After the first briefing and some kilometers on the road, we will visit the Nagoya Castle、built at the beginning of the Edo Period and one of the most popular castles in Japan. We will then move to Atsuta Shrine, an ancient structure enshrining the Sun Goddess Amaterasu and the store of the sacred sword Kusanagi, one of the three imperial treasures. At lunch we will have a local delicacy for lunch: Hitsumabushi, Nagoya specialty made of grilled freshwater eel are served over rice. Then we will go to visit Gifu Castle, conquered by Oda Nobunaga in 1567 to enjoy a wonderful view of the city.

Nagoya Castle

 

Atsuta Shrine

 

Gifu Castle

 

Gifu Caste's Panorama

 

Today we will ride north to Ishikawa for a beautiful ride into the mountains. First we will stop at Natadera temple. Founded in 717 by a Buddhist monk who visited nearby Mount Hakusan, the large temple grounds feature multiple buildings, a pond garden and a characteristic rock face with handcut meditation caves and steps carved into the cliffside. In the evening we will visit the Japan Automobile Museum. Established in 1978 by Shoso Maeda, popular entrepreneur, with the aim to display his personal collection of cars, including some historically iconic Japan's commercial vehicles, but also ordinary vehicles, embodying the authenticity of the ordinary life Japan in the last years.

Mountain riding

 

Natadera

 

Motsu udon

 

Motorcar Museum of Japan

 

Today we will visit first the Kenrokuen, which is justifiably classified as one of Japan's "three most beautiful landscape gardens". Opened to the public in 1871, Kenrokuen features a variety of flowering trees, giving the garden a different look in each season. We will continue to the north to enjoy some extraordinary beach ride on the legendary Chirihama beach, the only beach driveway in Japan. We will then move to the Keta Shrine, Shinto shrine with a history as a holy spot dating back over 2000 years. This shrine enshrines the deity Okuninushi, who is a god of finding true love. We will then end our day into a luxury hot spring resort on the sea.

Kenrokuen

 

Chirihama Beach Driveway

 

Keta Shrine

 

Noto Peninsula's sunset

 

Today you will start the day riding along the coast of Toyama prefecture until we reach the Himi Banya fish market and we will stroll through it to take a look at the original Japanese fish delicatessen. Then you will ride south to the World Heritage site of Shirakawago, famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. The architectural style developed over many generations and is designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter. After Shirakawago you will continue riding through the mountain roads to reach Takayama city. Located in Gifu prefecture, notable for the perfect conditions of the Edo period ancient parts of the city, which contribute to creating a gorgeous nostalgic atmosphere.

Gifu Castle

 

Shirakawa-go

 

Gassho zukuri house

 

Your last day we will ride on the Seseragi road, heading back to Nagoya along the Japanese Alps. We will stop at Seki, famous in the country for being the base city for most of Japan’s cutlery industry. "Never break, never bend, cut well" the reputation of Seki swords has been spread in all over Japan. Today the products are range from kitchen knife to nail clipper, etc., with its tradition and modern technology. Here you can enjoy a katana performance, experience Japan's traditional activities (reservation is required in advance) or have a look around cutler museum as well as factory shop. You will then heading to Nagoya to return your vehicle, ready for your next Japanese adventure.

Takayama

 

The Alps

 

Gujo Hachiman

 

Seki Swordsmith Museum