I love Japan :)

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Japan too!

Hi may I know where u got the mobile wifi from? U got it in sg first?

hi read your shirakawa-go itinerary. I have the same timing, reaching shirakawa-go around 1pm.
is half a day enough to tour the place, other than the shirakawa village, is visiting Ainokura village necessary (or your itinerary already included Ainokura village)?
thank you

choy

Hi, firstly I love the very very beautiful photos. I'm planning a last minute trip week-long trip out from Tokyo to visit central Japan. Shirakawago is the main destination I'm looking to go to so reading your blog was really helpful. I'm trying to decide my exact dates, and want to make sure the place is snowy like I see in the photos... so I'd like to know what date exactly did you arrive there? I'm wondering if week of 7th December is too early and perhaps I should push it to mid December?

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll keep an eye out on the info within the links and plan accordingly.

Just coming back here to post and say thank you to the author. Your detailed blog was extremely useful. A few points that might help others who come across this site.

Firstly I went in late Feb, and by all accounts it should generally be covered in snow like her photos, but I it was a warm year for me so bad luck for me. At least it did snow heavily during the morning and I was up at 6:00am to take advantage of it, like her I think it was worth getting out of bed that early, if nothing else just to experience the quiet village in the morning snow. A lady was telling me that best bet for snow covered sights is of course Jan, plus there is light up sessions on weekends during Jan and early Feb, so if you can plan ahead then maybe factor in for that. I tried booking in Nov and only secured the late Feb weekdays.

My holiday was actually Tokyo->Kanazawa->Shirakawago->Takayama->Okuhida->Matsumoto->Tokyo. Considering there is now the new bullet train from Tokyo to Kanazawa, plus Nohi-bus offer a bus package ticket taking you along those exact destinations, its pretty handy. Bus package also allows for those destinations in the opposite direction. Here is the details of the Bus Package I am talking about (https://www.alpico.co.jp/access/ticket/pdf/mitsuboshiroute2014[1].pdf). I chose to spend a night in each destination except for Matsumoto where I just made my way home to Tokyo that night.

Takayama, looking at her photos, I wish it was covered in snow there also. Its ok-ish place to walk around and spend a night (my opinion). Okuhida, I loved this place. Matsumoto, only stopped by to see the castle (one of the national treasures).

It might be worth considering going Kyoto/Osaka->Kanazawa->Shirakawago->Takayama->Okuhida->Matsumoto->Tokyo, for those newly planning and especially if you are in Tokyo already.

Thanks again for to the Author!

Hi I will be travelling to Takayama during the CNY. Certain trains are not covered by the 5 days pass . Can I top up if I use those trains. I managed to book Nohi tickets but my time is very tight. Planning for a Plan B. Taking the train from Kyoto straight to Takayama. Appreciate feedbacks. Thanks

Hi, was wondering is it worth driving if 2 adults and 4 kids aged from 5-13? Or public transport is so much easier and cheaper to reach all these places?