8 days in Japan Itinerary

Known nationally as an industrial heartland, Nagoya boasts a far more cosmopolitan and cultural core than its reputation would lead you to believe.

Start off your visit on the 24th (Sun): see the interesting displays at Toyota Automobile Museum, examine the collection at Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology, step into the grandiose world of Nagoya Castle, then get curious at Nagoya City Science Museum, and finally wander the streets of Sakae.

To find traveler tips, ratings, where to stay, and more tourist information, read Nagoya day trip planning tool .

Cebu City, Philippines to Nagoya is an approximately 8-hour combination of flight and train. The time zone difference moving from Philippines Time (PHT) to Japan Standard Time (JST) is 1 hour. Expect much colder temperatures when traveling from Cebu City in November; daily highs in Nagoya reach 16°C and lows reach 11°C. Finish up your sightseeing early on the 24th (Sun) so you can go by car to Takayama.

Hidden high up in the Japanese Alps, Takayama remained largely cut off from the rest of Japan for centuries, allowing the local culture to grow in relative isolation.

Start off your visit on the 25th (Mon): see the interesting displays at Takayama Showa Museum, get to know the fascinating history of Higashiyama Walking Course, stop by Hida Bussankan, learn more about the world around you at Hida Minzoka Mura Folk Village (Hida no Sato), then examine the collection at Hikaru Museum, and finally appreciate the extensive heritage of Shirakabe Dozogai.

Quickly create a custom-made itinerary for Takayama using our trip planner.

Drive from Nagoya to Takayama in 2.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a train; or take a bus. In November, plan for daily highs up to 17°C, and evening lows to 9°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 25th (Mon) early enough to drive to Shirakawa-mura.

Set amid quintessentially Japanese landscape, Shirakawa-mura consists of 16 quaint villages, including a historic village of farm houses, now designated a World Heritage Site.

On the 26th (Tue), contemplate the long history of Shirakawago, make a trip to Ainokura Gassho Community, and then contemplate the long history of Nagase house. Get ready for a full day of sightseeing on the next day: get engrossed in the history at Shirakawago Gassho Zukuri Minkaen, steep yourself in history at Kanda house, then appreciate the extensive heritage of The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go Gassho Style Houses, then take a stroll through Gokayama, and finally make a trip to Suganuma Gassho Community.

To find ratings, reviews, other places to visit, and other tourist information, go to the Shirakawa-mura route builder app .

Traveling by car from Takayama to Shirakawa-mura takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. Expect a daytime high around 17°C in November, and nighttime lows around 8°C. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Wed) to allow enough time to drive to Kanazawa.

An old castle town largely unspoiled during World War II, Kanazawa features well-preserved architecture spread across a range of districts.

Museum-lovers will appreciate D. T. Suzuki Museum and Cosmo Isle Hakui. Give yourself a bit of retail therapy at Kanazawa Hyakubangai Shopping Center and Amanatto Kawamura. Change things up with these side-trips from Kanazawa: Natadera Temple (in Komatsu), Chirihama Nagisa Driveway (in Hakui) and Nakaya Ukichiro Museum of Snow and Ice (in Kaga). Next up on the itinerary: don't miss a visit to Maruoka Castle and examine the collection at Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum.

For traveler tips, where to stay, photos, and tourist information, use the Kanazawa online trip planner .

Traveling by car from Shirakawa-mura to Kanazawa takes 1.5 hours. Alternatively, you can take a bus. In November, daily temperatures in Kanazawa can reach 17°C, while at night they dip to 8°C. Wrap up your sightseeing by early afternoon on the 30th (Sat) to allow enough time to travel back home.