There are few towns in Japan where one can see the real image of what life in Japan was like 150 to 200 years ago. Most towns have been rebuilt and redeveloped with only smatterings of authentic architecture remaining. So finding an entire town that hasn’t changed much in 200 years is refreshing. Such a place is Shirakawa-go.
Situated about 45 minutes northwest of Takayama (another of our favorite smaller towns) is the village of Shirakawa-go. It is nestled in the Hida mountains, and for most of its life was inaccessible, thus the old homes and ways of life were naturally preserved. A couple decades ago, a highway was built through the area with an interchange at the doorstep of the town with the result being the sudden discovery by the world. Click here to see the video segment about Shirakawa-go in our Takayama video.
The town is absolutely picturesque with the hallmark image being that of the steeply pitched roofs made of tightly bound straw. The style is called Gassho-Zukuri or that of “praying hands”. But there is a more practical side to them in that the steep pitch helps bear the load of several feet of snow the area receives each year. That snow creates some of the most stunning winter images you’ll ever see. In fact part of the town’s isolation remains today as it can become inaccessible during winter due to the heavy snowfall.
To get there, you’ll either have to take a tour bus (along with a lot of people) or rent a car and make the drive. The drive from Takayama is an easy one with nearly half of it in tunnels, so you won’t get lost. Simply get off at the interchange and follow the signs to one of the several parking lots which open around 8:30 AM.
Once there, walk over the river on the swinging bridge to the historic part of town and just wander at your leisure along the lanes among the houses. This is your chance to get up close to these historic buildings while seeing how the locals live. Keep that in mind when visiting. This is their home and not a theme park. That is, this is a living museum of sorts, so be mindful of property lines and privacy of the residents. But there is plenty to see and do at a relaxed pace. There are several small shops, cafes and restaurants as well as overnight accommodations if you wish to have the total experience.
A very nice thing about staying overnight is that the parking lots close up around 4:30 PM and the tour groups go away, leaving Shirakawa-go peaceful once again. The next best thing is to arrive early as soon as the parking areas open. That way, you will avoid the crush of tourists that soon follow around 10 AM. And do they arrive! (see the photo below which I took around 10 AM)
So we highly recommend a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site as there isn’t another place quite like it in all of Japan. Though it is off the beaten path, its well worth the easy effort of making the drive to discover this hidden gem of Japan. Don’t be intimidated about renting a car in Takayama. Its a relatively small town and easy to navigate with your Google Maps. Just remember to stay on the left hand side of the road! Remember to watch the video segment on the Takayama video here.
