Top Chubu Nature and Wildlife Tours

Head deep inside one of the world’s most under-the-radar natural wonders on this small-group guided expedition through a Japanese ice cave. This site is hard to reach for most independent travelers, but special entry permits are included in the tour. Follow the light of a headlamp into the mysterious, ice-cold cavern, carved by lava eruptions from Mt. Fuji over a millennium ago—a thrilling, out-of-the-box adventure.

If you only have limited time to discover Japan, then this private sightseeing tour is a smart choice. Maximize your vacation time by checking off multiple dispersed sites in a day in Takayama and Shirakawa-go. Along the way, enjoy plenty of great photo opportunities, with a chance to see Gassho-style houses, Hida Folk Village, and Takayama Betsuin Shorenji Temple.

Avoid the risk of getting lost in the Japanese Alps when you take a private day hike with a guide. Enjoy a beginner-friendly hike along the Nakasendo Trail between two traditional villages, Magome and Tsumago. Learn more about Japanese history and culture from your guide, and enjoy getting some exercise in the beautiful landscape.

The Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route offers a remarkable journey through Japan's Northern Japan Alps, showcasing stunning alpine scenery and unique transportation experiences. Traverse the route via cable cars, ropeways, and buses, while witnessing breathtaking landscapes that change with the seasons. Highlights include the famous Yuki-no-Otani Snow Corridor in spring, vibrant autumn foliage, and the impressive Kurobe Dam. Each season reveals a different side of this natural wonder, making it a year-round destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers alike. -Take comfortable bus from Nagano/Kanazawa, explore Northern Alps. -Spring-limited "Snow Wall Valley", a spectacular snow wall landscape that you must see once. -Visit world-class engineering marvel, the Kurobe Dam, experience firsthand the magnificent grandeur of Japan's largest dam. -Enjoy unique journey using six different mountain transportation in one day. -Special gift: Hokushinetsu specialty and local cuisine "Sasa Sushi".

Explore the beauty of Kenrokuen, one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens, and witness the majesty of Kanazawa Castle's exterior. This essential walking tour offers an in-depth look at the garden's rich history, its cultural significance, and its deep connection to the adjacent Kanazawa Castle Park. Guided by knowledgeable local experts in small groups, you will discover the historical link between the garden, which served as the outer garden of the feudal lord's residence, and the castle grounds across the street. Guides will explain how these two landmarks, the castle's restored architecture and the garden's exquisite design, tell the story of the powerful Kaga Domain. Participants will uncover hidden gems and insights often missed during solo visits, making it an enriching experience for both history enthusiasts and nature lovers seeking to understand Japan's heritage.

Itinerary Time Table: Kanazawa (Dep. 13:50) → Shirakawago (Arr. 15:10, Dep. 16:40) → Takayama (Arr. 17:40) *Please note that times may vary due to traffic conditions. **Please arrive at the station 10 minutes before the departure time. Please note: This is a transportation service only and not a guided tour. Embark on a captivating journey from Kanazawa to the enchanting UNESCO World Heritage site of Shirakawa-go, a picturesque village nestled in the heart of Japan. Step back in time and marvel at the well-preserved thatched-roof houses, a testament to centuries of traditional craftsmanship and culture. During your 1.5 hour stop, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the village with a self-guided walking tour map given to you by the driver, leading you to a carefully selected viewpoint. Capture stunning photographs, walk along the charming streets, and perhaps visit some of the local shops.

Begin your tour at the Kehi Jingu Shrine, one of Japan’s three great torii gates. Walk under the massive wooden structure and explore a serene forested shrine complex. Continue to the Tsuruga Red Brick Warehouse, a beautifully preserved site that now hosts cafés, local art shops, and maritime exhibits. Enjoy a relaxing stroll along the waterfront with sea breezes and a view of passing ships. Next, learn about Tsuruga's unique role as a humanitarian gateway at the Port of Humanity Tsuruga Museum. Hear the inspiring story of Jewish refugees who arrived here during WWII thanks to Chiune Sugihara’s transit visas. Finish with a visit to the Tsuruga Fish Market or a local seafood restaurant to enjoy specialties like grilled mackerel (saba) or seasonal crab, caught fresh from the Sea of Japan.

Discover Kanazawa after dark on a guided walk through its historic districts. Begin in the Higashi Chaya District, where wooden teahouses glow beneath lantern light after the crowds disappear. Explore its preserved streets as your local guide shares stories of geisha culture, architecture, and Edo-period life. Continue to the peaceful Kazuemachi Chaya District along the Asano River. Walk its narrow streets and riverside paths while discovering hidden details and local stories many travelers miss. Then walk through central Kanazawa to Oyama Shrine. Admire its illuminated grounds and distinctive gate, combining Japanese, Chinese, and European styles. Learn how the powerful Maeda Clan made Kanazawa one of Japan’s most prosperous cultural cities. Your guide will also share historical insights, photo spots, and recommendations for your stay. This tour is ideal for travelers seeking to avoid the daytime crowds and enjoy Kanazawa in a calm, atmospheric setting.

Seeing Kanazawa's top attractions in a short time can take a lot of planning, so let this small-group tour do the hard work for you. A carefully planned itinerary takes you to Kenrokuen Garden, Kanazawa Castle, the Samurai District, and the Higashi Chaya District, with admission to Kenrokuen Garden and Nomura House included to save time. Also, an included taxi ride between districts helps you cover more ground in less time.

Travel through the scenic Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road, a beautiful mountain route in Hakusan National Park surrounded by stunning autumn foliage. An English-speaking guide will accompany you throughout the tour. The route connects Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go, the UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its traditional Gassho-style villages. Enjoy breathtaking seasonal scenery, waterfalls including Ubaga-Taki Waterfall (one of Japan’s 100 Famous Waterfalls), and panoramic viewpoints along the way. The best autumn foliage season is from mid-October. Explore Shirakawa-go at your own pace with free time to discover the charming village and its unique traditional houses. The tour also includes a visit to Hakuichi’s flagship store “Hakukokan”, a “Gold Leaf Museum” showcasing Kanazawa’s famous gold leaf craftsmanship. Enjoy the popular Gold Leaf Soft-Serve Ice Cream, visit the café, and browse unique souvenirs. A light lunch box and a bottle of water are included.

Cover more ground than you could on foot with this small-group e-bike tour of Kanazawa. Skip the hassle of planning a cycling route and instead follow a guide to sights such as Kanazawa Castle, the Samurai District, and Kenrokuen Garden. Along the way, enjoy your guide's stories and take a break to refuel with Japanese snacks and matcha.

Kanazawa's samurai heritage is one of the city's most interesting features, but you can easily miss the details if exploring on your own. This walking tour takes you through the well-preserved Nagamachi Samurai District and to Kanazawa Castle in the company of a guide who reveals the stories of the samurai who shaped the city.

This private tour takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed villages of Gokayama and Shirakawago. See the distinctive Gassho-style houses and benefit from having a professional photographer guide to take your photos. This means you can focus on the sights, instead of trying to capture selfies, and then receive a selection of professionally edited photos after the tour.

This half-day tour takes you through Kanazawa’s most iconic sights, starting at Oyama Shrine, known for its unique gate combining Japanese, Chinese, and Western architectural styles. Your guide will explain the shrine’s history and its connection to the Maeda family. Next, explore Kanazawa Castle, where you'll learn about samurai life, defensive design, and the craftsmanship behind its restored walls and wooden structures. You will then visit Kenroku-en Garden, one of Japan’s Three Great Gardens, admired for its ponds, lanterns, seasonal scenery, and traditional garden design. The tour ends in Higashi Chaya District, a beautifully preserved geisha teahouse area with charming wooden streets, perfect for photos and browsing local shops.

In the Northern Japanese Alps lies a small beautiful onsen town sitting at the entrance of an even more amazing sight, Japanese deepest V-shaped gorge, Kurobe Gorge. On this tour you can experience the great natural beauty of Japan with the small town feel of a popular onsen resort. Your local guide will show you foot baths and healing buddhas, ride on the trolley train across spectacular gorges and finally walk in nature with onsen water rivers. City and scenery, bridges and buddhas, trolley trains and scenic walks, fully enjoy a lesser traveled part of Japan in Unazuki Onsen and the Kurobe Gorge! NOTE: The full trolley train, damaged by an earthquake in 2024, will reopen from October 1, 2026. Until that time, we will compensate for the shortened route by adding a stop at Shomyo Falls, the highest waterfall in Japan.

Experience the best of Nagano with this immersive tour starting from Myoko Kogen and Madarao Kogen. Begin your journey with a visit to the renowned Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park, home to Japan’s famous hot spring-bathing monkeys. Afterward, savor a delicious winter lunch before heading to the historic Zenkoji Temple, one of the country's most significant Buddhist sites. Led by a knowledgeable English-speaking guide, the tour concludes with a sake tasting, offering a perfect blend of culture, nature, and local flavors.

Abutting the remarkable Toyama Bay, Takaoka is a city with a diverse history of over 350 years. Known as the “Kitchen of Kanazawa”, it produced large amounts of food, metal working and pottery. As the second city of the Kaga Domain, much wealth was poured into the city, mostly in the form of building great temples. Two of those great temples, Zuiryuji and Shokoji, still remain and are considered National Treasures. On this tour you will see those temples, try your hand at metalworking and see the Amaharashi Coast with a view of the snow-capped Tateyama mountains in the background.

Make the most of your time in Kanazawa with this private half-day tour, tailored to your interests and preferred travel style—by taxi, on foot, or by e-bike. In just a few hours, discover the city’s cultural highlights, historic neighborhoods, and hidden backstreets with the insight of a knowledgeable local guide. Your itinerary is fully flexible—explore the peaceful Kenrokuen Garden, stroll through the cobbled lanes of the Higashi Chaya District, admire traditional crafts at local workshops, or visit the preserved samurai residences of Nagamachi. Whether you’re interested in architecture, cuisine, or culture, this experience is designed to fit your schedule without feeling rushed.

The departure location is selectable from Nozawa Onsen, Myoko Kogen and Madarao Kogen. Starting with a visit to the famous Snow Monkey Park. Get up close and watch as the Snow Monkeys relax in the naturally occurring hot springs of Jigokudani. Thanks to the tour's early morning start you will see the Monkeys as exclusively as it gets! Following this, we will commute to Shibu Onsen town. The first place to stop is Tamamura Honten, a sake & beer brewery established in 1805 attached to a traditional art gallery. After that, our guide will offer you insight into the historic Onsen village. This village was once frequented by Samurai, poets, and travellers alike. Good fortune is said to come to those who bathe in each of the Onsen in town. This section is a walking tour, but if you would prefer to relax in an Onsen, you may do so for just ¥800! Finally, during the green season, we visit Kokugonji, a serene and beautifully maintained temple nestled in rural Nakano and founded in 825.

Explore the natural beauty of Tateyama, one of Japan's Three Holy Mountains, on this day tour from Kanazawa. Start your adventure at Shomyo Falls, Japan’s tallest waterfall, known for its soothing sounds. Hike through lush alpine trails at Midagahara, enjoying a picturesque lunch overlooking the plateau. Reach Murodo Station for stunning views, where you can explore hiking routes or relax in the highest-altitude onsen in Japan. This tour offers a perfect blend of breathtaking nature and cultural insights, making it ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and travelers seeking a unique experience in Japan. - Day tour from Kanazawa, starting at 8:00 A.M. - Visit Japan's tallest waterfall and hike the Roof of Japan - Enjoy a lunch break with scenic mountain views - Suitable for moderately fit hikers with flexible routes available for the less physically fit

Explore Kanazawa on an eco-friendly electric bike, good for both the planet and your health! Ride through scenic and hidden spots with insights from a local guide. Stop by Nagamachi Samurai District, Kanazawa castle, followed by Myoryuji (Ninja Temple), discover its fascinating trapdoors and secret passages with a guide, plus multilingual booklets for reference. After the tour, you can continue sightseeing by bike, just return it to the designated port by the end of the day. Important Notice: The Ninja Temple tour is guided by temple staff in Japanese only. Multilingual brochures will be provided to help you follow the tour.

Experience breathtaking scenery at Mishima Skywalk, Japan's longest pedestrian suspension bridge and one of the country's most spectacular attractions. Walk across the 400-meter-long bridge as you take in panoramic views of majestic Mount Fuji, Suruga Bay, and the surrounding mountains and forests. Every step offers incredible photo opportunities and a unique perspective of Japan's natural beauty, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers and photographers alike. Beyond the bridge, explore beautifully landscaped gardens, scenic walking trails, local cafés, and souvenir shops, or enjoy optional outdoor adventure activities available within the park. Whether you're visiting during the cherry blossom season, vibrant autumn foliage, or on a clear day with stunning views of Mount Fuji, every visit offers a memorable experience.

Visit the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, one of the world's largest dinosaur museums. Discover 51 life-size dinosaur skeletons, interactive exhibits, and dinosaurs found in Fukui, including Fukuiraptor and Fukuisaurus. Travel directly from Kanazawa with no transfers. During the journey, your guide will explain why so many dinosaur fossils have been discovered in this region and introduce the museum highlights and lunch options. Enjoy approximately 3.5 hours of free time to explore the museum. As a special gift, receive dinosaur souvenirs such as a pin badge, stickers, or a mini figure. After the tour, enjoy drop-off at either Kanazawa Station or your hotel in central Kanazawa. The museum is almost entirely indoors, making it ideal for families, couples, and dinosaur enthusiasts in any weather. The Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum is one of Hokuriku's must-visit attractions, alongside Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, and the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route.

Get a taste of the ancient Nakasendo Trail that runs between Kyoto and Tokyo on a guided five-hour walk through the Kiso Valley. Walk between two scenic medieval towns without the risk of getting lost as your guide will keep you on the right path. Learn more about local culture and traditions while enjoying the landscapes along the way and getting some exercise.