Overview
In the mountains of the Japan Alps, Takayama is a beautifully preserved merchant town with old wooden streets, sake breweries and morning markets.
Nearby Shirakawa-go is a UNESCO World Heritage village of steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses, famous for its snowy winter scenes.
- Region
- Japan Alps
- Stay
- 1 to 2 nights in Takayama, with Shirakawa-go as a stop on the way to or from Kanazawa.
When to go
Every season is different: green in summer, colourful in autumn and snowy in winter. Shirakawa-go’s winter illuminations take place on a few selected evenings and need advance reservations.
How long and getting there
How long: 1 to 2 nights in Takayama, with Shirakawa-go as a stop on the way to or from Kanazawa.
Getting there: Takayama is about 2.5 hours from Nagoya by limited express train. Shirakawa-go is about 50 minutes from Takayama and about 75 minutes from Kanazawa by road.
Highlights
- Sanmachi Suji, Takayama. Old merchant streets with sake breweries and craft shops.
- Takayama morning markets. Local produce and crafts along the river.
- Shirakawa-go. Thatched farmhouses and the viewpoint over the village.
- Hida Folk Village. An open-air museum of traditional mountain houses.
Vegetarian and Jain food
The region is famous for Hida beef, and rural restaurants have fewer vegetarian options, so meals are planned and requested ahead.
Combine with
Kanazawa for a Japan Alps loop, or Nagoya on the way between Tokyo and Kyoto.
Other regions
Questions people ask
Can we stay overnight in Shirakawa-go?
A few farmhouses offer simple traditional stays. They book up quickly, have shared facilities and limited meal choices, so most families stay in Takayama or Kanazawa instead.