4 Days Central Japan Tour from Nagano to Kanazawa

Starting at Nagano Station, the tour opens with a bang by including a visit to the Zenkoji Temple. One of the most important Buddhist temples in Japan, the main building here is 300 years old and displays amazing craftsmanship; Meanwhile, the history of the temple complex as a whole stretches back well over 1,000 years. With some quick stops for sake tasting (non-alcoholic options included!) and lunch

The day continues with a hike through pristine forest to reach the onsen baths and volcanic valley which the Snow Monkeys call their home. Here you can get up close and personal with the monkeys as they walk mere centimeters away from you, or bathe in the hot spring baths right before your eyes.

On day two of the tour, our tour bus will pick you up in the morning and drive you to Matsumoto to walk through the streets of this beautiful and cultured city before ascending to the top of Matsumoto Castle. At over 400 years old, this castle is considered one of the best in Japan. Inside you will also find a number of artifacts, including firearms and samurai armor that will teach you more about the life of a feudal warrior.

Descending from the castle, the tour bus will next escort you deep into the Japanese Alps, to a breathtaking river valley known as Kamikochi. One of the original National Parks of Japan, the reason it has been registered as such will be immediately obvious by its stunning natural beauty and well preserved environment. Here, you will be treated to an easy hike and some time to rest and take in the scenery. Afterwards, the tour bus will take you on to Takayama city, where you will stay the night to be ready for the next day of the tour.

The second half of this tour kicks off in Takayama, a city with preserved traditional streets lined with handsome wooden buildings that could rival Kyoto. Located in the middle of all this is the Takayama Jinya, once the administrative office of the Shogun in Takayama and today the last remaining building of its kind in Japan. Access to the interior of the Jinya is of course included on our tour, and your guide will regale you with stories and information about the heyday of Takayama while showing you around this unique cultural site.

With a break to try some local snacks and do some window shopping, the tour bus will once again pick you up to deliver you to Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO World Heritage village of steep, thatched roof homes designed to withstand the snow and cold during the long winters in Central Japan. Here too, your guide will show you the best route around town and answer any questions you may have about the town. While the winter scenery of Shirakawa-go is deservedly world-famous, the area is beautiful in any season, with the flowers of spring, deep greens of summer, and bright fall colors of autumn providing a suitable backdrop to the town.

Leaving Shirakawa-go, the tour bus will continue to our final destination, Kanazawa. Upon waking up the next morning, your guide will meet you at Kanazawa Station to start a complete one day walking tour of the city that includes entrance to a Samurai house, Matcha tea on the grounds of Kanazawa Castle, and a visit to the Geisha District of Higashi-chaya, the symbol of Kanazawa. On the way back, your guide will lead you through the small but maze like district of Kazue-machi, a lesser known geisha district across the river from Higashi-chaya which still has working geisha wandering its streets. Finally, your guide will leave you at Kanazawa Station, from where it is simple to reach Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and beyond.