Quick question. We are headed from Kyoto to Takayama to Kanazawa to Tokyo.

curious. Should we do 3 nights in Takayama and 1 night in Kanazawa, or 2 nights in Takayama and 2 nights in Kanazawa?

the day we go from Takayama to Kanazawa, we are doing a 3-4 hour stop in Shirakawa-Go.

Haventbeen to Kanzanawa but did spend a couple of nights in a Ryokan in Takayama on our first trip to Japan some 15 years ago. Loved the place and would certainly be happy paying a return visit. Some photos and ratios from our time there @ https://accidentalnomads.com/2008/04...ans-miso-sake/

2 and 2 if you are determined to visit both T and K
Day 1: travel to Takayama, night in Takayama
Day 2: full day and night Takayama
Day 3: travel Takayama to S-go to Kanazawa for the night
Day 4: full day and night Kanazawa
Day 5: leave Kanazawa

Or in the other order, as it is just one limited express train from Kyoto to Kanazawa and IIRC it is relativelly frequent.

Kyoto to Takayama would be shinkansen to Nagoya and then limited express Wide View Hida up to Takayama. Some runs of the WVH l'ex originate in Kyoto and go all the way to Takayama. This is one, maybe two, per day and maybe seasonal, might not save time but can avoid that change of trains in Nagoya.

You want to get bus reservations for to/from S-go.

Agree with mrwunfl, although you really need more time in Kanazawa. Don't miss the Art Nouveau museum in Takayama.