Hida Takayama Temple Hotel Stay & Shirakawago Cultural Treasures Tour

Overview

A Japanese cultural experience tour featuring a temple lodging stay in the Takayama area, along with visits to the old town streets and Shirakawa-go!

Stay overnight at Takayama Zenkoji Temple, enjoy a beginner-friendly cultural activity (e.g., meditation, cooking, Kaidan Meguri, or sutra copying), explore Takayama’s Old Town and Shirakawa-go (including the Minka-en Open Air Museum), and travel comfortably by car or bus before returning to Nagoya Station.

Reserve with a Rakuten account to earn or use points for every booking!

Highlights

• Participate in a choice of unique cultural experiences at the temple
• Stay overnight at Takayama Zenkoji Temple lodging (room type cannot be requested).
• Explore the Old Town of Takayama and Shirakawa-go with an English-speaking guide.
• Visit the Minka-en Open Air Museum in Shirakawa-go.
• Travel comfortably by hire car or chartered bus according to group size (vehicle type cannot be requested).

Important Information

A minimum of 2 participants are required for the tour to be held.

If the number of participants is not reached by 3 days prior to the tour date, the tour will be canceled and the tour fee will be refunded.

Entry to areas that require an additional fee is not included.

Please be sure to read all terms and conditions when booking.

If you are late for the meeting time on the day, you may be unable to participate in the tour: please arrive with plenty of time to spare.

The hire car or chartered bus is available only on the second day. Please note that travel from the accommodation to the Old Town will be on foot.

The hire car or chartered bus is available when traveling from the Old Town to Shirakawa-go, and from Shirakawa-go to Nagoya Station.

The guide will accompany you on the 2nd day only. After the experience at the accommodation, the guide will be waiting at the entrance, so please approach them.

Once you meet the guide, enjoy sightseeing together in the Old Town and Shirakawa-go.

The room type will depend on the number of guests. Please note that specific room requests cannot be accommodated.

The type of hire car or chartered bus will be determined based on the number of guests. Please note that specific vehicle requests cannot be accommodated.

The legal drinking age in Japan is age 20 . Please bring a valid ID for proof of age

Temple Hotel Takayama Zenkoji

Check in 16:00–20:00

Check out: by 11:00

Experiences are generally available daily between 09:00 and 19:00

They can also be arranged before check-in or after check-out

Itinerary

Day 1

Until 16:00 — Travel on your own

16:00–20:00 — Arrive at Temple Hotel Takayama Zenkoji

Day 2

Until 11:00 — Please enjoy your chosen activity or explore the facilities until departure time

11:00 — Departs from Temple Hotel Takayama Zenkoji

12:00 — Takayama Old Town (Free time 90 minutes)

13:30 — Depart from Takayama Old Town

14:30 — Shirakawa-go (Free time 90 minutes)

16:00 — Depart from Shirakawa-go

19:00 — Arrive at Nagoya Station

19:10 — Tour ends at Nagoya Station

Description

Spend a night at Takayama Zenkoji Temple, then pick a fun, beginner-friendly experience like meditation, making rice balls & miso soup, Kaidan Meguri, or sutra copying. Wander the charming streets of Takayama’s Old Town and the UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go with your guide, including a stop at the Minka-en Open Air Museum to see traditional Japanese homes. Travel between spots comfortably by hire car or bus (walk from the temple to Old Town), and end your adventure with a transfer back to Nagoya Station.

Tour Features

TEMPLE HOTEL TAKAYAMA ZENKO-JI

Stay one night at Takayama Zenkoji Temple with breakfast, and choose from unique cultural experiences:

Zazen Meditation with the Monk

The monk of Zenkouji, Kaiji, will guide you through a meditation experience. Detailed explanations and breathing techniques provided. Experience the Buddhist meditation ritual to compose yourself.

Rice Ball & Miso Soup Breakfast Making

Join us in preparing homemade onigiri (rice balls) and miso soup using fresh, local ingredients. As we typically do not use meat or fish, this experience is also suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Dark Meditation

Dark Meditation is a sensory journey that heightens awareness and deepens your connection to your inner self. In the stillness of darkness, you may find yourself touching the “Key to Paradise.”

Writing Meditation (Sutra Copying)

Writing meditation (sutra copying), as the name implies, is the process of transcribing sutras containing the teachings of Buddha.

Takayama Old Town

Stroll through the beautifully preserved streets of Takayama, often called “Little Kyoto.” Traditional merchant houses from the Edo period line the town, with sake breweries, sweet shops, and craft stores to explore. Enjoy local delicacies such as Hida beef skewers, mitarashi dango, and sake tastings. During the famous Takayama Festival in spring and autumn, elaborately decorated festival floats parade through the streets, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Shirakawa-go (with entry to the Minka-en Open Air Museum)

Discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Shirakawa-go, renowned for its unique gassho-zukuri thatched-roof farmhouses. From the Ogimachi Castle Ruins Observatory, take in the iconic panoramic view of the village. At the Minka-en Open Air Museum, you can step inside over 25 relocated traditional houses to learn about the architecture and lifestyle of the past. In winter, the sight of snow-covered thatched roofs with the warmth of an open hearth inside is especially atmospheric.

Total

70,000 JPY

Rakuten Point:

+636

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