The Japan Alps hold everything an outdoor sports enthusiast dreams of. But that's not all! This region is full of hidden treasures just waiting to be explored. From the splendor of its natural wonders to its long artisan tradition, Japan is endlessly captivating. Take the Nagoya – Takayama – Shirakawago route, and step back in time to pre-modern Japan.
Nagoya : Castles, fine museums and Earth’s biggest planetarium
Start your journey in Nagoya, one of Japan’s fastest-growing cities. Nagoya, the birthplace of Japan's greatest samurai warriors, has much to offer. Stately Nagoya Castle, a prime example of Japanese 17th-century architecture, was the power center for the shogunal government that ruled Japan for over 265 years. While in Nagoya, sample hitsumabushi, a Nagoya specialty. It’s served in a wooden box of steamed rice topped with grilled eel.
From Tokyo the Shinkansen (bullet train) takes just one hour and 45 minutes, and from Kyoto it's a mere 40 minutes.
Hida Takayama : A convenient base for alpine adventure
Takayama and the surrounding area boast traditional architecture, colorful festivals and a range of the best mountains and hot springs in Japan. It is a fantastic destination in itself, but also an excellent base from which to explore the Japan Alps and the surrounding Hida area.
The heart of Takayama city, the Sanmachi area of preserved buildings, attracts tourists from all over the country. You could spend a whole day wandering these old streets, buying souvenirs from the many craft shops, sampling local tea and digging into local treats like wagyu sushi. A number of sake breweries are also located either in or nearby the Sanmachi district. Most offer tastings and the Harada brewery offers tours as well. Takayama is also famous for its outstanding Hida beef, one of the great delicacies of Japan. Exquisitely marbled, this tender beef is known for its unique flavor, aroma and texture - it literally melts in your mouth.
Trains from Nagoya leaves for Takayama almost every hour, taking about 140 minutes one way.
Shirakawa-Go : Japan’s most famous thatched-roof village
Nestled among woods and mountains, the ancient villages of Shirakawa-go are true highlight of your visit to Japan. Listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, these tiny hamlets take you back in time to a rustic life in a pristine alpine setting. You'll be treated to the traditional local cuisine, made with homegrown vegetables and artisanal miso.
The focal point of Shirakawa-go is Ogimachi, a hamlet of gassho-zukuri style houses. Tall and narrow, with thatched roofs that slope steeply to the ground - a necessity during the heavy snowfalls of the winter - the name gassho-zukuri literally means "like praying hands." Each house is a masterpiece of carpentry. They are built without nails - every beam slots neatly into the next. The structure is so sound that these houses have stood since the 1800s. Many of the buildings have been turned into museums, but several of these homes are guesthouses that offer lodging.
From Nagoya, take the JR Takayama Line to Takayama. Buses to Shirakawa-go leave from the Takayama Bus Center and take around 50 minutes.
