Kanazawa + Shirakawa + Takayama Arrangement

Hi, i would be travelling to Osaka during 27th Mar 09 ~ 31st Mar 09. I would love to visit kanazawa, takayama and shirakawa-go. Where should i stay during these period? Kanazawa or takayama? WOuld a stayover of 1 or 2 day be sufficient to explore the reas? Please advise

Thanks in advance

Kanazawa + Shirakawa + Takayama Arrangement

From Osaka it%26#39;s about 3 hr train to Kanazawa, spend the night there. Use the next day to take in Kanazawa before taking bus to Shirakawa-go and stay the night in one of the unique gassho-zukuri farmhouses. On day 3 take bus from Shirakawa-go to Takayama. Ideally spend another night in Takayama. If not tour the town and during the day and go back to Osaka late in the evening. Also on day 2 if you don%26#39;t want to stay in Shirakawa-go, you can take a late bus to bed down in Takayama. On a tight schedule, Shirakawa-go can be toured in a few hours.

bus schedule:

nouhibus.co.jp/a0_bus/…sirakawago_08_0706.htm

Kanazawa + Shirakawa + Takayama Arrangement

I am planning a trip to japan,

I have my basic itinerary - but need some help with scheduling and perhaps hotels or inns

I want to visit Tateyama ( Toyoma, Murodo), Kanazawa, Fukui (Eiheiju) , Shirakawa, Ojimachi, from Osaka, and then return to Kyoto

what is the best order in which to see those cities using the train or buses?

are these cities too similar - do we need to see them all? if not, which are the highlights

are there any other villages in the Gifu region that we should see?

how can we get bus and train schedules for our journey?

how long should we stay in each place?

any other suggestions?

Hi malibubum

I’m back home. I hope you don’t mind my response on the forum here so that others can share and comment as well.

What time of the year are you visiting and how many days do you plan to go for the places you’ve listed!?

Tateyama and Toyama are jumping points for the popular Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route from mid Apr. to late Nov. Toyama has a small insignificant castle but the river besides it is popular during cherry blossom season. And if you don’t mind fighting the crowd during Golden Week, Toyama holds a tulip flower show from late April to early May.

You only mention Murodo. Is it your intention to only do the Snow Corridor part of the Alpine Route!? The rest of the Route is also scenic, esp. the part around the mighty Kurobe Dam. IMO, if you’re going, go for the whole Route.

Serene Eihei-ji is worth going. It sits on top of hill and amidst tall cedars. Temple lodging is possible, it’s cheaper and less touristy than those in Koya-san. While in the area, don’t miss Tojinbo, its rugged coastline with wave-eroded cliff columns, is not unlike the Giant%26#39;s Causeway in N. Ireland, though maybe less spectacular. You can go up a watch tower to view the area, walk down to the waterfront for a close examination, or take a boat cruise for a different perspective. The street from the bus stop to the coast is lined with seafood eateries on either side, the giant local snail-scallop being the most popular. We were able to do a day-trip to Tojinbo and Eihei-ji from the town of Fukui, but if time allowed, consider staying a night in Awara Onsen which is en-route.

From Osaka it is 2 hr. direct JR to Fukui. From Fukui it is 1.5 hr. direct JR to Toyama. After doing the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route from west to east, spend some time in Matsumoto. From Matsumoto work your way back west by bus to Takayama via beautiful Kamikochi (accessible late Apr. to mid Nov). From Takayama, again take bus to Kanazawa via Shirakawa-go/Ogimachi. From Kanazawa it is about 2 hr. direct JR to Kyoto.

this is our tentative itinerary - what do you think

bear in mind we are traveling by public transportation with luggage: the towns listed are where we plan to sleep

DAY 1 - takayama - see sights

DAY 2 - takayama ( day trip to shirakawa)

DAY 3 - kamikochi

DAY 4 murado by way of alpine route - go east to Matsumoto then north to Omachi - then take the Alipco bus to Matsumoto- then Shin-Omachi, where we start the apline route.

DAY 5 murodo - hike on Mt Tateyama

DAY 6 Kanazawa stopping in Takoaka to see the Budda statue

DAY 7 Kanazawa = see sights

DAY 8 Fukui - stopping in Eihiju on the way

DAY 9 Kyoato - stopping in Hikone

DAYS 10 - 13 Kyoto

i would appreciate any comments - and let me know if you think this is a good schedule and easy to acoomplish - or if you would change it

Couldn%26#39;t comment on Takoaka, haven%26#39;t been there.

If you have spare time in Matsumoto, spend half a day doing a side-trip to scenic Daio Wasabi Farm, the largest of its kind in Japan.

You don%26#39;t want your luggages with you while you%26#39;re doing the Alpine Route. Have them forwarded to your hotel in Kanazawa. Even if you%26#39;re spending a night up there, just bring along a small backpack. You%26#39;ll need mobility among the different means of transport on the Route.

I would re-iterate the suggestion of including Tojinbo while you%26#39;re in Fukui.

Hikone%26#39;s castle is less spectacular than that of Himeji, Osaka or Nagoya. Other possible Kyoto side-trips include Nara, Arashiyama, Byodo-ji, Miho Museum, Hiei-san/Enryaku-ji or Amanohashidate.

sI o apprecaite your comments - thanks so much