Best of Takayama

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Takayama
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The Nakasengo Trail entering the town of Magome in the Kiso Valley
Map of Central Japan Highlights: Tokyo, Kyoto & the Kiso Valley - 9 Days
Central Japan Highlights: Tokyo, Kyoto & the Kiso Valley - 9 Days

This active nine-day itinerary takes you on a memorable journey through central Japan's history and culture, from ultra-modern Tokyo to the historic imperial capital of Kyoto. In between, you'll visit the famous gardens of Kanazawa, cycle through traditional thatched villages of the Hida region, walk portions of the ancient Nakasendo Trail, and explore the preserved post towns of the Kiso Valley.

Sit down to a meal in a traditional Japanese ryokan
Map of Japan's Culinary Heritage - 11 Days
Japan's Culinary Heritage - 11 Days

Eat your way through the "land of the rising sun" on this immersive culinary tour. Get to know Japanese history and culture through its legendary cuisine, and treat your taste buds to everything from home-brewed sake to the freshest sushi to delectable street food and a fancy gourmet feast.

Go beyond Japan's major cities and explore highlights like historic Kanazawa on this two-week family tour
Map of Japan Off-the-Beaten-Path Family Adventure - 14 Days
Japan Off-the-Beaten-Path Family Adventure - 14 Days

Go beyond the highlights with two weeks of family fun throughout Japan's major cities and smaller towns. Get a taste of Tokyo with a kid-friendly food tour; then, it's off to Hakone for ropeway rides and green tea baths at a hot springs resort. Channel your inner samurai as you walk the Edo-era streets of Takayama, practice your painting skills with Kanazawa's artisans, don a kimono for a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto, and end with a spin on Osaka's high-flying Tempozan Ferris wheel.

Tokyo's Shinjuku Park
Map of Classic Highlights of Japan - 14 Days
Classic Highlights of Japan - 14 Days

Welcome to Japan! On this two-week journey around the main island, Honshu, you'll enjoy a mix of cultural sightseeing and active adventures. Visit sacred temples and shrines, cycle through the countryside, and wander around Tokyo's most fashionable neighborhoods. From the history of Hiroshima and the wonders of ancient Kyoto to the historic farmhouses of Shirakawa-go and the quiet island of Miyajima, there's so much to see and do.

Best of Old and New Japan
Map of Best of Old and New Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, & More - 14 Days
Best of Old and New Japan: Tokyo, Kyoto, & More - 14 Days

The combination of historic and modern beauty makes Japan the ideal vacation destination. On this journey of old world-meets-new world, you will explore the progressive city of Tokyo, along with strolling through pockets of old Japan. Excursions into the hot springs of Gero Onsen and the gardens of Kanazawa will allow you to experience the preservation of nature. Even still, you can channel Japan’s past–in present-day–by taking up residency in a thatched-roof farmhouse in Shirakawa-go, connecting with long-time local artisans in Takayama, and exploring the ancient temples of Kyoto.

Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji Temple
Map of Culture & History of Japan - 14 days
Culture & History of Japan - 14 days

Embark on a journey through Japan’s cultural past with this immersive two-week itinerary. Starting in the modern capital of Tokyo, you’ll travel north to traditional mountain hot springs before making your way through the historic post towns of the ancient Nakasendo Trail. Wander through the 16th-century architecture of Takayama, discover the alpine valleys and traditional thatched-roof farmhouses of Shirakawa-go, and step back in time in the imperial capital of Kyoto. Spend a night with Buddhist monks at the mountaintop temples of Mount Koya before returning to Tokyo for a final evening in the city that never sleeps.

See the history and culture of Japan with immersive tours of Osaka and more
Map of Traditions of Japan: History, Art & Culture - 14 Days
Traditions of Japan: History, Art & Culture - 14 Days

This immersive 14-day cultural adventure starts in Osaka, where you'll sample renowned cuisine and stroll through ancient shrines. Take a day trip to Kobe for its coveted beef, then it's off to Mount Koya for quiet hikes and an overnight in a Buddhist temple. Eat your way through bustling Nishiki Market in Kyoto, learn Japanese arts and crafts in Kanazawa, see sweeping views of Mount Fuji, and end with the bright lights of Tokyo, touring the gardens of the Imperial Palace and Senso-ji temple.

Explore some of Japan's most iconic landmarks, including the UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go
Map of Highlights of Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Osaka — 16 Days
Highlights of Japan: Tokyo, Hakone, Takayama, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Osaka — 16 Days

Perfect for first-timers, this 16-day itinerary takes you on a journey through some of Japan's most iconic destinations. Start in Tokyo, where you can dive into Japanese culture by watching a sumo wrestling session and see famous landmarks like Senso-ji, the oldest temple in the city. Explore Hakone and Takayama at your own pace, then learn how to make traditional crafts in Kanazawa. Ride a rickshaw around Kyoto before ending in Osaka with a day trip to Hiroshima, the site of the world's first atomic bomb.

Experience the day-to-day life of a monk at your shukubo in Mount Koya
Map of Japan Cultural Discovery Tour: Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Koya & Osaka - 16 Days
Japan Cultural Discovery Tour: Tokyo, Kyoto, Mount Koya & Osaka - 16 Days

Set off on a 16-day cultural discovery across Japan's vibrant cities and natural landscapes. Begin the adventure in Tokyo, where you'll explore the city's oldest temple and delve into bonsai culture at a nearby museum. Then, take a train to Takayama to admire ornate festival floats and learn how to make traditional crafts. From here, visit Shirakawa-go to see traditional farmhouses, watch a geisha performance in Kyoto, and stay in an active temple on Mount Koya before ending this whirlwind trip in Osaka.

A view of historic Takayama
Map of Historic Japan: Tokyo to Nagano - 11 Days
Historic Japan: Tokyo to Nagano - 11 Days

Explore Japan's historic spots as you travel in a loop from Tokyo to Nagano. Start by discovering Tokyo's sights, then head to Nikko for some hiking. Visit Kyoto, Japan's historic capital, to see temples, meet geisha and participate in a traditional tea ceremony. See Himeji Castle, wander the quaint streets of Takayama, and explore UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go. Transfer to Kanazawa for sightseeing, art, and a gold leaf workshop, ending with a lesson about ninjas and samurai in Nagano.

On Lake Kawaguchi, one of the Fuji Five Lakes, see Japan's natural beauty
Map of Japan's Natural Beauty From Lakes to Mountains  - 12 Days
Japan's Natural Beauty From Lakes to Mountains - 12 Days

Experience the many layers of Japanese culture and its landscapes on this 12-day tour. Enjoy Tokyo and Osaka's energetic city life balanced with nature and fresh air as you walk through Kyoto's calm bamboo forests and Takayama and Kanazawa's gardens and shrines. Stand next to a towering Great Buddha in Kamakura, and pass 10,000 red torii gates at Fushimi Inari. Get your camera ready for Mount Fuji views at Lake Kawaguchi and browse the busy Nishiki Market in Kyoto.

Take in the views of majestic Mount Fuji with an overnight hike
Map of Active Adventures in Japan: Mountains, Hot Springs & Temples - 14 Days
Active Adventures in Japan: Mountains, Hot Springs & Temples - 14 Days

This exciting two-week tour of Japan starts in Tokyo, where you'll eat your way through local markets on a foodie tour and see some of the city's most iconic sights. Then, it's off to the wonders of Mount Fuji and an overnight on the Yoshida trail. Bike the streets of Takayama, walk through hallowed shrines and hike to majestic Zen temples in Kyoto, and shop till you drop in Osaka. Soak in the hot springs of Hongu's Otogawa River, then end on the Pacific coastlines of Kii Katsuura and the towering Nachi Falls.

Springtime cherry blossoms in Japan fram Kanei-ji pagoda in Tokyo's Ueno Park
Map of Ultimate Japan Tour: Tokyo to Hiroshima & Kanazawa - 15 Days
Ultimate Japan Tour: Tokyo to Hiroshima & Kanazawa - 15 Days

Cover the highlights of Japan as you travel in a wide loop across the country's south. Explore Tokyo's most exciting neighborhoods, learn about the important World War II history of Hiroshima, experience tradition with a tea ceremony and geisha photoshoot in Kyoto, and wander the quaint streets of Takayama and Kanazawa. Visit the UNESCO-listed village of Shirakawa-go and take a dip in Hakone's hot springs, then return to Tokyo for more sightseeing.

Other popular travel destinations in Japan
Tokyo · Kyoto · Osaka · Hakone · Hiroshima · Kanazawa · Okinawa · Nara · Hokaido · Western Honshu · Hokkaido/Northern Honshu