Gokayama is a little more difficult to access and requires a change of buses in Ogimachi. Less developed and less crowded than Shirakawa-go, its villages are smaller, more intimate and with less intrusion from modern buildings. Gokayama’s nicest villages are Suganuma and Ainokura.
Where in Japan is Shirakawa-go?
Gifu Prefecture
Shirakawa (白川村, Shirakawa-mura) is a village located in Ōno District, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. It is best known for being the site of Shirakawa-gō, a small, traditional village showcasing a building style known as gasshō-zukuri. Together with Gokayama in Nanto, Toyama, it is one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.
Why is Gokayama important to Japan?
Gokayama as a World Heritage Site It was Japan’s 4th Cultural Heritage Site and its 6th World Heritage Site. The reasons for its registry were the excellent buildings and scenery that represent the historical period and for its outstanding demonstration of for a traditional settlement and well-adapted land use.
How old are the houses in Shirakawa-go?
Preservation Movement in Shirakawa-go Gassho style houses were built in Shirakawa-go and Gokayama from around 1800 until the early 1900s. The old buildings are said to have stood for over 300 years.
Is gokayama worth visiting?
Your nostalgic dreams can become reality with a visit to the historic villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama. Registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these villages are so perfectly picturesque that they look like they must be a movie set. The villages are worth a visit all year-round.
How long from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go?
The best way to get from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go without a car is to train and bus which takes 4h 51m and costs ¥11000 – ¥17000. How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go? It takes approximately 4h 51m to get from Tokyo to Shirakawa-go, including transfers.
How do I get to Shirakawa-go?
You have two options: head to Shinjuku Station from the airport and take the bus to Takayama and then onto Shirakawa-go or head to Tokyo Station and take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Toyama or Kanazawa and then take the bus to Shirakawa-go.
What does Shirakawa mean in Japanese?
white river
Shirakawa (written 白川 or 白河; “white river”) is a Japanese surname.
Can I live in shirakawago?
There are approximately 180 thatched farmhouses, sheds, and barns, and most of them were built about 200-300 years ago. The residents of Shirakawago still live in several small villages. All Minshuku (Japanese style farm house) only allow guests to stay a maximum of 1 night in each house.
Is there snow in Shirakawa-go in December?
In Shirakawa-go, it begins to snow from around late December. In Shirakawa-go, snow falls from around late December until early March. You can enjoy the winter scenery of the snow covered gassho style village together with a backdrop of brilliant white mountains.
Does it snow in Shirakawa-go in December?
Is shirakawago in the Japanese Alps?
Shirakawago & Beyond: Farm Villages of the Japanese Alps.
What is Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama?
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The cultural property consists of three historic mountain villages over an area of 68 hectares (170 acres) in the remote Shogawa river valley, stretching across the border of Gifu and Toyama Prefectures in central Japan.
What to do in Shirakawago?
Shirakawago and Gokayama. Located in Gifu Prefecture (Gifu-ken), Shirakawago is home to Ogimachi, the most visited of the region’s UNESCO villages. While popular with tourists (it’s conveniently located between the coastal city of Kanazawa and the mountain town of Takayama), Ogimachi is nevertheless lovely and picturesque.
Where is Shirakawago Terrace located?
Renovated in August 2017, Shirakawago Terrace, a century-old traditional Japanese wooden house, is located in Shirakawago, just a 10-minute walk away from the famous Shirakawago Ogimachi World Heritage site. Free WiFi is available throughout the entire property. The Shirakawago Ogimachi Bus Stop is a 10-minute walk from the property.
What does Gokayama mean?
The Gokayama (五箇山, “Five Mountains”) area is divided between the former villages of Kamitaira and Taira in Nanto, Toyama Prefecture.
