Chubu · Driven from Nagoya
Kanazawa was rich enough to rival Kyoto and lucky enough to be spared the bombing, so its samurai district and geisha quarters are the real thing rather than a reconstruction. Gold leaf, one of Japan’s three great gardens, and a fish market where the crab is still moving.
Hour by Hour
A starting point, not a script. Every stop can be swapped, dropped or lingered over on the day.
From Kanazawa, or from Nagoya for the mountain drive up.
Breakfast of kaisendon. Snow crab in season, sweet shrimp all year.
One of the three great gardens of Japan. Two hundred years in the making, and it shows.
Earthen walls, water channels, and the Nomura family residence with its garden inside the house.
Jibuni — the local duck stew — or a sushi counter facing the Sea of Japan.
Wooden lattice fronts and gold-leaf ice cream. A teahouse interior open to visitors.
Ishikawa makes 99% of Japan’s gold leaf. Apply it yourself to a lacquer dish and take it home. (Optional.)
Kanazawa Station, your hotel, or onward to Shirakawa-go.
Yes — bring the Alphard
Kanazawa’s centre is walkable, but the reason to bring the car is everything around it — Shirakawa-go, the Noto coast, the Nada breweries. Guide-only is fine for a city day; the Alphard is what makes the region work.
A 3h drive from Nagoya through the mountains. Pairs naturally with Shirakawa-go as a two-day journey.
Winter is the local secret — snow ropes on the pines at Kenroku-en, and the year’s best seafood.
¥100,000 guide only — trains, walking and taxis at cost.
¥300,000 with the Alphard and driver, door to door — about ¥50,000 each with 6 of you.
¥500,000 guided by Master Ken himself, six days a month.
The Rate
Every one of them is one private group per day, priced for the group rather than per head.
The only question is whether you need the car — and on some days you genuinely do not.
We will tell you which.
BUSHIDO Guideガイドのみ
¥100,000per day · whole group · up to 6
Guide only · all 47 prefectures
Your own English-speaking guide for the day, anywhere in Japan. You travel by train, on foot and by taxi — we go where the rails already go well.
BUSHIDO Private車付き
¥300,000per day · whole group · up to 6
Guide + Alphard + driver
The full day, door to door. A private Toyota Alphard with its own driver, so six of you and six suitcases move as one — including the places the trains make painful.
A Day with Master Kenケン本人
¥500,000per day · whole group · up to 6
Kensuke Ueoka himself · 6 days a month
Ken guides a handful of days each month and no more. Kyudo 4th dan, calligraphy 6th dan, yabusame rider — the day is his practice, not a performance of it.
One flat price for the group — not per head. Two of you or six of you, the day costs the same.
Multi-day journeys are ¥300,000 per day, plus the guide’s accommodation (¥15,000–¥25,000 per night, at cost). Beyond 10 hours, ¥15,000 per hour.
Begin Your Journey
One private group per day — nationwide.
— dates are currently open, synced with Ken’s own calendar.
Inquiring is free. Nothing is charged until your itinerary is confirmed in writing.
We reply within 24 hours — Ken reads every message himself.
Nothing is charged at this stage. You receive a written itinerary and price first;
a 30% deposit by bank transfer confirms the date.
Guiding & hospitality by BUSHIDO LLC. Reservations, travel contracts and payment are handled by our licensed partner 有限会社ローライ (Rollei Co., Ltd.) — Aichi Prefecture Registered Travel Agency No. 3-1516. All vehicles are operated by licensed chartered-hire operators.
Payment & cancellation terms →
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