1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Beautiful Amaharashi, A Big Buddha and the Shokawa Valley River Cruise

Toyama Bay is famed for its fresh seafood and impressive mountains that overlook it. The Northern Japanese Alps that surround the bay include many great sights, such as the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route, the Kurobe Gorge and even Gokayama, but the mountain range itself is amazing to view from afar. This tour includes visiting Amaharashi, one of the most famous spots for seeing the snow covered mountains. It will also head into the city of Takaoka to see the Big Buddha there. There are many excellent options for food in the area, too! Finally, the tour heads into the mountains for a short cruise on the Shokawa River. The valley is stunning and excellent in most seasons: snow in the winter, vivid green and cool in the summer and red leaves in the autumn. If you want to get a taste of both the sea and mountain scenic sights of Japan, this tour is perfect for you!

Highlights

• Stop by Amaharashi, get some pictures and then head up the coast for other views of the bay and mountains

• See the famous Takaoka Big Buddha and traditional streetscape of the city

• Hop on a river cruise through the Shokawa Valley to experience Japanese seasons at their best in the mountains, on a boat

NOTE: This tour runs all year round but there are seasons that are the best and times of the year when your chance of seeing the famous view with the mountains in the background.

Best Months:

Amaharashi - December until May

(December and January have great visibility if it's not raining. February to May have less rain but from the beginning of summer the yellow sand makes the view more hazy, although it is certainly still there. The snow is usually on the tops of the mountains from late November until the beginning of June.)

Shokawa Valley - All year round

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo or Nagano, please see the FAQ Section below

Description

This tour will start at Kanazawa Station at 9:00 A.M., where your guide will meet you in front of the Information Center near the Shinkansen Ticket Gates. You will have the opportunity to put your belongings in a coin locker at the station as well if you feel the need. Everyone will then follow the guide to one of our tour buses to start our journey!

The first stop on the tour is the famous Amaharashi. This area as popped up in historical records a few times. The first was as a famous poet passed through the area and wrote about its beauty in the Man'yoshi, the most famous anthology of poetry in Japanese history. A general and his troops also came through the area, sheltering in the rocks on the coast which can still be seen to this day. The view here is absolutely stunning with the small island in front of the snow-capped mountains of the Central Japan Alps. Here you will have some time to walk around and see the coast from a few different angles and even can shop a bit at the tourist information center across the street. After enjoying this area, we will go where most visitors don't, further up the coast to check out a few more spots!

After seeing much of the beautiful Amaharashi Coast, it's time to head back to town. Nearby is the historical city of Takaoka which is rich in traditions and interesting architecture. Takaoka was the second city of the Maeda family and their vast domains during the Edo period. The city was famous for its metalworking and other industries. This history of metalworking can be seen throughout the city but especially at the Takaoka Great Buddha in the middle of town. It is here that the tour will first go before allowing you to walk around the city and discover for yourself. This is also the time to find lunch. There are a variety of restaurants in the area so walk around and check them out!

Once lunch is finished and the group is back together, we will head towards the final destination of the day, the Shokawa Valley and cruise! This river has been the main connection for the mountain town of Gokayama to the rest of the world for centuries. When it was dammed in 1930, an agreement was made for a modern boat service to allow for the people and goods to quickly and easily travel to the towns and cities below. That same service is available today with the Shokawa Cruise that you will experience! The entire boat ride takes about an hour and ten minutes where you can see the beautiful mountains of the area. There are two amazing red bridges that cross the river, waterfalls everywhere and an onsen hanging over the water. On the boat itself there is an outdoor second floor and a heated/air-conditioned first floor, so you can enjoy the ride however you want!

After starting the day seeing the beauty of Japan's coast and ending it with the magnificence of Japan's mountains, it has truly been a day full of great views. It's now time to head back so you can continue your adventure around Kanazawa and the rest of Japan!

TOUR MEETUP POINT

1 / KANAZAWA STATION @ 9:00 A.M.

The meetup point is outside of the Shinkansen ticket gates, in front of the information center. If you are heading out from the gates, look forward and to the right and you will see four large sumo wrestlers lined up. This is where we will be meeting. For those coming from outside the station, you will find this sign immediately inside of the East Entrance of Kanazawa Station. You may wait nearby there until the tour begins at 9:00 A.M. Be sure to look for the guide wearing a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour tag.

NOTES

Included

• Transportation to and from Amaharashi, Takaoka Big Buddha and the Shokawa Cruise
• Shokawa Cruise Roundtrip Ticket
• English speaking guide
• Guided Tour at Amaharashi, Takaoka Big Buddha and during the Shokawa Cruise
• Free time at Amaharashi, Takaoka and during the Shokawa Cruise

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation
• Shinkansen/Transportation to Kanazawa Station start point

Other Information

• This tour involves some time walking in the outdoors. We recommend that you wear shoes and clothes which are easy to walk in. Please check the weather forecast before you head to the meetup point and prepare an umbrella or rain coat if necessary.

• In winter the temperatures will be below 10℃ at the high , and in the morning and evening may be close to or below 0℃. Please wear warm clothing and footwear appropriate for snowy and cold conditions. There may also be snow and ice on the road/sidewalk, and so you should take care to not slip by preparing the correct shoes for such conditions.

• There will be free time along the way for guests to enjoy the locations at their own pace. However, please make sure that you are at the respective meetup points at the time stated by your guide. If you get lost or need assistance, feel free to call the number which is listed on your tour pass, and our staff will assist you immediately.