From the Alps to the coast: Nagoya, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa and Tokyo in 6 days
The route for a second trip, or for an extra week: a castle with golden fish, an Edo-period town in the mountains, the thatched-house village, a samurai city on the Sea of Japan, and a new shinkansen straight to Tokyo. Fewer tourists, more food.
The route on a map
From Nagoya to Tokyo
- Stations
- 5
- Days
- 6
- NagoyaDay 1
- TakayamaDay 2
- Shirakawa-goDay 3
- KanazawaDays 4-5
- TokyoDay 6
Every stop, numbered in day order and coloured by day, with the way from stop to stop. On a phone it opens in the app, and that is what you navigate with in Japan. Pin names on the map are in Hebrew.
Getting there: From Kyoto or Osaka to Nagoya by shinkansen (35 minutes). The 'Takayama-Hokuriku' pass for two days or more (¥19,800) covers Nagoya to Kanazawa including the Nohi buses to Shirakawa-go, and pays off on this route. From there the Hokuriku shinkansen to Tokyo (¥14,000).
Day 1, NagoyaRecommended
Nagoya Castle, Honmaru Palace and hitsumabushi eel
The castle with the golden fish (shachihoko) on the roof and Honmaru Palace, rebuilt in hinoki wood in 2018: ¥500 until 30 September 2026, ¥1,000 from 1 October, including the palace. Lunch: hitsumabushi (eel on rice in three stages: plain, with condiments, with broth) for ¥4,000 at Atsuta Horaiken. Evening: train to Takayama (the Hida express, 2.5 hours, view on the left side) or a night in Nagoya.
Train 150 min ↓
Day 2, TakayamaMust
Takayama Sanmachi Suji: the morning markets, sake and Hida beef
The full day: Takayama: the morning markets, the Sanmachi lanes, sake and Hida beef. The morning markets on the river, the government house, breweries, Hida Folk Village, and Hida beef in the evening. Sleep in Takayama, suitcase sent on to Kanazawa (¥2,000).
Bus 50 min ↓
Day 3, Shirakawa-goMust
Shirakawa-go: the thatched-house village on the way to Kanazawa
The first Nohi bus (¥2,800, seat in advance): the Shiroyama viewpoint, the Wada house, the village, lunch by the hearth, and a bus onward to Kanazawa (75 minutes). The full route: Shirakawa-go: the thatched village in the valley, from the morning viewpoint to the Wada House. In winter: 170 cm of snow or more, that is the time.
Bus 75 min ↓
Day 4, KanazawaMust
Kenrokuen, Omicho market, the geisha district and gold leaf
The full day: Kanazawa: Omicho Market, the geisha district, Kenroku-en Garden and gold leaf. Crab in the morning, the tea houses, the castle, the garden, the 21st Century Museum, the samurai district, the Ninja Temple (booking by phone), and sushi in the evening. The ¥1,000 Cultural Zone pass covers most of the entry fees.
Walk 0 min ↓
Day 5, Kanazawa and shinkansenMust
Kanazawa Station: a morning in Nagamachi, and the Hokuriku shinkansen to Tokyo
A calm morning: the Nagamachi samurai district, the D.T. Suzuki Museum (¥310, a still water pool), and Omicho market for lunch. The Hokuriku shinkansen direct to Tokyo, 2.5 hours, about ¥14,380, from the station with the drum gate. Evening in Tokyo.
Shinkansen 150 min ↓
Day 6, TokyoRecommended
Shinjuku: Gyoen, a free observation deck, Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai
A closing day in Tokyo with no temples: Shinjuku: a free observatory, Gyoen garden, Omoide Yokocho and Golden Gai. The city hall observation deck in the morning, the garden, a food basement, and at night the two alleys. Or, for those who have not been yet: Akihabara (Akihabara, Jimbocho and Kanda: anime, guitars, books and soba).
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Written as a draft and verified by hand against official sources. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go.