>> didn't consider Hida-no-Sato since we will be there in late November and I thought the weather probably wouldn't cooperate. If it does, do you think we could go there on our 2nd day before we catch the train?

The answer is yes. Even in not-fine weather. Just assume the weather will cooperate, not the other way around.

Any uncooperative weather would affect everything in Takayama not just Hida no Sato. If the bus/taxi can't get up the hill or if HnS is closed then there will be issues in the city. Like getting to/from the station or the museum.

Everything outdoors is "weather permitting" but November typically has good weather. IDK what the chance of snow in that valley is, but you need to be prepared for it if it happens. They are serious about clearing the roads so I would not be concerned about planning the bus trip from Matsumoto or the travel to Kanazawa (could be by bus with a few hours to enjoy Shirakawago).

In Kanazawa you will see the practice of yukizuri (yuki=snow) where they rope up the tree branches to prevent snow accumulation. That starts in November and isn't finished until mid-December. Yukitsuri Installation at Kenrokuen Garden｜Events｜VISIT KANAZAWA, JAPAN - Official Travel Guide

You don't want to walk through inches of slush on Kanazawa (or Takayama) streets wearing the wrong shoes.

Weather comes in from the Nihon Kai and drops precipitation on Kanazawa and then dumps feet of snow in the mountains. Am not sure how much is left by the time it gets to Takayama.I assume they get snow and it would be nice to see it at HnS on the buildings constructed to handle lots of it.

kja, my point is that now is not the time to be concerned about weather affecting some half-day somewhere. It won't be time to plan until the day or day before. You didn't fail at all.

You do have to plan for winter weather in the mountains in Japan in (late) November.

Thanks Kja and mrwunrfl for all the hints. I live in the PNW, so I"m always a bit shoe prepared for wet weather! We are going to sit down the afternoon and see if all the additional information entices us to make any changes. Our first trip to Japan, we were in Nyuto Onsen in early March and it started snowing. It was just magical. We much preferred that to later in the week in Kakunodate when it became so hot and humid!

I am thinking about a day trip from Nagano to Togakishu with the hopes of hiking to the 5 shrines through the cedar forest. The first full day in Nagano, we hope to go to the Oasaji morning services before touring Zenkoji Temple and then the area around it. That is the main reason we chose to stay at Jizokan Matsuya Ryokan the first couple of nights. Has anyone done a tour of Zenkoji Temple? If so, would you recommend it rather than just doing it "on your own"?

After reading about all the tourist buses that are going to Shirakawago, I think we will skip that area even through I understand how incredible and significant it is. I just want to avoid large tour groups.