Taxi Sightseeing: A Deeper Look into Shirakawa City #3
Final Thoughts
All in all, I enjoyed my tour and the time I spent in Shirakawa. Before going I was a bit skeptical about how much the city actually had to offer in terms of sightseeing, but both places I visited were historically fascinating and visually stimulating, and I learned a lot. I usually travel alone using public transportation, so I was unsure of how I would feel about sightseeing in a taxi, but I enjoyed talking with the driver and hearing what he had to say. That said, anyone who doesn’t speak Japanese would likely have a hard time communicating. Eventually, however, there will be tablets set up in the taxis offering this service, so tourists will be able to look up videos and information about the sightseeing spots in English during their tour.
Overall, I do think that two hours was too short to tour these particular sites. If you only have a limited amount of time, I would suggest choosing or having your driver recommend places that are closer together. There was so much to learn about both spots, I found myself wishing that I had more time. For anyone looking to take a tour to the Shirakawa Barrier site and Komine-jo Castle, including the café, like I did, I would recommend allowing three hours.
My driver for the tour, Mr. Muroi, and his taxi.
Additionally, I would recommend that people taking these tours let their driver know whether they are on a strict time schedule or if they have some wiggle room―that way the driver can adjust the tour to suit the travelers’ needs.
During the tour, it was nice to not have to worry about getting lost or looking for parking; the driver knew exactly where to go, what the best routes were, and where to stop. It was, honestly, a little odd at times to share a trip with someone I had just met, but it was a unique experience being able to chat with a local and hear what he had to say. This service isn’t limited to one person per tour, however―one taxi will seat up to four guests, so it could be even more enjoyable to take a tour along with friends or family.
Check out the link below to reserve a tour or get more information on Taxi Sightseeing in Shirakawa City.
https://taxi.wowu.jp/shirakawa/book
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