa as were the villages and Yuka was very informative.

Beautiful towns. Wonderful scenery. Very educational. The car was immaculate and very comfortable. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and very accommodating to our needs. Lunch was excellent.

The sloping roofs of natural haystack are amazing especially those overrun with grass. It's a place that takes one back in the past.

The tour guide escorted us around the world heritage landmark while also providing brief history behind it. Very attentive at all times, providing an estimated arrival time as well as a friendly reminder a few minutes before arrival. Definitely recommend

Yuta was a good guide. Personable and informative. His vehicle was very clean and he was a good driver. Enjoyable day trip to the mountains and remote villages.

Taishi was an excellent driver and guide of our tour, with very good English : he was very flexible to adapt to our choices, not only that but he came with us shooting pics, driving smoothly and also very helpful in the restaurant during food choice. He was also very accommodating to our plans changes.

Our driver Seichi was excellent. Very accommodating and ensured we had a comfortable experience. Well worthwhile.

Outer guide was excellent and a careful driver. Great experience. We had perfect weather and our guide also booked the best restaurant for us. I would highly recommend

The driver was on time at pick up and explained our options to tour the village and made restaurant recommendations for us for town. The tour took about 7 hours. Definitely recommend this tour if you want a relaxing day in these towns. We had about 3 hours to wander the first town and have lunch. The second town was very small and we visited it fairly quickly.