Nagoya Shirakawa-go Tour Review: Hida Takayama Day Trip

My Nagoya Shirakawa-go Tour Experience

Must-Visit Spots Around Nagoya

Words/Photos by ©Haibubu

When Nagoya comes to mind, many travelers picture the charming Shirakawa-go, nestled just outside the city,

more often than the city's own special spots.

It's no wonder it's become so famous – it’s a region offering unique villages you won't easily find elsewhere,

along with a plethora of authentic experiences.

Today, I'm thrilled to share a tour that lets you comfortably explore **Shirakawa-go and Hida Takayama, both near Nagoya,

all in a single day**! Plus, I'll give you my firsthand review of the experience.

Your Shirakawa-go Tour: Itinerary & Essential Info

First up, let's take a quick look at the itinerary for this amazing Nagoya Shirakawa-go tour!

📌Shirakawa-go Tour Itinerary

1. Meet at Mirai Tower in the City Center

2. Hirugano Kogen Rest Area

3. Hida Takayama

4. Shirakawa-go

5. Return to Nagoya City Center

The tour itinerary is wonderfully straightforward: we depart from the city,

explore Hida Takayama in the morning, and then immerse ourselves in Shirakawa-go in the afternoon.

Even though only two incredible destinations are featured,

their charm is utterly distinct from Nagoya city, making for an incredibly satisfying experience!

Shirakawa-go tours are super popular, and you'll find them offered by various tour operators.

You can book your Shirakawa-go tour right here:

>> Book Your Nagoya Shirakawa-go Tour Here

My Shirakawa-go Tour Experience

Now, let me dive into my **full review of the Nagoya Shirakawa-go

tour** I experienced firsthand!

Meeting Up for the Tour

At 7:50 AM, we gathered on the 1st floor of Mirai Tower, a prominent landmark in central Nagoya.

After a quick check-in, we boarded our tour vehicle in order.

It seemed our seats on the vehicle were assigned by the guide based on our check-in order.

We were assigned a spacious 45-seater bus, and it was nearly full, showing just how popular this tour is!

The bus seats were plush and comfortable, and even for an adult male, the legroom felt perfectly adequate.

We had a comfortable journey with no significant inconveniences.

Hirugano Kogen Rest Area

After about an hour on the road, we made our first stop at the Hirugano Kogen Rest Area, a popular highway service station.

We heard their soft-serve ice cream was famous, so naturally, we had to try some!

The soft-serve was incredibly smooth and boasted that rich, distinctive Japanese milk flavor – absolutely delicious!

And at just 400 yen, it felt quite reasonable for Japan.

This rest area isn't just any stop; it's renowned for its incredibly high altitude compared to others.

(In fact, it’s said to be the highest rest area in all of Japan!)

The mountain views from here are absolutely breathtaking!

Many people were snapping 'proof shots' with the 'Hirugano Kogen SA' sign, just like you see in the picture.

Hida Takayama

After about another hour on the road, we arrived at our next destination:

Hida Takayama!

There are a few cities in Japan nicknamed "Little Kyoto," and this one definitely lives up to the name, preserving the charm of old Japan.

After getting off the bus, our guide kindly took some photos for us at the first photo spot.

The tranquil small-town atmosphere, the trees lining both sides of the river, and those iconic red railings — it truly felt authentically Japanese!

Our guide took such beautiful pictures, making it easy to capture some wonderful memories.

After our photo session, we explored the Miyagawa Morning Market.

It seemed to span about a block, so it wasn't huge, but apparently, it's quite a famous morning market in Japan!

With souvenirs and delicious food available, we grabbed a quick takoyaki snack.

Afterward, we wandered through the historic Sanmachi old street and its shopping district, taking photos with the traditional Japanese-style houses.

The authentic Japanese ambiance was so strong that simply strolling along was a joy in itself!

This region is famous for its 'Hida-gyu' wagyu beef.

So, we just had to try Hida-gyu sushi at a restaurant that had a really long line.

Even though it was a bit pricey, it was incredibly tender, practically melting in my mouth, so it was absolutely worth it!

Since our stay in Hida Takayama extended until lunchtime, we definitely had to grab a meal here.

I opted for a simple yet delicious bowl of Abura Soba at a restaurant called Ramen M.

At 900 yen, it was a great price, and the noodles were perfectly chewy with a wonderfully savory sauce – so good!

Hida Takayama is also home to many sake breweries!

With the remaining time, I chose to visit the Hirase Brewery.

I specifically chose this place because for just 1,000 yen, you could enjoy a free tasting of over 20 types of sake for 30 minutes!

Plus, the tasting room itself had such a wonderful, atmospheric vibe!

Since the tasting also came with a sake discount coupon, I ended up buying a small sake bottle as a souvenir and gift.

For anyone who loves nihonshu (Japanese sake), I highly recommend visiting a brewery while in Hida Takayama!

Shirakawa-go

Next, we headed to our final destination: Shirakawa-go.

After getting off at the Shirakawa-go parking lot, you just cross this bridge, and then you'll find yourself in the beautiful Shirakawa-go village.

As I stepped into the village, the triangular-roofed buildings I'd only ever seen in photos started to magically appear before my eyes.

Unfortunately, heavy rain poured down that day,

but I could still deeply feel the unique charm of Shirakawa-go.

Due to the rain, I couldn't make it to the famous observatory,

but I did get to see the "Three Houses" nearby.

It was so impressive how the three triangular buildings merged together,

creating a silhouette that resembled a majestic mountain range!

Even in Shirakawa-go, our guide took some lovely photos for us

right in the heart of the village.

Despite the heavy rain, the village's inherent beauty meant

we still captured some truly satisfying photos!

Since the rain was coming down so heavily, we spent the remaining time

relaxing in an open cafe, enjoying coffee

and delicious desserts like Warabi mochi.

While the coffee and desserts were nothing out of the ordinary, sitting indoors

and gazing at the rainy Shirakawa-go scenery filled me with

a delightful sense of poetic charm! It was truly wonderful!

Must-Visit Spots If You Go to Nagoya

And just like that, we wrapped up all the Shirakawa-go tour courses

and returned to Nagoya city.

It was a truly satisfying tour, allowing me to fully experience

a unique ambiance that's hard to find in other Japanese cities!

Although heavy rain poured down in Shirakawa-go, preventing us

from fully enjoying the village as we might have hoped,

I still believe we managed to soak in its distinct charm.

If you're planning a 2 or 3-night trip to Nagoya,

I highly recommend dedicating one day to a tour like this

to discover the unique allure of these charming small towns.

>> Book Your Shirakawa-go Tour Here <<

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