Japanese Tour Guides - Global Navigator,INC

03/05/2025

Sakurayama Hachimangu Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine located in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture. It has long been revered as the guardian shrine of the Hida region. The shrine plays a central role in the famous Takayama Autumn Festival, held in October, featuring elaborately decorated floats (yatai) paraded in honor of the shrine. The festival draws visitors from all over Japan and beyond.
On the shrine grounds, you'll find both the Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall (Yatai Kaikan) and the Nikkokan, which displays a detailed replica of the famous Nikko Toshogu Shrine. These facilities offer visitors a chance to explore the artistry and history of traditional Japanese festivals and architecture throughout the year.
The shrine is about a 15-minute walk from Sanmachi Street, Takayama’s well-preserved historical district, making it an ideal destination to enjoy both scenic strolling and cultural discovery.

26/04/2025

Takayama is a city located in the northern part of Gifu Prefecture, often referred to as Hida-Takayama. It is famous for its beautifully preserved old town, which retains the atmosphere of an Edo-period castle town. The Sanmachi district, known as the "Old Town," is especially popular with visitors for its traditional wooden buildings, sake breweries, and folk craft shops. Takayama is also known for the Takayama Festival, held in spring and autumn, where elaborately decorated floats parade through the streets—a truly stunning sight. The city is also a great place to enjoy Hida beef, which is served at many restaurants. Historic landmarks such as Kokubunji Temple and Takayama Jinya also attract those interested in Japan’s cultural heritage.
To fully enjoy Takayama on foot, you should plan to spend at least half a day. Strolling through the morning markets, having Hida beef for lunch, and exploring the old town area makes for a perfect visit.

https://youtube.com/shorts/_2qCB5ycjFA

19/04/2025

Neko no Tsuki Sakurayama is a rescue cat cafe located along the route from the Kusakabe Folk Museum to the Takayama Festival Float Exhibition Hall in Takayama.
This rescue cat cafe is a type of cat shelter where rescued cats interact with visitors, and those who are interested may apply to adopt them.
As you can see, these adorable cats are ready to welcome you.

https://nekonotsuki.com/

12/04/2025

12/04/2025

12/04/2025

The Komaki Dam, located in Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture, was completed in 1930 (Showa 5). At the time of its completion, it was considered the tallest dam in the Orient, making it a significant engineering achievement of its era. Situated along the mountain pass leading from central Tonami toward the UNESCO World Heritage site of Gokayama, the dam is not only a functional structure but also a historical landmark.
It has been officially designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan due to its historical and civil engineering significance.
On March 27, 2025, shooting date, the first release of snowmelt water for the year took place.

https://youtu.be/VY7QO0l0C5M

08/04/2025

Today’s full bloom cherry blossoms in Kenrokuen

04/04/2025

The Suganuma Gassho-Zukuri Village is a traditional thatched-roof village located in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. Along with Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture, it was designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1995 under the name "Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama."
Suganuma is one of the two World Heritage-listed villages in the Gokayama region, the other being Ainokura. The village consists of nine remaining Gassho-style houses. Surrounded by mountains, Suganuma offers a quiet and serene atmosphere.
Compared to the larger Ogimachi Village in Shirakawa-go, Suganuma is smaller and receives fewer tourists, making it a more peaceful place to appreciate the traditional architecture. It is located about a 30-minute drive from Shirakawa-go, allowing visitors to explore both villages and gain a deeper understanding of Gassho-Zukuri culture and history.

30/03/2025

This year's sakura season is expected to start around the usual time in the Kansai and Tokai regions, while in the Kanto and Tohoku regions, it was predicted to begin slightly earlier than usual.

Although March had some cold days, leading to expectations that the sakura in Kanto would bloom around the average time, the weather suddenly turned warm, and the blossoms opened all at once.

These pictures were taken at Nagoya Castle in the Tokai region on March 28th.

22/03/2025

Kyoto served as Japan’s capital for over a thousand years and is home to many imperial mausoleums where successive emperors rest in peace. One such site is the Daigo Emperor's Go-Yamashina Mausoleum. This mausoleum belongs to Emperor Daigo, the 60th emperor of Japan, and has a circular shape. It is relatively small in scale and stands quietly within an urban setting.

In the first photograph, a house can be seen near the mausoleum, highlighting its location within a residential area. The photographer lived in this neighborhood as a child, unaware at the time that this site was an ancient tomb, and often played around it.