Gifu

Thank you to our tour leader, Liu Mei, for her meticulous explanations of the itinerary and her care for the group members. The group members were also wonderful! Everyone was punctual and cooperated with the boarding schedule. 🤣 Personally, I thought the pudding in Takayama was better than in Shirakawa-go. Some shops in Takayama were closed on Tuesdays, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the food I wanted. Shirakawa-go and the Gassho-zukuri village didn't have snow yet, and the cherry blossoms weren't in bloom, so while beautiful, it wasn't quite like winter. Overall, this day trip was great, but I would still recommend coming in winter for even more stunning scenery.

The pre-flight pick-up and drop-off service was convenient; they contacted us in advance via Line to confirm our arrival date and time. Upon landing, we were quickly informed of the meeting point and given clear directions, ensuring a smooth and quick ride even though we arrived late at night. The driver was also very skilled and the car was spotless. It was a very good experience.

Joining this day tour is a great deal. Although the tour guide doesn't speak English or Chinese, he uses translation software to provide important information, and the maps are available in both Chinese and English, so there's no need to worry about language barriers. The meeting time is also clearly stated on a sign.

The internet connection is quite stable, even in the Gassho-zukuri village, so it's worth a try.

We were blessed with good weather for our hike, and could already see the Hotaka mountain range and Mt. Kasagatake from the ropeway. From the observation deck at Nishihotakaguchi Station, we could also see Mt. Yari, the Great Kiretto, and the Gendarme. The view from the summit forest was spectacular! The restrooms at the station were clean and comfortable.