Takayama’s location in the Gifu prefecture, makes it the perfect base to explore nearby scenic tourist hotspots such as Shirakawa-go. Where some of the nearby tourist destinations may be closed due to snow and bad weather, Shirakawa-go is open and accessible all year round, making it the perfect destination for pre-booking a day tour. I just might have found the best day tour to Shirakawa-go from Takayama.
I was staying in Takayama for the annual Takayama Spring Festival, which was spectacular, and had pre-booked a day tour to Shirakawa-go for my last full day in Takayama.
I booked an amazing full day tour with Snow Monkey Resort Tours, through Viator, which included a half day tour of Takayama old town (see my Takayama post to read more about this part of the tour), and an unforgettable half day tour to Shirakawa-go.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go
After our morning tour of Takayama Old Town and some free time to explore, we met up with our wonderful tour guide, Yoshi, again. We hopped into our modern comfortable mini-bus and begin our scenic drive to Shirakawa-go.
We drove through snow-capped mountains and valleys, including through a mountain tunnel over 10km long, to reach our destination for the afternoon. As we were driving, Yoshi told us interesting facts about the geology of the region. Japan has over 100 active volcanoes, that’s roughly 10% of the world’s active volcanoes! Several of these are located in the Gifu prefecture, no wonder the scenery in the region is so spectacular!
The volcanic activity also explains the large number of hot springs in the area. If experiencing a traditional Japanese onsen is top of your to-do list, like it was for me, then the Japanese Alps is the place to do it! For more information on my onsen experience read my Takayama post coming soon.
There is no train station at Shirakawa-go, so access is via car or bus. There are several carparks, which incur a parking fee, and during special light-up event days, parking needs to be reserved. Yet, another good reason to go there on a tour…. parking is someone else’s problem!
From the closest carpark, it is a short but thrilling walk across a suspension bridge over the Shogawa River, to get to the World Heritage Village. While crossing the bridge, pause a few minutes to take in the magnificent views of the river and the surrounding mountains. This can be quite tricky with streams of tourists behind you, while you hold up the traffic…. but honestly, they can just take a minute to look around too!
Traditional Gassho-Style Farmhouses
The traditional farmhouses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs (gassho-style house), sit within the beautifully rugged landscape. Shirakawa-go is a living world heritage site, where the traditional style of living as well as deeply rooted culture and customs have been beautifully preserved.
Shirakawa Village Residents’ Charter
As a living World Heritage site, the residents of Shirakawa-go formulated a charter in 1975, to ensure the preservation of the traditional way of life for years to come.
We the residents of Shirakawa Village at the base of the sacred Mt. Hakusan are blessed with beautiful, rugged nature and resonate culture.
We shall be proud of our beautiful landscape and protect its nature. We shall live a life of gratitude without losing our heartfelt way of being. We shall honor our abundant culture and make the best use of our traditions. We shall remain strong in the face of rugged nature. We shall work together to build a comfortable village in which to live.
How beautiful is that?!
The gassho-style farmhouses are characterized not only by their roof, (which is held together without a single screw!) but by the open hearth dug into floor. The whole family sits around the open hearth, strengthening family ties between generations.
Spirit of Yui
Each year the whole community comes together to repair and maintain the thatched roofs of the farmhouses. The thatch on the roof needs to be replaced every 20-30 years, and it takes a massive effort. This spirit of coming together and supporting each other is called the spirit of Yui.
Nothing illustrates the spirit of Yui more than the fact that in Shirakawa-go, the Myozenji Buddhist temple is located right next door to the Hachiman Shinto shrine. Sitting side-by-side in perfect harmony.
Highlights of our Day Tour to Shirakawa-go
We explored the whole village in just a couple of hours, including walking up to the lookout for a birds’ eye view of the valley. A day tour really is a wonderful way to explore the village. With expert local knowledge, you really get an insight into what life was, and is, like for the local villagers.
Highlights of our day tour to Shirakawa-go included exploring the interior of the Nagase farmhouse, showcasing the traditional rural lifestyle and the amazing construction of the farmhouses. This farmhouse was built in 1890 and took 3 years to construct. The unique design of the gassho-style farmhouses, creates spacious attics, which were used largely to accommodate silkworm farming and raw silk reeling. These days the attics are used to display traditional farm tools and items that were used in day-to-day life.
There is a small admission fee to enter, but it was definitely worth it.
After the village closes to tourists each afternoon, the locals resume their quiet rural life. I’m sure they must sigh in relief, as the last bus full of tourists pull out of the parking lot each day.
It is possible to stay overnight in Shirakawa-go in a traditional Gassho-style house, but this can be quite expensive. If you’re serious about your photography, it might be worth it, to get that money shot of the village without all the tourists. Staying in a similar village nearby might be a more economical option. More information about staying in Shirakawa-go is available here.
When is the Best Time to Visit Shirakawa-go
It is a gorgeous village to wander around, with every season offering a different vista. We visited in April. Snow was still on the ground, it was freezing cold, but spring shoots were just starting to emerge. Winter is harsh in Shirakawa-go, snow lays thick on the ground and weighs heavy on the thatched roofs. Our guide, Yoshi, pointed out some of the houses that have been damaged by the heavy snowfall that winter brings.
Throughout the year Shirakawa-go celebrates several festivals such as the rice planting festival and the Doburoku festival, but winter in Shirakawa-go must be the most magical time to visit. During the winter illumination, the snow-covered farmhouses are all lit up at night (reservations are required and visitor numbers are restricted). In February, fireworks light up the night sky over the Hirase hot spring area, with a variety of snow activities on offer.
When I return to Shirakawa-go, it will be in winter to experience this magical landscape blanketed in white.
Deb Morrow is a wife and mum of two in her 50’s, who works in education. She has a passion for travel and through sharing her travel experiences, tips and recommendations, wants to encourage other women her age to start making time for themselves, grab their besties, and go see the world!
