A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are villages located in the central Japanese region of Chubu. Both are known for their traditional architectural structures, particularly the unique farmhouses that feature the gassho (or “hands together”) style of roofing structures that resemble the shape hands form when praying.

How to get there

From Tokyo: Take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama (travel time is around two to two and a half hours) and then get on a bus to Shirakawa-go (travel time is an hour and a half).

From Nagoya: Take a Gifu Bus (located at the Meitetsu Bus Center at the Nagoya Station) that goes directly to Shirakawa-go (travel time is three hours).

From Kanazawa: Take a highway bus to Shirakawa-go (travel time is an hour and 15 minutes).

What Attractions To See

Ogimachi Village

Ogimachi Village is the primary attraction of Shirakawa-go. It is the largest village in the area and is home to dozens of 250-plus-year-old farmhouses that have been perfectly preserved over the years. During the winter, thick white snow envelops the roofs of these gassho-zukuri structures, making the scenery a sight to behold.

Today, some of the farmhouses have been transformed into museums, such as the Gassho-zukiri Minkaen, the Kanda-ke House, the Wada-ke House, and the Nagasa-ke House, while a number of others are now restaurants, and bed and breakfasts.

Ainokura Village

An old village situated in a remote valley in Gokayama, Ainokura boasts 20 traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses. Because of its location, it is more difficult to get to compared to Ogimachi. But for that reason, it does not get too crowded even during peak seasons, so a stay there for a day or two at one of the farmhouse bed and breakfasts is highly recommended. It is home to a few museums that feature the local lifestyle, including music, dances, agricultural techniques, and food from the Edo Period up to the present.

Suganuma Village

Consisting of nine farmhouses that have been well-preserved over the centuries, Suganuma Village is known for its saltpeter and washi paper industries. It has the Saltpeter Museum, if you want to learn how saltpeter is made for use in gunpowder manufacturing, as well as the Folk Museum, if you want to see the common tools and equipment the villagers used for raising silkworm, washi paper making, and farming from hundreds of years ago to present day.