Shirakawa-go and Gokayama: Traditional Japanese Villages

Explore Shirakawa-go, Gokayama, and Inami’s woodcarving on a day tour from Kanazawa. Experience traditional crafts, historic homes, and UNESCO sites.

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Inami - Arrive at Inami to explore the main street full of wood carvers and their interesting creations throughout the townscape. This will be followed by a walk around Zuizenji Temple to see the place where all the wood carving starting.
  • Gokayama - Arrive at the first stop in Gokayama, the Ainokura Village, where you have a short amount of…
What's Included
  • Guided Tour at the Wood Craft Town Inami and Shirakawa-go UNESCO site
  • English speaking guide
  • Entry fee at Zuisenji Temple
  • Japanese Paper-Making Experience Fee
  • Transportation to and from Shirakawa-go and all other destinations
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
  • Accommodation
Additional Information

Deep in the mountains of Japan lies the quaint villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, with their beautifully preserved gassho-style houses. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites, some of the buildings are over 250 years old, gives a glimpse into the ways of Japanese traditional farming communities. On the way from Kanazawa to those stunning sites, there are…

Location
Kanazawa Station
The start time of this tour will become 08:30 A.M. from June 1. The meeting point is in front of the Tourist Information Center, directly across from the Shinkansen Gates. Look for three large sumo wrestlers under the information sign, where our guide will be waiting wearing.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(98 Ratings)
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968kaseye
Apr 7, 2026
Fun intimate day, learned so much! - Liam was great! We had a really fun time with our group and he was very informative. I loved how intimate the experience was! I recommend this trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julie_t
Apr 4, 2026
Exploring beautiful old villages outside Kanazawa. - Despite the wind and rain we loved this experience with Liam as a great guide. The wood carvers village was probably our favourite - fascinating and peaceful. Watching skilled carvers at work was amazing. The Gokayama village areas were very old and very intriguing and it was fun making our own piece of washi paper. Shirakawa-go was bigger and definitely more touristy but fascinating to find out about the history of silk making and how the houses were set up to facilitate this. Thanks for a great day exploring, Liam
Review provided by Viator
Craigga9936fc
Mar 14, 2026
Outstanding Experience In Compact Time! - We saw three locations, ate lunch, and made Japanese paper, all in just a few hours. Wood carving. Buddhist temple. Thatched roofs. The tour guides were knowledgeable, engaged, and excellent. The driver was gracious and positive.
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Rui_d
Mar 11, 2026
It's really worth it.... - It's really worth it. Very good. Staff Very friendl!! 5***** Vale muito a pena. Muito bom. Staff muito simpático.
Review provided by Viator
Vivhay
Mar 6, 2026
Great day out visiting the quaint villages - We had an excellent day. Luckily we were the only people booked so it was essentially a private tour. Mike was a generous, interesting and passionate guide, well versed in most matters and able to answer a wide range of questions. We saw an interesting range of activities with the visit to Ainokura and the paper-making as highlights.
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Kassidy
Feb 17, 2026
A must do! - Had a really lovely time on this tour! Our guide was incredible and kept the mood light + entertaining throughout the day. Some really unique stops and experiences that I wouldnt have ventured out to do solo. The paper making was my favorite, and truly felt like a one of a kind experience that was only accessible through the tour company. Would absolutely recommend this!
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Samsonman2903
Feb 17, 2026
A fantastic tour led by a fantastic guide. - It surpassed our expectations. Our guide Mike was fantastic. So knowledgeable and friendly. The paper making was fun and it was great to see the wood carving village of Inami. Gokayama was also very cute and Shirakawago was also beautiful. The amount of time spent in each location was perfect. Gokayama was a great middle stop as it gave you the feel of the thatched roofed houses whereas Shirakawago was a larger scale but many more people. Again, if you get Mike as your tour guide, you’ll be in for a brilliant day.
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Albert_w
Feb 14, 2026
We absolutely loved the... - We absolutely loved the tour, from telling us the history to showing us all the good spots for photos. We were supposed to be a group of 4, but two people bailed last minute so it turned into a private tour! We had great weather (heavy snow at Shirakawago) and had so many opportunities for great photos and memories
Review provided by Viator
Timbg1766js
Jan 31, 2026
A great day out exploring villages and crafts. - This was a well put together tour, with expert guide Daniel showing us some hidden gems as well as more well-trodden paths. A really good experience day.
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Steven_w
Jan 27, 2026
Amazing tour of the area.... - Amazing tour of the area. I'd added this tour on after my initial experience with the company (Daniel and Mike were the guides if I remember correctly). Ellie was a great guide as well. Solid drivers and guides in both of my experiences. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
From $192
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).