4 Oct 2022 – 8 Oct 2022. Off the beaten track exploring the Chubu region in Japan (Kanazawa, Shirakawa-go, Kurobe Gorge, Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route)
This was the most challenging segment for us to logistically plan as our main goal in this segment was to traverse thru the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route one-way from the Toyama side thru to the Nagano side.
Outside of Kanazawa, the Chubu region’s beauty and attractions here aren’t easily accessible by the main JR lines/Shinkansen. This meant we had to rely on a multitude of locally operated train lines (which had significantly lower frequencies/fewer train services thru the day).
Japan was also on the verge of transitioning out of covid restrictions/measures. This meant some of the transport services had been changed/suspended between 2020-2022, which required additional planning and workarounds to ensure we didn’t waste too much time in transit or ended up stranded.
For Shirakawa-go, the village was so remote that the public transport there only operated two times per day (morning/afternoon). This led us to drive ourselves down to Shirakawa-go to ensure we had more time in the day to explore the village.
Despite the logistical challenges, the journey (be it by car or train) to these remote places is half the experience in itself as we’d find ourselves immersed in Japan’s nature and quaint countryside vibes.
Sites in order:
– Higashi Chaya District
– Omicho Market
– 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art
– Nagamachi Samurai District
– Kenroku-en Garden
– Kanazawa Castle
– Ogimachi Village (Shirakawa-go)
– Kurobe Gorge
– Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route