Second Golden Route | Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)

*Add to Favourite

Where to go, What to do

Plan Your Trip

Essential Information

Downloads

JNTO 5 Picks

Second Golden Route

The journey from Tokyo through Nagoya and on to Kyoto, Nara and Osaka is well travelled and known as Japan's Golden Route. By making a detour off this route, you can enjoy enriching cultural experiences and see unique parts of Japan. Here are our Second Golden Route suggestions.

Experience the history and tradition of Japan in Takayama, Shirakawago and Kanazawa, a short detour to the north of the Golden Route.

	Itinerary
DAY 1	Nagoya - Takayama Takayama is a beautiful, historical town with projecting latticework and eaves of uniform heights.
DAY 2	Takayama - Shirakawago - Kanazawa Get lost in a World Heritage listed village with thatched roof farm houses built in the traditional gassho-zukuri style.
DAY 3	Kanazawa - Kyoto Experience the history and culture in Kanazawa, the old capital of Hokuriku.

Details

Access:
Nagoya	-----	2hr 20min by JR Limited Express	-----	Takayama
Takayama	-----	50 min by Nohi bus	-----	Shirakawago
Shirakawago	-----	1 hr 15 min by Nohi bus	-----	Kanazawa
Kanazawa	-----	2hr 10 min by JR Limited Express	-----	Kyoto

Top

Venturing south of the original Golden Route will take you through Mie and Wakayama prefectures on the Kii Peninsula, a very sacred and spiritual part of Japan. Follow in the paths of pilgrims who have been making the journey to this region for centuries.

	Itinerary
DAY 1	Nagoya - Ise Jingu/ Toba Visit Oise-san, a serene and most sacred shrine and the peaceful Toba Bay area, the centre of Japan's pearl industry.
DAY 2	Ise/Toba - Kii Katsuura (Kumano Nachi Taisha ) - Hongu Kumano Kodo is one of the only two UNESCO World Heritage listed pilgrimage routes.
DAY 3	Kumano Hongu Taisha- Koyasan Hike the ancient trail to and around Hongu Taisha and then soak yourself in an onsen (hot spring) to revitalise.
DAY 4	Koyasan-Osaka Try Shukubo lodging in Koyasan, headquarters of Shingon esoteric Buddhism.

Details

Access:
Nagoya	---	1hr 20 min by JR or Kintetsu Rapid Service	---	Ise-shi	---	2 hr 40 min by JR Limited Express	---	Kii Katsuura
	---	1hr 40 min by JR or Kintetsu Rapid Service	---	Toba
Kii Katsuura	---	30 min by bus	---	Kumano Nachi Taisha
	---	15 min by JR	---	Shingu	---	1hr 20 min by bus	---	Kuamano Hongu Taisha
Kumano Hongu Taisha	---	3hr by bus	---	Koyasan (Limited service for summer)
	---	1.5 hr by bus	---	Tanabe Station	---	3.5 hr by bus	---	Koyasan
Koyasan	---	5 minutes by cable car	---	Gokurakubashi	---	90 minutes by Nankai line	---	Namba/Osaka

* For detailed access in Kumano area, visit Tanabe Tourism Bureau

Top