JJapan Trips

Tokyo – Kanazawa – Gokayama/Shirakawago – Takayam – Tokyo (7D6N) in February 2026

  • September 18, 2025

Hi, First time visiting Japan during winter time. Family of 4 (2 adults 2 boys 11 yo & 13 yo). Itinerary proposed with public transport.

  1. Is the proposed itinerary doable during winter with public transport?

  2. Planning to get Hokuriku Arch Pass (Valid for 7 days)

  3. From some research that bus will only stop at Gokayama from April to November, is that true? (Source: https://www.hokutetsu.co.jp/en/highway/#shirakawa )

Day 1 (Sat, Feb 14) – Arrival → Kanazawa

– Arrive HND 14:10

– Monorail/Keikyu → Tokyo Station (~30–40 min) (Excluded)

– Shinkansen Tokyo → Kanazawa (~3 hrs)

– Overnight Kanazawa

 

Day 2 (Sun, Feb 15) – Kanazawa

– Omicho Market (fresh seafood)

– Kenrokuen Garden (winter yukizuri snow ropes)

– Kanazawa Castle Park

– Higashi Chaya District (tea houses, geisha streets)

– Overnight Kanazawa

 

Day 3 (Mon, Feb 16) – Kanazawa

– Omicho Market (fresh seafood)

– 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art

– Nagamachi Samurai District

– Evening walk at Kanazawa Station (illuminated drum gate)

– Overnight Kanazawa

 

Day 4 (Tue, Feb 17) – Kanazawa → Gokayama → Shirakawa-go → Takayama

(Luggage forwarding service (Takkyubin/ Takayama) from Kanazawa to Takayama)

– Bus: Kanazawa → Gokayama (Ainokura/Suganuma) → Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi village) → Takayama

– Explore snowy thatched-roof villages & viewpoints

– Evening arrival Takayama

– Overnight Takayama

 

Day 5 (Wed, Feb 18) – Takayama

– Morning markets (Miyagawa, Jinya-mae)

– Takayama Jinya (historic government office)

– Sanmachi Suji Old Town (charming in snow)

– Hida Folk Village (Hida no Sato, open-air museum)

– Overnight Takayama

 

Day 6 (Thu, Feb 19) – Travel to Tokyo → Odaiba

– Morning markets (Miyagawa, Jinya-mae)

– Train: Takayama → Toyama (Ltd Exp Hida) → Hokuriku Shinkansen → Tokyo (~4.5 hrs)

– Toy & hobby shopping in Tokyo: Shibuya PARCO (Nintendo Tokyo, Pokémon Center, Capcom Store) or Akihabara (Yodobashi Camera, Kotobukiya, Animate)

– Overnight Shinjuku

 

Day 7 (Fri, Feb 20) – Tokyo HND

– Odaiba (Tokyo Bay):

– Odaiba Seaside Park (Tokyo Bay & Rainbow Bridge)

– DiverCity Tokyo Plaza (life-size Unicorn Gundam + Gundam Base shop)

– teamLab Planets (immersive digital art museum, must book in advance)

– Palette Town area & Toyota Mega Web (car showcase, if open)

– ~22:00 → Haneda Airport (~40–50 min transfer)
– Outbound Feb 21, 2026 HND 0145

 

by LoveUrselfEveryDay