Shirakawago
Shirakawago is one of the best places to travel in Ono-gun, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. Here're guides for access, map, spots nearby, and photos of Shirakawago posted by Japanese travelers in the know.[last modified: ]
11 Reviews
Shirakawago Village covered with snow in winter has so beautiful scenery that you should see in spite of the coldness. Time flied so quickly when I walking along the snowy Gassho frame houses. The snowy mountains seen from Deai suspension bridge are also breathtakingly beautiful.◎The village is located between the mountains in Gifu Prefecture. Its scenery of traditional houses with thatched roof was registered to be World Cultural Heritage as 'Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama' in 1995. You can access to Shirakawago by bus, but you need to reserve the bus as soon as you can because it'll be full up quickly in travel season.
Shirakawago is the most famous as a village of Gassho Zukuri architectures. In the season of snowfall, you can see the stunning view of these houses from an observatory. ( I took this pisc on Feburary 7th in 2010.) Now, the illumination event is held only for 4 days a year and you need to get numbered ticket.◎Lighted Shirakawago is for Only 4 days a year. You need to get numbered ticket, look within 20min, don’t use a tripod for camera, the rule has become severer than before. But they may change every year, so it's better to check the HP at first. http://lightup.asia/?lang=en
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A Temple With 'Gassyo' Pose! Only One In Japan, Myozen-ji Temple Has A Steep Roof
Deep in Shirakawa-go Village, a temple of a mysterious appearance. A main temple, a priest's house and a bell tower all have 'Gassyo (steep roof looking like to put hands flat together in prayer)' structure, and that's the only one in Japan. These buildings with 'Gassyo' pose seem to pray for the village, and the scenery is beautiful beyond comparison.
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Seven Days Illumination of Shirakawa-go Which People All Over the World Wait Anxiously
The tickets are sold out in a few minutes and tourists come from all over the world. It is one of the representative winter event in Japan. Living World Heritage where the villagers live is enveloped in lights.
Registered as a World Cultural Heritage Site, Shirakawa-go Village is popular among not only Japanese but also sightseers from foreign countries. The landscape of beautiful gassho frame (steep roof) houses that also have a function to pass the snowy winter is magnificent in a word.
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Shirakawa Village is a heavy snowfall area, but it snowed not so much for us to visit here this winter. And we can enjoy the snowy landscape as much as we want! It will snow more during February, so you're still in time to see this scenery.
2The scenery is said to be the most suitable for Shirakawa. Gassho frame is seen to be triangle from its front, so the geometric view is wonderful.
A traditional autumn event of Shirakawa-go Village 'Doburoku Festival'. Now, limited sake and confectionaries are popular as souvenirs Of Shirakawa-go. Doburoku with a mellow aroma of malted rice, and Japanese sweet 'Yokan' with a rich fragrance are very special souvenirs of a World Heritage.
Wada-ke(House), the Biggest House with a Steep Roof in Shirakawa-go as a Nationally Designated Important Cultural Property
Surprisingly, Wada family live in this house now. They open the house with an admission fee.
Shirakawa-go Village is famous for the house architecture called Gassho Zukuri. In winter, the village is covered with snow, and becomes more beautiful. It snowed a little on this day, you can see more fascinating view on snowy days.◎Light-up dates: 1/14, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/11, 2/17.