Shirakawago village and Gokayama village are traditional Japanese settlements best known for building style known as gasshō-zukuri – no nails or any metal materials used in the construction of these buildings. 

These traditional villages have been recorded as UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites as outstanding examples of traditional human settlements that perfectly adapted to their environment and their social and economic reasons.

Shirakawago and Gokayama are two different villages and situated in different prefectures. Most tours either include Hida Takayama or Gokayama but rarely Gokayama as a tour on its own.

Tokyo and Nagoya seem to be more popular as a meeting point for Shirakawago tours. Glad to have found a tour that commences from Kanazawa from Viator. Our tour guide is a local from Kanazawa who speaks both English and Japanese fluently. 

Tip: Visit Viator, Trip Advisor or GetYourGuide.com for appropriate tour options that would suit your budget, needs and schedule.

The meeting point of our tour is located within walking distance from Kanazawa Station. There are up to 10 parking bays for tour buses at this parking lot. I assume that this may be the designated meeting area for most tours from Kanazawa Station.

Exit Kanazawa Station by the West exit (exit towards the Port). Walk on and keep right passing the waiting taxi bays. Cross the road on the right towards Hyatt Centric Kanazawa Hotel. The bus bays are opposite the entrance of Hyatt Centric Kanazawa Hotel are designated bays for special buses other than public transport. 

Not that I have been on many tours, I doubt I have encountered any tours which organises sitting arrangements in the bus except this one. Nothing negative. I suppose it is a way for the tour conductors recognise the people within their group.