Takayama tours

Japan's cities buzz with non-stop energy, but if you're ready to trade high-tech for low-stress, you can't do better than Takayama. Nestled in the Hida mountains 300 kilometres east of Tokyo, this city is the perfect place to practice the ancient art of slowing down and taking time to smell the flowers. Take a private Takayama tour and experience the Japanese Alps with a local guide. Start at fascinating Kusakabe Heritage House to view merchant artifacts from 1890. Then follow your guide along the Higashiyama walking course, passing temples and shrines on route to Shiroyama Park, offering panoramic city views. Wander the Samnachi district, a cluster of boutique shops, handicraft stores and atmospheric bars. If it's too early for a tipple, swap the sake for tea while your guide provides a crash course in Buddhist and Shinto philosophy. Takayama has a real ramen reputation, so why not solicit your guide's preferred spot to slurp the city's favorite noodles with locals?