71 Tour Reviews

Private Journey | Classic

Tour Code: GTX4655357

Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama, Shirakawago & Kanazawa Private Tour
71 Reviews
6 days 5 nights

fromUSD $3490.00

currency

More Details
Room Type Explained

Single Room

Single room types are rooms for single room occupants.
One person will be occupying the hotel room throughout the tour.

Twin Room

Twin room types are rooms set for two people who will occupy one room, but will have two separate beds.

Double Room

A double room is a room that has one bed for two people to share.

Triple Room

A triple room is one room where three people may share the same room. It has three separate beds.

Japanese Style Room

A Japanese-style room traditionally does not have a western-style bed, it is a tatami floor room with futon bedding. However, if you prefer a western-style bed, you may request one though we cannot guarantee it.

Please note: If you would like to request neighboring rooms next to your traveling companions, you and your traveling companions must have the same room types in order to be next to each other. For example, if you have requested a double room, but your traveling companions have requested a twin, or triple room, then neighboring rooms cannot be accommodated. However, if both you and your traveling companions match in room type, then neighboring rooms will likely be arranged for your convenience.

This tour is an excellent option for those who would like an in-depth introduction to the region of Chubu, including Yamanouchi, Matsumoto, Takayama, Shirakawago, and Kanazawa. Enjoy one of the more rural areas of Japan – exhibiting unique architecture and cultural heritage. Enjoy the tried and true itinerary below to see the best parts of Chubu in a short period of time. Alternatively, you can customize the itinerary below to match your interests and create the perfect trip for you. This itinerary includes transportation via Japan’s famously efficient public transit system throughout the tour. This will allow you to see Japan from the same level as the locals and get a better understanding of everyday life in Japan.

This itinerary can be customized based on your budget and interests. Please feel free to CONTACT US to plan your dream trip to Japan.

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Tour Information

Please Note:

● The price is per person with minimum 2 people, based on twin/double or triple room occupancy.
● The itinerary can be customized based on your interests and budget, please contact us to plan your perfect vacation to Japan.

Deposit

We require US$200 deposit per person to hold the space at time of booking and the final payment is due 2 month prior to departure

What's included

• 4 nights Western style and 1 night Japanese style accommodation
• Public transportation between destinations in Japan
• Local guides in each city
• Luggage forwarding from Yamanouchi to Matsumoto

Meals
• Breakfast everyday
• 1 dinner

Admission fees and activities
• All entry fees to sites, activities listed in the itinerary.

What's NOT included

• International Airfares
• Airport transfers
• Meals that are not included in the itinerary
• Travel Insurance
• Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
• Personal expenses such as telephone and laundry bills

Additional Information

Transport
Trains and local buses.
Arrival Departure Airports
This tour starts in Nagano and finishes in Kanazawa.
Meal Requests
Vegetarian or special meals can be arranged
Meet and Greet
Meet at Nagano Station.

Itinerary In Brief

Day1 Nagano - Yamanouchi
Day2 Yamanouchi - Matsumoto
Day3 Matsumoto - Takayama
Day4 Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa
Day5 Kanazawa
Day6 Tour ends

Click here for detailed itinerary

Tour schedule and prices subject to change without notice

Day1

Nagano - Yamanouchi

Meet your guide at Nagano Station or your hotel in Nagano. You will travel to Yamanouchi via public transit. Upon arrival, you may visit the Snow Monkey Park. This is the famous location where snow monkeys relax in the Onsen hot spring bath. While the monkeys are free to roam the park all year long, they are easiest to find on cold days and particularly when it is snowing. On these days, they enjoy the comfort of the bath. After enjoying the park, you can proceed to your hotel where you can relax in the onsen for yourself – free of monkeys. You can also enjoy a traditional kaiseki dinner.

Dinner

Ryokan Biyunoyado or similar class

Day2

Yamanouchi - Matsumoto

Today, travel to Matsumoto Castle (Black Crow Castle), one of the twelve remaining original castles of Japan. Finish your tour at the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, which exhibits ukiyo-e style art collections that were popular during the Edo period.

Breakfast

Hotel Buena Vista or similar class

Note: We will courier your big baggage to Kanazawa. Please pack your essentials for 2 nights in a small bag to carry with you.

Day3

Matsumoto - Takayama

In the morning, make your own way to Matsumoto Station on foot and take the highway bus to Takayama – the journey takes 125 minutes and your bus ticket is included. Upon arrival at Takayama station, you will be met by your guide and tour Takayama. You will first stroll through the beautifully preserved Old Town. After strolling through streets that are reminiscent of the Edo Period (1600 -1868), visit the Kusakabe Heritage House, a designated important cultural property and the perfect architectural example of private residences during the Edo period with thousands of items on display. Experience the traditional atmosphere at the Takayama Yatai Kaikan which exhibits life-sized floats and instruments used in the Takayama Festivals.

Breakfast

Takayama Green Hotel or similar class

Day4

Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa

Continue to explore Takayama with your guide, beginning with the Takayama Morning Market, where visitors can taste local farm products and snacks. You will then tour Takayama Jinya. This building served as the local government office headed by the officials dispatched from Edo and was in official use until 1969. In the afternoon, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Shirakawa-go with your guide via highway bus – the journey takes 50 minutes. Ogimachi Village is the main attraction, we will walk past thatched roof farm houses and cultivated fields and see unspoiled Edo period wooden buildings. Once there, we will go to the Shiroyama Viewpoint, and also Gassho-zukuri Minkaen, which is an open-air museum of farmhouses and structures relocated to this area. Wada-ke House is the largest farmhouse in the area, which belongs to the village leader, is now open for visitors to have a look inside these buildings. From Shirakawa-go, continue to Kanazawa via highway bus – 135 minutes, your tickets are included. Upon arrival at Kanazawa station, make your way to your hotel on your own.

Breakfast

Kanazawa Nikko Hotel or similar class

Day5

Kanazawa

Today, you will be fully guided as you traverse Kanazawa via public transit. Begin with a visit to Kenrokuen Garden, regarded as one of the top three gardens of Japan. Stroll along the garden and enjoy the view of trees, stones, bridges and teahouses. At Myoryuji Temple, you will see how it got the nickname “Ninja Temple”. While the temple is not associated with the Ninja, it was built as a disguised military outpost and so has many hidden defenses, secret rooms, traps, and a labyrinth of corridors and staircases. Step back through time in the Nagamachi Samurai District where many old samurai residences remain at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle. One such house, the Nomura family residence, has been fully restored and filled with artifacts of the time period to reflect the samurai class. Then, visit the Kaga Yuzen Traditional Industry Center. Kaga Yuzen is a type of silk fabric made for Kimono. You can see many Kimono on display here which use this fabric. Additionally, should you choose to add the experience to your itinerary, you can try on one of the traditional garments. Other optional experiences in the area include a Gold Leaf Craft Workshop and a visit to the Kutani Pottery Kilns which are famous for their detailed and intricate designs.

Breakfast

Kanazawa Nikko Hotel or similar class

Note: Depending on the number of additions made to the itinerary, extra days may be added to accommodate your wishes.

Day6

Tour Ends

After breakfast, your tour will officially end. You will be free to make your way to your next destination at your leisure.

Breakfast

Note: If you would like further transportation to be included, please contact us for the arrangements.

Experiences

Accommodations

PLEASE NOTE: These are the hotels All Japan Tours generally uses on the touring styles and regions shown. There is no guarantee that you will stay in the lodgings listed on the website. We encourage you to check your travel documentation for confirmation of the exact accommodation you will be staying in.

Destinations

Nagano - Yamanouchi - Matsumoto - Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa

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Group Tour Style	Budget	Deluxe	Deluxe-Plus	Signature	Active
Group Tour Style	< View Tours	< View Tours	< View Tours	< View Tours	< View Tours
Feature	Our Budget Tours are designed for our guests who are on a limited budget. Explore the must-see sights and enjoy a hassle-free trip to Japan at an affordable price.	Sample all Japan has to offer, from unique locales to must see tourist attractions. Our Deluxe Tours are fully guided, and use our luxury coaches for your convenience and comfort.	Experience Japanese culture at a slower pace, and with a smaller group size than our deluxe tours. Stay in each city longer so you can soak in the culture and fully appreciate the destinations.	Enjoy upgraded hotels, a slower pace, and a smaller group size for a more intimate experience. Access to a wide range of unique activities that immerse you in authentic Japanese culture.	Explore Japan off the beaten path via Japanese public transportation, walking, hiking, cycling and more. Take more time to enjoy local experiences and picturesque landscape.
Advantage	Our most cost-effective way to see the highlights of Japan while staying in budget-friendly accommodations. If you would like to have a set of quick stops to sample the must-see sights of Japan, or if you plan to explore Japan on your own but would like to take a short trip to learn about Japan before your self-guided journeys, these are the tours for you.	Our most popular tours for everyone. Fully-escorted - the most hassle-free way to visit Japan for the best value. From Hokkaido to Kyushu, the duration of our Deluxe Tours range from 5 to 27 days. Whether you want to see the best of Japan in a shorter time, or take your time in each city, you will find a tour package that suits your preferences.	Smaller group sizes enable our guests to access more of Japanese culture and traditions. Our Deluxe-Plus Tours are carefully balanced for you to discover the unique Japanese culture, history, arts, food and spectacular scenery Japan has. If you love Japan and want to appreciate the best of everything Japan can offer, these are the tours for you.	Dive into the cultural aspects of Japan at a more leisurely pace. Enjoy more than just sightseeing. All of our Signature Small Group Tours feature a wide range of cultural experiences through interaction with the people and places that represent all that is authentic about the destination. Get an alternative, more in-depth understanding of Japanese culture and art.	Our Active Small Group Tours combine the best cultural locations with off-the-beaten-path destinations via Japanese public transportation. Discover the country of Japan the way the locals do and see Japan from a different angle. A focus on getting away from the crowds and into the real Japan, see the diversity of Japan’s countryside unfold before your eyes.
Group Size	20 to 45 people	10 to 35 people	6 to 24 people	4 to 16 people	4 to 13 people
Fully-escorted	Comprehensively escorted by AJT's professional English speaking tour guide				Your guides are local experts and residents of the city you are visiting, they do not always escort the group when traveling between cities
Pace	Fast pace to see as much as possible while in Japan	Perfect pace to see as much as possible while in Japan	More leisurely pace to soak in and fully appreciate the destinations, plus free time to explore on your own
Airport Transfers	Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified	Airport transfers are included* (If no options are taken: hotels are not requested to be changed and passengers use the correct airports)	Airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour	Private airport transfers are included if arriving on the first day of the tour and returning on the last day of the tour	Airport transfers are NOT included unless otherwise specified
Transfer between cities	Transfer between cities via private coach and Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary			Transfer between cities via private coach and first class Shinkansen (bullet train), depending on the itinerary	Transfer between cities via Shinkansen (bullet train) or express train. Private minivans are also used occasionally where public transport is not available or practical
Sightseeing	Sightseeing by private coach with an escorted guide		Sightseeing by private coach and public transportation with an escorted guide		Sightseeing via public transportation (local train, subway & local bus) with local guides
Admission fees and activities	All entry fees to sites and activities listed in the itinerary are included
Luggage Transfers	Luggage transfers by private coach from hotel to hotel, plus separate luggage transfers are included on select tours				Separate luggage transfers are included
Meals	Breakfast every morning, plus meals as indicated (vegetarian or special meals can be arranged)
Accommodation	Carefully-selected budget hotels and ryokans	Carefully-selected superior/deluxe hotels and ryokans	Carefully-selected deluxe/boutique hotels and ryokans	Carefully-selected deluxe/luxury hotels and ryokans	Accommodations range from local Japanese inns (minshuku) to budget hotels, to superior/deluxe hotels depending on the tour and destination
Ages	4 years old and above			6 years old and above
Health & Activity	In order to enjoy our tour, you should be able to walk reasonable distances, often over unpaved and uneven surfaces. Some of the most memorable sightseeing activities can only be accomplished on foot. Wheelchairs can be arranged upon request. However, we regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.				These tours are tailored to the energetic traveler; guests should feel comfortable walking from 4 to 10 miles a day depending on the tour and destination.

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Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama, Shirakawago & Kanazawa Private Tour 71 Reviews 6 days 5 nights fromUSD $3490.00 currency

Tour Information

Deposit

What's included

What's NOT included

Additional Information

Itinerary In Brief

Day1

Nagano - Yamanouchi

Dinner

Day2

Yamanouchi - Matsumoto

Breakfast

Day3

Matsumoto - Takayama

Breakfast

Day4

Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa

Breakfast

Day5

Kanazawa

Breakfast

Day6

Tour Ends

Breakfast

Experiences

Accommodations

Best of Japan: Cherry Blossom Tour

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Nagano, Matsumoto, Takayama, Shirakawago & Kanazawa Private Tour
71 Reviews
6 days 5 nights

fromUSD $3490.00

currency

Why Travel on Our
Group Tours