Japan's countryside is the essence! Takayama Hokuriku 5-Day Free Tour Itinerary

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📝 Transportation Tips

If you are traveling to the Takayama Hokuriku area, you can start from Kyoto or Osaka and go all the way along the Ascending Path Loop, Osaka/Kyoto - Kanazawa - Amagaru - Shintakaoka - Toyama - Shirakawa-go - Takayama Hida - Gero Onsen - Nagoya, and this is the most convenient way to travel without backtracking.

🤗 Day1 Kyoto-Kanazawa

Kanazawa is about 2 and a half hours from Kyoto on the JR Thunderbird limited express train. Kanazawa is a small town with a long history and has been one of the major centers of culture and art since the Edo period.

01 Omi-cho Market

Not to be outdone by Kyoto, Kanazawa naturally has its own kitchen, and this is the famous Omi Town Market, which is about a 10-minute walk from Kanazawa Station, and is said to have been the top seafood market in Ishikawa Prefecture since the Edo period.

Fresh seafood caught from the sea fills every stall, where you can enjoy fresh seafood and specialties for a perfect lunch solution.

02 Kenrokuen Garden

One of the three most famous gardens in Japan, this is a place to enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and snow in winter. More atmospheric and simple than some gardens, Kanrokuen features traditional scenery such as lake views, small hills, pines and cypresses, cherry blossoms, maple trees, and old buildings.

03 21st Century Museum of Art

Diagonally across the street from Kenrokuen Garden, it's a superb collection of modern art nettles, most notably Leandro Ehrlich's Swimming Pool, which is definitely one of the most iconic exhibitions, and requires advance booking (start grabbing same-day tickets online at 9:00am).

04 Chaya Street

Chaya Street still maintains the style of the Edo period, and it is an important area for the preservation of traditional architecture in Japan. West Chaya Street is very short, East Chaya Street is more lively, the architectural style of a casual shot are very out of the picture, the Internet explosion of gold foil ice cream can be eaten here.

05 Noto Cow

How can you come to Kanazawa and not eat Noto Beef, which is moderately fatty and has a delicate texture that melts in your mouth. It has become a food card of Ishikawa Prefecture in Japan. Recommended restaurant: Butcher Jade Noto Beef Specialty Yakiniku Restaurant

06 Seafood Sushi

In addition to Noto Beef, seafood is a delicacy you can't miss when visiting Kanazawa, which boasts the largest seafood market in the Chubu region, where you can eat for freshness and taste, and you can take your purchased seafood to a nearby Chinese restaurant for processing. Restaurant recommendation: mori mori sushi

07 Motoyu Ishiya Ryokan

Kanazawa has many lodgings with special characteristics, and when it comes to old stores and hot springs, you have to mention Motoyu Ishiya, which has been open for more than 1,200 years and is said to have once cured Miyamoto Musashi's injuries.

There is also a Noh stage with a history of more than 100 years, where the Noh play “Sukeno” is performed once a year, and there are also occasional Taiko drum performances at other times of the year.

08 SOKI KANAZAWA

The interior of the hotel is mainly warm, with a soft and warm wooden tone. You can't go wrong choosing it blindly for your first time in Kanazawa, it's ideally located across from Omi Town Market and 10 minutes from Kanazawa Station. Newly opened in 2022, the hotel's facilities are all new, the rooms are large, and there's a large bath to soak in!

🤗 Day2 Amaru - Toyama

01 Amagari Coast

The majestic snow-capped peaks and the blue waters of the Yubari Coast are a must-see, with the snow-capped peaks of Tateyama in the distance (the probability of seeing them is higher in December-April when the visibility is high), and the red train, which is really beautiful, and is a true reflection of the reality of Hayao Miyazaki's anime.

02 Takaoka Fairytale Forest Park

Get off at Shintakaoka Station and walk for 15 minutes. This is the place where the author of Doraemon lived as a child, and there are many scenes from the manga, making it perfect for photo stops.

03 Takaoka Great Buddha

One of the three Great Buddhas of New Taka Nippon, this 15.85-meter-high, full-body bronze Buddha is the symbol of Takaoka City, the city of bronze. Across the street is the Amida Café, which means “Amida”. The desserts at the café are so creative that they have been featured in the news many times.

04 Takaoka City Museum of Art

Take the JR from Takaoka Station to Echizenaka-Nakagawa Station and walk for 2 minutes to the Takaoka City Museum of Art. The life of Fujiko-sensei is recorded here, along with the original manuscripts of Doraemon, so embrace the blue fat man and take beautiful pictures.

05 Seafood Rice Set Meal

Inside the fishing harbor, it was originally a fisherman's cafeteria, but was later opened to the public. The cafeteria is located on the upper floor of the fishing harbor, and you can see the seafood being processed downstairs. The fish sashimi of the Tsugimihama fixed meal is super, super fresh, and the sweetness of the fish is delicious with the fish broth. Restaurant recommendation: Michinoeki Suomi Seafood Market

06 Coastal Café

A cafe on the rainy coast with a perfect location and environment, where you can enjoy ice cream while watching Michinoku-eki “rain and sunshine”. Restaurant recommendation: Cafe ISOMI TERRACE

🤗 Day3 Toyama-Shirakawago

01 Miyagawa Asaichi

Miyagawa Asaichi is one of the three largest morning markets in Japan, with more than 60 stalls and a row of streets along the riverbank with lots of snacks, so it's worth hitting up the market for some good food and a morning stroll.

02 Hie Shrine

One of the original locations of “Your Name,” several scenes of which were reproduced in the movie, Hie Shrine is located about 2 kilometers from Takayama Station, about a 20-minute walk away, and is a famous shrine in Takayama.

03 Hezhang Village

There are two viewpoints in Hapu Village, and it is recommended that you take a bus up the mountain and walk down. The highest point is Tenshukaku, which offers a 360-degree view of the secret place. Hagi Machi Castle is less than 100 meters away from Tenshokaku, and on the way down, you can take pictures of the beautiful scenery.

Built in 1748, Meizenji Temple is a rare thatch-built temple featuring all roofs, which are thatched, and a yew tree, which has been designated as a natural monument by the prefecture.

The Wada house is the largest and most representative residential house in the area, and has preserved the essence of Edo period architecture and culture. The rest of the villagers' houses are basically displays of labor tools and scenes of labor, so it is possible to visit them without visiting each one.

04 Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine

Said to have originated in the early 8th century A.D., the shrine is dedicated to Emperor Oshinjin and has a small Chidori residence in front of the entrance, which is perfect for taking photos. On October 14th and 15th every year, the shrine holds the Turbidashi Festival, which has become one of the most famous festivals in Japan.

05 Hida Beef

When you come to Takayama, you must eat Hida Beef. Hida Bullet Beef has a chewier texture and feels less greasy. It melts in your mouth and is full of greasy flavor. In addition to grilled meat, you can also try Hida beef yakitori and sushi. Recommended restaurant: Takumiya Yasukawa

06 Hundred Years Soba

Established in 1898, Centennial Soba is a soba store with 980 yen for vegetarian noodles and 1280-1880 yen for all kinds of soba, both hot and cold. The hot soba, tempura soba, and mushroom soba with yam puree are all very good, and you can drink all the soup! Recommended restaurant: Teppachi Soba Ebi

07 Takayama Sake

Hida Beef Sake is Takayama's calling card, and Sake has been brewed for over 300 years. The sake has a mellow flavor with light fruity and rice notes, and a long sweet aftertaste.

08 Goshuku Knot Sho

Located in Shirakawa-go, the hotel is in the style of a Japanese onsen hotel, and you can feel comfortable and at ease from the reception service when you first enter, to the facilities inside, and the food and so on. You can see snow-capped mountains from your room window, and the view is beautiful.

🤗 Day4 Takayama Hida-Gero

01 Gero Onsen

One of the three most famous hot springs in Japan, and a highlight of the Ascending Dragon Road Tour, it's perfect for a one-night stay at Gero Onsen, where you can experience two meals in one berth. Nestled in the mountains of South Hida, the hot spring town has a tranquil and secluded environment, and the water is so soft that your skin will be smooth after a soak.

02 Eiruko Shrine

This is a unique frog-themed shrine with frog motifs and shapes all over the shrine. The name “Gero” in Gero City is pronounced similarly to the Japanese word for “frog,” and frogs have become a local mascot and symbol.

03 Onsenji Temple

Gero Onsenji Temple was built in 1671 and has a long history. Surrounded by maple trees, the temple is a rustic and natural place with a peaceful and secular environment, and there is a foot hot spring at the entrance of the temple for visitors to relax and unwind during their visit.

04 Hot Spring Pudding

Made with its silky texture and unique onsen water, this pudding has a unique, sweet and delicate flavor, and every bite is like a warm embrace from the onsen. Restaurant recommendation: Yumiya Onsen Pudding

05 Frog Ice Cream

Frog Ice Cream is characterized by its cute frog shape, which is so realistic that you can't help but try it. It's also unique and cute, so it's perfect for photo stops. Restaurant recommendation: 545-1 Yunoshima, Gero City

06 Suimeikan

Suimeikan is an old ryokan, a representative hotel of Gero Onsen, conveniently located 3 minutes walk from JR Gero Station. There are three baths: “Open-air Hot Spring”, “Grand Bath”, and “Shimodome-no-yu”, and you can enjoy Gifu's famous Hida Beef at the inn.

07 Mutsumikan

Only 19 rooms, male and female soup each has an indoor and an outdoor, summer smell cicadas and autumn maple, small chic and interesting. The hotel's hot spring is very clean, not many people, basically can be realized as a package.

🤗 Day5 Nagoya

01 Atoda Shrine

One of Japan's three major shrines, it is said to have been built by Ushi Reedhime, the consort of Japan's Musashi Umiken, to enshrine one of Japan's three major sacred weapons, the Tenshun Sword, which you can hold in your hands to feel the weight and raw energy of the sword.

02 Osu Kannon Temple

Osu Kannon Temple has a rich collection of sutras and is not too big, but the temple is very popular, and it is said to be very good for making wishes and drawing lots.

The Osu Shopping Street next to the temple is a great place to browse, with a wide variety of vintage stores, events throughout the year, and a large number of “otaku culture” stores and facilities, and it is the birthplace of cosplay, as well as the site of the “Cosplay World Summit” international event. It is the birthplace of cosplay and the site of the international “Cosplay World Summit” event.

03 Nagoya Castle

Feeling more ornate than Kyoto's Nijo Castle, the golden dolphins, which cost 18,000 taels of gold to build, and the bamboo forests, leopard and tiger drawings and screen paintings in the inner Omote Shoin are well worth seeing. There are also various cultural events and festivals in the castle, such as tea ceremony performances, traditional music performances and samurai costumes.

04 Ghibli Park

It really does feel like you've run into a Miyazaki anime, where you can experience the fantasy world from Totoro. But! Ghibli Park is difficult to buy tickets at least two months in advance to grab tickets.

05 Unagi rice

Unagi rice in Nagoya is famous for its crunchy texture and freshness. Unagi is served in three ways, and the third way is to add tea broth to make unagi rice, which is a must-try for its refreshing flavor. Recommended restaurants: Maruya Honten, Maruya Honten

06 Pork Cutlet Rice

Made from the finest pork from Southern Kyushu, the crispy fried pork cutlet is served with a flavorful sauce and soft rice, so you won't want to miss out on a visit to Nagoya! Recommended restaurant: Yabato-Ton