Shirakawago is best known for its Gassho-zukuri houses built in a traditional architectural style developped over generations. It is surrounded on all four sides by rugged mountains and experiences some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan. Shirakawago was registered a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. It can be reached by Nohi bus from Takayama City. See Nohi bus timetable. if you have no reservation you sould queue up 20 minutes before the bus leaves.
Ogimachi is the largest village in Shirakawa. Nestled among rice fields and split between the flowing waters of the Sho River are a total of 114 thatched-roofed houses, some as old as 250 years. The straw roofs, made without a single nail, have been built at steep angles to withstand the vast amounts of snow in the winter. The houses face north and south, to minimize wind resistance. The shape of the houses resembles the hands of a Buddhist monks when pressed together in prayer, hence the name Gassho-zukuri, which translates in Japanese as “constructed like hands in prayer”.
Gassho-zukuri houses which are often between three and five stories tall have large open attics that were utilized for the production of silkworms.
You can visit Wada house and Kanda house. The Wada House is the largest gassho-zukuri building in Ogimachi village and Shirakawa-go. It used to belong to one of the wealthiest silk-trading families and village leader and dates back to the Edo period (1603-1868).
A short trek out of the village, the Shiroyama observation deck affords fantastic panoramic views of the area framed on both sides by mountains and thick forests.
On the outskirts of Ogimachi village, across the Sho River sits the open-air museum Gasshozukuri Minkaen made up of 26 Gassho-zukuri style houses that have been relocated from various areas in the region. Several other structures including a watermill, a shrine and a temple are well preserved here.
Stay in Shirakawa:
Bunroku 文六: A gassho style house with three rooms. Good review on tripadvisor.com.
Gensaku 源作: Friendly hosts, good food according to reviews on tripadvisor.com. Shared bathroom, where you cannot shower in the morning, but in the evening until 9 pm. Be aware that old houses let you hear your neighbours and people upstairs, so don't forget earplugs.
Dinner at Gensaku
Yokichi よきち: Delicious fresh food according to reviews on tripadvisor.com. See Japanese Guesthouses.
Koemon 幸エ門: Some mixed reviews on tripadvisor.com, some guests critisize the hospitality as insufficient.
Magoemon Ryokan 孫右ェ門: 6 rooms. Japanese culture at its finest according to reviews on tripadvisor.com. Bath times 6-7.30 am, 4-5.30 pm and after dinner till 9pm. See video von Youtube.
Yoshiro 与四郎: See pictures on Matcha and von Youtube.
Read more:
The Shirakawamura Times (白川村通信) on Facebook
Shirakawa-go Travel Guide 2019-2020 – Access, Things To Do, And Food
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