Hi, I’m Kojiro, and welcome to Japan with Kojiro — a Takayama local’s guide to traveling in Japan.
Who I am
I was born and raised in Takayama, in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, and lived there until I was 18. Since then I’ve also lived in Aichi, Gifu and Mie, so the whole Tokai region has been home to me at one time or another. I still live in Japan today.
Why I started this site
Takayama and Shirakawa-go are now on many travelers’ Japan itineraries, but a lot of the practical information in English is thin, outdated or written by people who visited once. Things like how to book the bus to Shirakawa-go, what to do when it’s sold out, or how snow can change your plans in winter are easy to get wrong if you don’t know the area.
I want to help visitors from the US, Australia, Canada and beyond plan with confidence, and enjoy this part of Japan the way locals do.
What you’ll find here
- Step-by-step transport guides (buses, trains and how to book them)
- Backup plans for sold-out buses, snow and delays
- Where to stay, eat and explore in Takayama, Shirakawa-go and the Tokai region
- Experiences and tours worth your time
A note on affiliate links
Some links on this site are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you. You can read more on the Affiliate Disclosure page.
Get in touch
Have a question about your trip? Feel free to reach out through the Contact page.