Takayama and Shirakawa-go: Gateway to Rural Mountain Japan

A private day trip in your own Toyota Alphard with driver: hotel pickup in Nagoya, then Hida-Takayama and Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village. About 10 hours on this route, priced per car for up to 6 guests. You enter your hotel (or a station) and the pickup time in the booking form. The car price does not include a guide, entry tickets, rides, experiences, meals, tolls or parking. Hida Takayama Nestled in northern Gifu Prefecture's Hida region, Takayama's city center retains the architectural and cultural integrity of an Edo-period castle and merchant town—a distinction that earned it the epithet "Little Kyoto of Hida." The streetscapes of three districts, developed during the Meiji and Taisho eras, remain intact for exploration. Local specialties including Hida beef and Takayama ramen showcase regional flavors, while traditional crafts on display reflect the exceptional artistry passed down by Hida's master craftspeople. The city embodies a multifaceted appeal that draws visitors interested in history, cuisine, and material culture. Shirakawa-go Gassho-zukuri Village Mountain-ringed and threaded with rice paddies and streams, Shirakawa-go earned recognition as the "Kingdom of Forests and Streams." Among three World Heritage–designated gassho-zukuri villages (Shirakawa-go, Aikura in Gokayama, and Suganuma), Ogimachi holds the distinction of having the most traditional households at 152. The region's name derives from the Ōshirakawa River, which originates in sacred Hakusan Mountain and turns white and turbid upon merging with the Sō River. The Shiroyama Observatory, positioned northeast of Ogimachi's gassho-zukuri settlement, commands expansive vistas of the village and the imposing Hakusan peaks beyond.