A winter-only route that starts at Kenrokuen with its yukitsuri snow supports, takes in the snow-covered gassho-zukuri villages of Gokayama and Shirakawa-go and the light-up, and ends in Hida-Takayama. You travel from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go and from Shirakawa-go to Takayama by highway bus.
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa. Kenrokuen and the 21st Century Museum are next to each other, so visit them back to back, then head to the Higashi Chaya District in the evening.
Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa. For details, see the intercity travel guide.
In winter, the highlight of Kenrokuen is the yukitsuri, ropes that protect the pine branches from snow. Watch your footing on snowy days.
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An art museum within walking distance of Kenrokuen. The free public zone also makes a good place to escape the snow and cold for a break.
Official site ↗
In the evening, go to the Higashi Chaya District, lined with traditional teahouse buildings. The best time is after dark, when lights come on behind the latticed facades.
Official site ↗Take a highway bus from Kanazawa Station to Shirakawa-go. Make a round trip to Suganuma village in Gokayama on the World Heritage Bus, and see the light-up in the evening.
Take the World Heritage Bus from Shirakawa-go to Suganuma. It is a smaller village than Shirakawa-go, where you can quietly view gassho-zukuri houses buried in snow.
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Return to Shirakawa-go and stroll around Ogimachi village. Snowy paths are slippery, so wear shoes with good grip or bring traction cleats.
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The light-up, when the gassho-zukuri village is illuminated. Check the guide for dates and how to view it.
View guide →Take a highway bus from Shirakawa-go to Takayama. Walk the morning market and old townscape, then visit Hida no Sato before heading home.
The morning market along the Miyagawa River is held only in the morning, so go there first when you arrive in Takayama. In winter, there may be fewer stalls on some days.
Official site ↗
Walk a short way from the morning market to the old townscape. Look for the sugidama, balls of cedar leaves hanging from the eaves of sake breweries.
Official site ↗
An open-air museum of old farmhouses, including gassho-zukuri houses, a little outside central Takayama. See the old houses in the snow, then return to Takayama Station.
View guide →Sample itineraries from day trips to 5 days, by region and season. Every stop links to its guide, and you can save any itinerary as your own trip plan and rearrange it day by day.
🗺 2 days, 1 nightChubu & Hokuriku ・ 6 stops
On day 1, visit the railway museum and Nagoya Castle in the city, then snack your way around Osu in the evening. On day 2, take the Meitetsu line to Inuyama to see National Treasure Inuyama Castle, its castle town and the Museum Meiji-mura.
🗺 3 days, 2 nightsSpringChubu & Hokuriku ・ 9 stops ・ April
A spring route through Shinshu (Nagano) that starts with the cherry blossoms at Takato Castle Ruins Park and Matsumoto Castle, continues along the Nagano Electric Railway to Suzaka, Obuse and Yudanaka, and ends with Jigokudani Monkey Park and Zenko-ji. It combines castle blossoms, hot springs and Hokusai's town.
🗺 5 days, 4 nightsAutumnChubu & Hokuriku ・ 15 stops ・ October・November
An autumn route that starts at Narai-juku and Matsumoto Castle, then takes in the fall colors of Kamikochi, the hot springs of Okuhida and the Shinhotaka Ropeway, Hida-Takayama and Gero Onsen before ending in Nagoya. You travel from mountain foliage down to city foliage, losing altitude as you go.
Check prices, opening hours and access on each stop’s guide and official website. Seasonal events and peak seasons vary from year to year.
Information as of 2026-10-13
