4 Days Takayama Shirakawago Tour with Washi Paper DIY

Konnichiwa(こんにちは)！Welcome to Central Japan! This region is sandwiched between bustling Kanto (Tokyo) and Kansai (Kyoto and Osaka), but is famous for its traditional towns, villages, and stunning Alpine natural scenery. In Nagoya, our non-English-speaking driver will pick you up from airport or hotel and transfer you to Takayama on a 2.5-hour ride for hotel check-in.

Takayama, during the Edo period, was known as "Hida Province," and Takayama earned the nickname "Little Kyoto of Hida." From a distance, it appears as a tranquil, ancient cultural town nestled in a mountainous region. Sleep well in traditional Takayama town!

Get to Central Japan: Nagoya is the transfer hub for Central Japan. Travelers landing in Tokyo can take Shinkansen (bullet train) for 2.5 hours to reach Nagoya. Or, if coming from Osaka or Kyoto, you can also take Shinkansen to Nagoya.

Spend a full day here to enjoy traditional Japanese culture and heritage.

Start your morning at 300-year-old Miyagawa Morning Market, one of Japan's three great morning markets. Join locals as they begin their day. This traditional market stretches for about 350 meters along the riverside, featuring over 60 stalls. It's hard to attend this kind of traditional Japanese markets as many others gradually disappear. You can leisurely browse local fruits and vegetables, pickles, crafts, and snacks. Feel the warmth and vibrancy!

Next, 7 minutes walk to Sanmachi Suji District, heart of Little Kyoto in Takayama. It is the city's most iconic historic district. Its three ancient streets—Ichinomachi, Ninomachi, and Sannomachi—have preserved the essence of the Edo to Meiji periods. As you stroll, you'll admire buildings that still retain their original charm: black wooden exteriors, lattice windows, and noren curtains hanging under the eaves.

Take your time to wander and savor Hida beef (Self Pay), which melts in your mouth and rivals Kobe. Sake breweries, sweet shops, and more to check. This area isn't crowded. The ordinary people have lived here for generations. With blue sky overhead and black wooden houses below, you'll be gazing at the same timeless scenery as ancient Japanese people.

Then, 4 minutes walk to Takayama Jinya, the only surviving Edo-period magistrate's office in Japan. Established in 1615, this former Tokugawa Shogunate administrative center for Hida integrated offices, storehouses, a courtroom, and courtyards. Get inside, it's fascinating to observe the wooden structures, bamboo torture instruments, and even exposed nails crafted into rabbit patterns.

Back at Yoshijima Traditional House in Sanmachi Suji District, this representative private residence dates back to the early 19th century. Once home to wealthy merchants, its design is aesthetically meticulous. Inside, the 12-meter high atrium and tall windows soften the light, creating changing shadows throughout the day.Relax indoors for photos or enjoy the beautiful garden view.

Conclude your day at Takayama Matsuri Yatai Kaikan, a dedicated hall showcasing the festival's magnificent, full-sized floats. Lavishly decorated with gold leaf and intricate carvings, you can also admire elements like puppets and kabuki. Four unique floats rotate every four months. It’s a great way to experience them even if you miss the Spring or Autumn festivals.

After the tour, stay at a hotel in Takayama.

Today, leave Takayama and take a 1-hour car ride to Shirakawa-go and adjacent Gokayama. Spend a full day in Japanese traditional village and Washi Paper DIY.

Shirakawa-go, famous for its large collection of preserved 17th-century Gassho-zukuri farmhouses, has been a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site since 1995, celebrated for its untouched natural beauty. The thatched roofs of these traditional houses are steeply pitched at a 60-degree angle, resembling hands clasped in prayer—hence the name "Gassho-zukuri" (praying hands construction). Local residents developed this three-story design to withstand heavy snow. The lower floors are for living, while upper levels for storing hay or raising silkworms.

This pristine village shows a clear, beautiful scene that seems to keep worries at bay. Each season offers unique charm, but winter is especially breathtaking. Thick snow blankets the roofs and fields, making the entire village appear like a winding white river flowing through the valley, serene and pure.

Beyond admiring the village from outside, you can visit Wada House, the headman's residence, to check the interior of a Gassho-zukuri home. It's the largest Gassho-zukuri house in the village and offers the best views. The ancient thatched roof keeps the interior warm in winter and cool in summer. As you ascend the stairs, the upper floors display traditional farming tools and old photos of daily life and silkworm farming. From the windows, the mountains and village seem almost within reach.

After exploring the Wada House, head to Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck, the best spot to overlook the entire Shirakawa-go village. A view will likely inspire you to take countless photos.

Next, drive 30 minutes to Gokayama for Washi Paper Making. Gokayama and Shirakawa are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri villages. However, Gokayama also holds a special Intangible Cultural Heritage: Washi Paper. The resilient washi paper is a traditional craft used for everything from screens to lamps. And Gokayama,with a papermaking history of over 800 years, is a must-visit in Central Japan to experience the life of a Japanese artisan firsthand.

You can tour the paper factory and make your own placemat-sized paper, decorating it with maple leaves to take home. This hands-on workshop lets you embrace your inner artisan and the Takumi Spirit. Focus on your hands.

After making washi paper for an hour, drive back to Nagoya.

This is your final travel day of 4 Days Takayama Shirakawago Tour. After breakfast, our driver will take you to Nagoya Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) or Nagoya station for your next destination.

Extend Your Central Japan Tour to Other Destination: Take a Shinkansen to Tokyo (2.5h), Kyoto (34 minutes), and Osaka (49 minutes).

We, Asia Odyssey Travel, are so glad to accompany you for 4 Days Takayama Shirakawago Tour, and are always prepared to design your destination in Asia. See you again!