Hi- For my first time visiting Japan, I have opted for a hybrid guided tour/solo trip. The guided part will begin in Osaka and end with 1 night in Tokyo. After that I will have 5 extra days and currently planning to spend 2 nights at either Kanazawa or Takayama, before returning to Tokyo.
So far I had settled on Kanazawa due to the shorter train ride from Tokyo, but now wondering if Tayakama is doable or better suited for what I hope to see. I really want to experience more of a countryside feel, slower pace, and to visit a nearby village (Shirakawa-go or Hida no Sato). *Note that my guided tour will visit Kyoto, since I have read Kanazawa can feel a bit similar.
Based on my preferences and timing, which destination would work best? I know visitng both would be ideal, but after a hectic tour I am looking forward to relaxing for 2 nights in one place.
Below is the Kanazawa itinerary I had so far for reference, but still very open to considering Takayama instead. Would appreciate some advice before finally committing! Thanks.
Day 1 / Thursday :
-Check out of Tokyo hotel by Shinjuku Station.
-Morning train to Kanazawa (arrive @ 11:00am)
-Lunch at Ōmichō Market
-Kanazawa Castle / Kenroku-en
-Kaga Yuzen Kimono Center
-Naga-machi Samurai District
Day 2 / Friday:
-8:00am highway bus to Shirakawa-go
-Explore village
-Head back to Kanazawa around noon
-Higashi Chaya District
Day 3 / Saturday:
-Morning train to Tokyo
Edit: Formatting.
5 comments
What dates are you going? I ask because the Takayama festival is in October and it’s basically impossible to get accommodation there if your dates overlap (it’s around the 10th I think)
Takayama is lovely, but you can see all of the old town in an afternoon. It’s a very quiet town, and the area around the station is quite similar to many similarly sized towns – not particularly interesting in my opinion.
Kanazawa definitely has more of a city vibe and there’s a bit more to do over two days there. It’s also easier to get to from Tokyo – I like to travel to Takayama with a night in Nagano (preferably) or Matsumoto first.
We just returned from a trip with 2 nights in Kanazawa, 1 in Takayama. There is more to do as a tourist in Kanazawa, and it’s more spread out, but they have totally different vibes. Takayama is a sleepier, smaller town, but it has a lot of charm. There is the old town area, the hill above has more quiet temples and shrines than you can shake a stick at, and there are some beautiful hikes in the area. The Hida folk village is cool to visit. You can get to Takayama from Toyama, all on JR, as well.
The Ōmicho market in Kanazawa is pretty awesome, so much good seafood. There is a loop bus in the city that takes you to all the major spots, but it would be tough enjoying all of them in 1 day I think. Because it’s a bigger city, it didn’t feel too crowded with tourists, which we found enjoyable. I’d say if you like doing lots of attractions, Kanazawa might be a better experience, but if you want to slow it down, Takayama might be the way to go.
Kanazawa for me, definitely. It’s a lovely place. Takayama is nice too, but you can’t compare if you need to choose one of them. If you can, I would stay in Kanazawa, and go further up the peninsula, one of the greatest scenery in Japan, imo.
I preferred takayama. But loved the ninja temple in Kanazawa.