SHIRAKAWA-GO AND THE HIGASHI CHAYA DISTRICT

Description

Discover two evocative historic sights: a rural village where houses have incredible thatched roofs and the tea house district in Kanazawa where the famous geishas entertained customers with music and dances.

What we will see

• Shirakawa-go village
• Gassho-zukuri houses
• Japanese lunch
• Higashi Chaya district (Kanazawa)

What we will do

• We leave the port behind us and head inland to visit the charming historic village of Shirakawa-go surrounded by mountains and paddy fields, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• We wander past the traditional houses built in the gassho-zukuri style with their characteristic steep thatched roofs, whose triangular shape (gassho) resembling two “praying-hands” is necessary to withstand the weight of the snow, which falls abundantly in this region.
• Our trip into Japanese culture continues at the table too as we enjoy a typical fixed-menu Japanese lunch.

We then head back to Kanazawa to visit the enchanting Higashi Chaya district, where a maze of winding alleyways is dotted with tea houses called chaya*, characteristic buildings where geishas danced, sang to entertain guests and played traditional Japanese instruments. * Among the rows of historic houses, we* jump back in time** to take in the lively atmosphere that used to reign in the ancient districts.

What you need to know

• Itinerary sequence may vary.
• The length of the coach transfer depends on the itinerary.
• We recommend that you book early because only a limited number of places are available.
• Traffic jams are to be expected during tourist season.
• Money cannot be exchanged in the port, we recommend buying Japanese currency beforehand.
• Visibility during the tour is subject to weather conditions.
• Comfortable shoes with a low heel are recommended.