Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. The Best Traditional Destination in Japan

The Shirakawa (白川郷, Shirakawagō) Located in the Shogawa river valley and under the remote Gifu mountain range, there are villages that have been more than hundreds of years old, Shirakawa-Go Village. The village is known for its unique form of the traditional house called Gassho-Zukuri, being one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Japan has many UNESCO Heritage sites, but Shirakawa-Go Village is one of the best in Japan. Shirakawa-go has been crowned as a UNESCO cultural heritage in 1995. This tourist village is located at the foot of Mount Haku and in the Shokawa river valley, nearly 96% of the area of Shirakawa is forest and has incredible natural scenery.

Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up

Geographically, this Shirakawa-go village was formerly an isolated and unexplored area. Not only because the place is below the foot of the mountain and surrounded by forests and mountains, but some areas of Shirakawa Village are often covered by thick snow when the winter comes.  How to do unusual Holiday at Japan, 13 Famous Vacations in Okayama when its Winter

Gassho-Zukuri, a typical traditional house in Shirakawa-Go, has a unique architectural style. Having the characteristics of a long steep thatched roof down, for the people there, the shape of the roof shows the shape of the hand that is praying in Buddhism. But actually, the unique shape of the roof is also very useful when snowing thick in the winter. When you see a broken roof in one house, the people there will work together to rebuild the roof of Gassho-Zukuri. In winter, the whole village of Shirakawa-go will be decorated with light from beautiful lights that add to the beauty of this village for tourists who visit.

To do better, the village organized special events on Sunday and Monday evening selected in January and February attracting tourists. During the soap opera event, many gassho-zukuri homes in the village suddenly start from 17.30 until 19.30.

In 2019, Ogimachi will be illuminated on the following dates:

• January 14, 2019 (Monday, national holiday)
• January 20, 2019 (Sunday)
• January 27, 2019 (Sunday)
• February 3, 2019 (Sunday)
• February 11, 2019 (Monday, national holiday)
• February 17, 2019 (Sunday)

Due to the huge number of visitors to the lighting program in recent years, it has been established to restrict the number of visitors to the village to avoid traffic congestion and to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors. Starting the 2019 event will be given all to get reservations before visiting the village during a light event. Here are three ways to look at :

1. Visit By Bus Tour

Many roaming companies offer bus tours to see light shows. Some people only provide rented buses for access from Takayama, Kanazawa, Toyama or Takaoka and return, while others include nights (usually in Takayama). Further recommendations must be made through the bus company or travel agent. The period when the reservation is received depends on the company and the demo. Many starts selling packages starting October 1, 2018. Some of these tours include tickets for shuttle buses to Shiroyama Corner. Among the companies that pay for tour buses are the Nohi Bus, Kaetsuno Bus, and Toyama Chitetsu.

2. Visit by Car

Visiting events by car requires an initial reservation for the parking lot. The first round auction is accepted in August 2018 and parking is still sold at the start of the first person base (see details). The fee is 3000 yen per ordinary passenger car. Access bus visitors to Shiroyama Viewpoint (1000 yen per ticket), but now for sale. Winter tires and driving skills are needed to access Shirakawago during the car.

3. Stay Overnight

The best way to enjoy a light event is to spend the night in one of the farmhouses in the village. Due to the limited number of rooms, a lottery based system is implemented in 2019 for many locales. Entries must be submitted no later than August 30, 2018. Visitors overnight received the facility received from the parking lot and took the bus line to the Shiroyama Viewpoint.

Note that visiting regular buses with light cannot be done because the last bus departs from Shirakawago before the start of the light event. In addition, tourists visiting by taxi require a parking reservation (see "Car visits" above).

As in the afternoon, Shiroyama's viewpoint is one of the best places to watch the village. However, due to limited space, the only way to access the point of view is when turning on the ticket for the shuttle bus that leaves the village center. Tickets cost 1000 Yen and must be protected quickly through the travel association website. Guests staying at village tickets are guaranteed. The road to that point will be closed.

Visitors to Shirakawago noted that temperatures are usually well below freezing, and roads and roads are covered in snow and sometimes ice. Suitable costumes, face shields, and strong shoes are needed. Some parts of the village also do not know the dangerous waterways and are sold on the road. To reduce the burden on small villages, all tourists are also asked to bring the waste produced.

Gassho-Zukuri House

More than a dozen gassho-zukuri farmhouses in and around Ogimachi can now be minshuku, family, and Japanese style. One time in one of these farmhouses is the most recommended place because this is a great way to marry traditional Japanese families and better known as gassho-zukuri buildings.

In a traditional style, the living room features tatami and a small table. At night, bed separated from sleep. Bathrooms and bathrooms are usually modern but are offered. Staying guests must be without Western-style hotel amenities.

Equipped with a modern lifestyle, old wooden furniture still sends a very salty atmosphere. For example, open fires, known as irori, are found in public dining rooms and are used for heating and sometimes eaten.

The cost of one night trip to one of these farms is about 8,000 to 9,000 yen per person and includes breakfast and breakfasts serving local cuisine. In the future, there is a small additional fee of about 300 yen per person in my shop.

Farmers living in Shirakawa are becoming very popular and reservations are difficult to make. Reservations can be made through the Japanese Guest House. To live in Ainokura in the Gokayama area, you can pass travel through Japan.

And in the summer, even though the village is in the river climbing and at the foot of the mountain, the air is very cool compared to other major Japanese cities. It is the right time to visit Shirakawa-Go

Sake Shirakawago

In Shirakawa-go, you can also visit temples and museums where you can enjoy Doburoku, an unfiltered Sake, which is offered to the gods on the mountain for good harvests. Sake is very special because you can only enjoy it in Shirakawa-Go, and not in other locations in Japan.

Only a few tourists who know about the existence of this special Shirakawa-go village, become a valuable opportunity for you to visit Shirakawa-go, the mountainous nature of Japan that captivates the wisdom of a local culture that has been preserved for hundreds of years.

You will be presented with the natural beauty of the surrounding which is amazingly beautiful and feels how to live in the countryside with unique traditional houses. In addition, you can also enjoy living in traditional Japanese houses in gassho-zukuri style and will be treated to a variety of delicious Japanese traditional foods.

There are several things that you must do, some of which are: the Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum, the Tajima House Museum of Silk Culture, the Myozenji Temple Museum, the Tenshukaku (castle keep) Observatory, the Doburoku Matsuri Festival Hall, and the Jin Homura Art Museum.

But there is one more thing that is most mandatory and you should not miss at Shirakawa-go, which is night gazing! Yup, you have to enjoy the view of the Shirakawa-go tourist village at night, because you can see the beautiful traditional settlement at night and star gazing. Shirakawa-go has a magnificent view of the star-studded sky at night.

Shirakawa-go is now one of the tourist spots that many tourists visit, so access to it is very easy. Shirakawa-go is located in the northwest of Gifu Prefecture. You can rent a private property or you can also use public transportation.

Access The Shirakawago

If you use a car, you can follow directions for directions via maps with the search for "Shirakawa-go". If you choose to use the train, you can go through Tokyo train station to the Toyama train station, then head to Shirakawa-go by bus. You can reserve a bus first to make sure when is the time of departure so you don't miss the bus departure schedule.

How about it Looks exciting not on vacation enjoying the scenery and also traditional life in the historic village of Shirakawa-go? If you intend to come here, make sure to prepare everything well. Have a good vacation!

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