[Spring Only] 1 Day Tour from Kanazawa: Tonami's Terrific Tulips and the UNESCO site of Gokayama

Discover the vibrant beauty of Japan at the Tonami Tulip Festival, a breathtaking celebration showcasing millions of blooming tulips in a kaleidoscope of colors. Nestled in the stunning Toyama Prefecture, this festival transforms the landscape into a floral wonderland, highlighting the region's rich agricultural heritage. After enjoying the beauty of the tulips, it's time to head to Inami, a great little village famous for its woodcarving. Not many tourists make it to this cute town with an awesome temple. Finally, embark on a journey to Gokayama, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the picturesque villages boast gassho-style houses steeped in history. The serene atmosphere and scenic mountain backdrop provide a perfect contrast to the lively festival. This tour from Kanazawa offers an unforgettable experience combining the splendor of tulips with the tranquil beauty of Gokayama's heritage, making it a day to cherish in the heart of Japan.

Highlights

• Enjoy the beautiful Tonami Tulip Festival and it's expansive grounds with many different zones to discover
• Walk around Inami, the woodcarving village, see a master woodcarver's shop and go into a massive rural temple

• Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site village of Gokayama

• Enter one of the thatched roof homes to get more of a feel for the history and excellent craftsmanship of the area.

*For those looking to join the tour from Tokyo, 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; however, you can of course store your belongings on the tour bus as well.

The tour begins at Kanazawa Station, where you will get on the bus at the bus terminal on the Kanazawa Port side of the station. After boarding the bus, you will ride a little under an hour on the highway through the beautiful mountains while passing by quaint rural hamlets.

Just off the highway is the Tonami Tulip Park, where you will be dropped off for the start of the day! The park consists of many different varieties of beds, including tunnels, floating islands and simple gardens. There are over 3 million tulips and 330 varieties throughout for you to discover in all different colors and shapes that you may have never seen before in your life! You'll get plenty of time to wander around, get lost and just, be, with the tulips. There are also plenty of food options in the forms of a restaurant, lunch boxes(bentos) and food stalls.

After a short trip on the bus you will arrive in Inami. This town is famous for its woodcarving, with master carvers having been working on their craft here for over 200 years. There are workshops and stores all along the main street for you to explore! Pop in and see what they're are working on or even buy one of the beautiful masterpieces. The temple, Zuisenji, was once an important center for Buddhism in the area but today is not as frequently visited. In April the wisteria trees bloom; one is the purple pictured below and another a ethereal white.

In Inami you have a choice to either follow the guided tour, eat lunch or shop. For those who want more of a sit down restaurant there are a couple in the town. If you want to spend the entire time shopping, that is okay too! The guided portion will bring you up the street with some explanation about the history of Inami, wood carving and Zuisenji Temple. We will go into the temple grounds where we will see the amazing carving made over 200 years ago. Feel free to join or leave the guided portion of the tour whenever you desire. There will be some time after the temple for you to either eat or shop.

Meeting back up at the parking lot, we will then head towards Gokayama, one of the two areas of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area we will explore is Ai-no-kura, one of the best preserved villages in the area. You can walk around and get beautiful shots from the observation point.

This area, secluded from the hustle and bustle of the larger cities, was vital to the economic prosperity of the Kaga domain centered in Kanazawa. The production of various agricultural products and sake were very important but also was the manufacture of gunpowder and paper. There are a couple of the gassho-style thatched roof houses that you can actual enter to learn more about the area. One is a farmhouse as it was two hundred years ago, with the upper floors now a museum that shows what products where made in the house. In another one of the houses you can actually make Japanese paper, washi. Be a part of a tradition that has existed since the 1500s!

After a long day exploring around the region, we will return to the bus and head back to Kanazawa. The ride is a little over an hour so relax and enjoy the ride back to the station/hotel. If you have any questions about any other parts of your trip, this is a perfect time to ask!

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 a 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 the Tulip Festival and Gokayama village
• English speaking guide
• Entry fee at the Tulip Festival
• Entry fee at one of the Gassho Thatched Roof houses
• Entry fee at Zuisenji Temple
• Guided Tour at Gokayama

Excluded

• Lunch
• Accommodation

Other Information

• This tour involves several hours of 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.