Takayama isn’t a major nightlife city. And that’s exactly why going out here can be so enjoyable. Forget enormous nightclubs, packed entertainment districts and trains full of people heading home at midnight. Takayama nightlife is more about: local sake + small bars + izakaya + whisky + craft beer + quiet streets after dark. The … Read more
Takayama is one of the best places in Japan to slow down. Hidden in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, the city combines: historic streets + Hida beef + sake breweries + morning markets + traditional architecture + Japanese Alps scenery. It’s considerably smaller than Tokyo, Kyoto or Osaka. That’s part of the appeal. You don’t … Read more
Two days is an excellent amount of time for Takayama. It’s enough to experience the historic old town, morning markets, Takayama Jinya, sake breweries, Hida beef and Hida Folk Village without turning your visit into a race. And Takayama is compact. Most of the historic centre can be explored: on foot. For your first visit, … Read more
Getting from Shirakawa-go to Takayama is extremely easy. There’s no train station at Shirakawa-go. Instead, the main public transport option is: Shirakawa-go → Nohi Bus → Takayama The journey takes roughly: 50–60 minutes and the current adult fare is: ¥2,800 one way. Buses operate throughout the day, making it easy to visit Shirakawa-go for several … Read more
Getting from Kanazawa to Takayama is easier than it looks on the map. The two cities sit on opposite sides of a mountainous part of central Japan, and there isn’t a simple direct train between them. Instead, the best option for most travellers is: Kanazawa → highway bus → Takayama The journey takes approximately: 2 … Read more
Getting from Tokyo to Kanazawa is surprisingly easy. Despite Kanazawa sitting on the opposite side of Honshu from Tokyo, you don’t need to fly or make complicated train connections. The easiest route is: Tokyo Station → Hokuriku Shinkansen → Kanazawa Station It’s direct. No transfers. And the fastest trains complete the journey in roughly: 2.5 … Read more
Kanazawa Castle is one of the essential places to visit in Kanazawa. Once the seat of the powerful Maeda family, the castle stood at the centre of the Kaga Domain for more than 280 years. Today, the original castle tower is gone. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that means there’s nothing to see. … Read more
Higashi Chaya District is one of the most beautiful areas in Kanazawa. Rows of traditional wooden townhouses line narrow streets where geisha once entertained wealthy merchants and visitors during the Edo period. Today, many of these historic buildings have become: But the historic streetscape remains the main attraction. And there’s an important trick to visiting: … Read more
Kanazawa is one of the best cities in Japan for sushi. Its location near the Sea of Japan gives restaurants access to outstanding seafood from Ishikawa and the wider Hokuriku region, including seasonal fish and shellfish that many first-time visitors rarely encounter elsewhere. And you don’t need to spend ¥20,000 on omakase to eat well. … Read more
Omicho Market is one of the best places to experience Kanazawa’s food culture. Known as “Kanazawa’s Kitchen,” the market has been feeding the city for more than 300 years and contains more than 170 shops and businesses selling everything from fresh Sea of Japan seafood to local vegetables, fruit, dried goods and prepared food. But … Read more