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!
Itinerary
9:00
Start your tour at Kanazawa Station, where your guide will greet you begin the tour.
The meeting point will be outside the Shinkansen ticket gate, in front of the information center sign with the sumo wrestlers. We will then head over to the bus pick-up point.
Arrive at the Tonami Tulip Park and begin your journey of discovering the over 3 million tulips and 300 varieties on the grounds of the park. Feel free to eat lunch here or at the next destination.
Arrive at Inami, the wood carving village. Explore the old street, expert craftsman's shops and the temple of Zuisenji. Wandering around some of the backstreets can mean finding some cool pictures. Don't forget to eat either here at one of the restaurants or at the flower park.
Arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Gokayama and the village of Ainokura. Nestled in the mountains and seemingly lost to time, after a short guided tour you can explore on your own and find all the great hidden spots.
Arrive back at Kanazawa and say goodbyes!
Note: There is often traffic at this time so the arrival time may fluctuate up to 20 minutes. It usually fluctuates between 17:40-18:20, so be careful with shinkansen and bus tickets being too close to this time.
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.
FAQs
Q. I’d like to join this tour from Tokyo/Nagano. Is that possible?
Yes, it is possible to do so!
For those coming from Tokyo, please ride the Shinkansen departing Tokyo Station at 6:16 A.M., to arrive in Kanazawa at 8:43.
For those leaving from Nagano, you can catch the same Shinkansen from Nagano Station at 7:38 A.M.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like more information.
What should I wear/bring?
Please wear clothing appropriate to the season in which you are taking the tour, and check the weather forecast ahead of time. Guests may wish to bring rain coats or umbrellas on rainy days, or sunscreen to avoid sunburn. The temperatures can get a bit chilly, especially in the mountains so a warm jacket is always good to bring along. Otherwise, please feel free to bring any other items, such as water or a snack, which you would normally carry when walking in the outdoors.
Can I add accommodation to my tour booking?
Yes. We can help book accommodation for guests who will be spending the night in Kanazawa, or nearby areas. Please send us an inquiry if you would like to request help.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible/appropriate for guests with limited mobility?
The nature of this tour means it is not wheelchair accessible and may not be appropriate for guests with limited mobility, given the amount of walking involved. Should this be of concern, contact us prior to booking to discuss options.
Is lunch included on this tour?
No. This tour does not include lunch however there will be opportunities to purchase food and drinks during the tour. If you prefer to, please also feel free to bring snacks and drinks with you.
(Travel Agency License No: Nagano 2-562)
Snow Monkey Resorts Tours
2159 Kurita, Nagano City, Nagano, 380-0921 Japan
Tel: (+81)26-219-6256
Member of All Nippon Travel Agents Association
Travel Service Supervisor: Azusa Fukuhara
