Famous for its thatched-roof farmhouses, Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture is a popular day trip from Takayama or Kanazawa. If you’re planning to take a day trip to Shirakawa-go, our itinerary below can help!
Located in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go is a popular day trip destination, known for its beautiful thatched-roof farmhouses. Even though this picturesque town is still an active village, it almost looks like time has stood still.
As Shirakawa-go is located right in between Takayama and Kanazawa, many people visit on a day trip from either of these popular spots. And since I’ve visited twice now, in spring and autumn, it’s time to share my Shirakawa-go day trip itinerary:
In This Travel Guide:
Shirakawa-go (in Gifu Prefecture) and Gokayama (in Toyama Prefecture) are areas in the Northern Japanese Alps home to a few picturesque traditional farm towns. They are particularly known for their unique style of architecture.
This region of Japan famously gets a lot of heavy snow during the winter, forcing the locals to create steep thatched roofs, preventing the snow from piling up and breaking through. This style is called gassho, which roughly translates to “hands in prayer” as the shape looks like two hands in prayer position.
When talking about Shirakawa-go, people often refer to one of the towns called Ogimachi, the largest and most popular town in the area. It’s home to 59 thatched-roof houses. This is also the town the buses take you to, as Ogimachi has the most things to see and do.
However, if you’re travelling by car, it’s easy to stop by some of the other gassho-zukuri towns in the Shirakawa-go and Gokayama area: Ainokura (which has 20 houses) and Suganuma (home to nine gaucho-styled houses). These towns are a bit harder to get to, which also means they attract fewer tourists – perfect if you want to avoid the large crowds.
Any season is good for visiting Shirakawa-go. In spring, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful blossoms, while summer gives way to the vibrant rice paddies. The autumn leaves are a highlight later in the year, and winter brings up to 30 feet of snow – a stunning sight.
This Shirakawa-go itinerary focuses mainly on Ogimachi, as it’s the easiest spot to get to and has to most things to do. The Google Maps below shows you some of the highlighted points in the itinerary:
Click here for the interactive Google Maps
Before diving into this one-day Shirakawago itinerary, I want to clearly mention that this town isn’t an open-air museum. It’s a real town where people live and work. Most of the houses here are private property, so please do not trespass or peek inside windows. There are houses that you can enter for a small fee and act as a museum (more info on that below), so stick with those instead!
I also have to say that even after two visits, I didn’t quite love it as much as I hoped I would. Even though many other articles claim Shirakawa-go to be an absolute must-see in Japan, I’m not sure if I agree. Both visits were nice, but I left slightly underwhelmed.
While Shirakawa-go is undoubtedly a beautiful town, with the famous gassho farmhouses and the stunning Japanese Alps in the background, it’s very crowded. And truly, there isn’t that much to do. Obviously, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t visit – but I wish I had visited with fewer expectations.
When visiting Shirakawa-go for the day, here are some of the things to check out. Depending on whether you arrive by bus or car, you may have to swap the order of some of the spots below, as the arrival spot may differ. Either way, you’ll have more than enough time to see everything in Shirakawa-go in one day.
If you arrive in Shirakawa-go by car, you’ll most likely park in the main car park on the western side of the village. To get to the town from there, you’ll have to cross the Deai Bridge.
This 107-meter-long suspension bridge dates back to 1993 and lets you cross the Sho River. When a lot of people walk across the bridge, you’ll feel it bounce slightly up and down.
Walking across the bridge and looking around the crystal blue water of the Sho River feels like a great welcome to Shirakawa-go. The surroundings here are beautiful.
Most of Shirakawa-go is still active, people are living and working here. Over the years, many of the houses have been removed or left empty as villagers moved away. To preserve parts of the town, some of the houses were moved to this side of Ogimachi to create an open-air museum, or Gassho-Zukuri Minka-en.
A ticket for the museum costs ¥600 per person (¥400 for children) and gives you access to what I thought was the best part of the town. There are 25 thatched-roof houses in the museum, all with information on what they used to be and where they were moved from. Some of them are over 250 years old.
One big plus was that it was very quiet here compared to the rest of the town, but it’s also the best place to learn more about the houses, the village and its people. There are short videos in some of the houses available, too.
The information plaques attached to all the houses give a much deeper insight into why the gassho architecture style was created and how the people used to live here. Partly because of the heavy snow, but it also created large attics where the villagers were able to store food and crops.
On my first visit to Shirakawago, I skipped the museum, thinking I could see the houses in town without paying for a ticket. After visiting it on my second trip, I now realise that was a mistake. Visiting the museum added so much to my time here – it was the best part of the day trip, in my opinion.
One of the most iconic spots in Shirakawa-go is the Three Houses. These three thatched-roof farmhouses line up picture-perfect. They are located on the south end of the town, slightly out of the way of the other sights, but if you’re in Shirakawa-go anyway, it’s worth walking by.
The name “gassho-zukuri” roughly translates to “praying hands construction” as the triangular shapes mimic two hands in a praying position. But the shape of these houses wasn’t just an aesthetic choice.
Shirakawa-go sits in the middle of the mountains and is only around 50km from the Sea of Japan. The combination of the wet air coming from the ocean and the cold mountain air makes this area of Japan known for its heavy snowfall. The villagers of Shirakawa-go had to adapt to survive the harsh winters here, including how they built their houses.
The distinct gassho-style houses have a triangular shape, distributing the weight of the snow better. This prevents the roof from caving in and stops water from dripping inside easily.
Walking around Shirakawa-go can be very enjoyable, despite the large crowds. The town is undoubtedly beautiful, especially with the small fields of crops and the old farm houses on a beautiful mountainous backdrop. It’s not a very large town, so take your time to explore it.
The main road, the Shirakawa Kaido, runs straight through the village and used to connect Shirakawa-go with the centre of Takayama. On it, you can find small restaurants, cafes and shops.
If you’ve come across any pictures of Shirakawa-go before, chances are that you’ve seen photos taken from this iconic spot. It’s the perfect spot to look out over the village and the beautiful backdrop of the mountains.
It’s free to visit, but you will have to walk up the hill to get there. From the town, it takes around 20 minutes (depending on where in the town you start, it could be slightly longer).
Shirakawa-go in November
Shirakawa-go in May
You can also use the bus service that takes people from Wada House to the top of the hill for ¥300 each way. The walk itself isn’t too difficult, so unless you have any mobility issues, I would stick with walking.
There are a few spots near the top of the hill to check out for the best views. Don’t skip the “Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck”, as it’s a little hidden but gives you one of the best views – it’s where Ogimachi Castle used to stand.
If you want to check out the view right now, you can visit the Shirakawago live cam here.
People still live and work in Shirakawa-go, so remember that a lot of the houses here are private properties. Some of the houses are used as museums, sharing more information about the history of the families that used to live here and what life used to look like in Ogimachi. Some of the houses you can visit include:
When visiting Shirakawa-go and the surrounding areas, it’s best to bring some cash. While some more tourist-oriented places accept cards, this isn’t the case everywhere in rural places in Japan.
If you’re travelling by car, it’s also worth making a short stop at Shirakawa-go’s roadside station (道の駅 白川郷 合掌造りオブジェ). It’s a short drive from Ogimachi’s UNESCO World Heritage Site to the other side of the town.
On our first visit to Shirakawa-go, we stopped here first and mistook it for the parking spot near the actual town. Turns out, it was still a great spot to stop at!
At the roadside station, you can find a small restaurant and souvenir shop, as with most roadside stations. But what’s special about this one is that it also hosts a free museum. Inside, you can find a gassho-zukuri farmhouse. It shows you how these houses are made, and you get to see the layers of the roofs. As it’s free to visit, it won’t hurt to stop by before or after your visit to the main town.
There are some places in both Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi) and Gokayama (Ainokura) where you can stay overnight in one of the gassho-style farmhouses. They do book up quickly, so if this is something you want to do, make sure you book it early.
Shirakawa-go sits between Takayama and Kanazawa, making it an easy day trip from either city. It’s also possible to travel to Shirakawa-go from Toyama, however, most people use Takayama or Kanazawa as a base for this trip. As Shirakawa-go doesn’t have any trains, you can either use the bus service or rent a car for your day trip.
On both my visits, I rented a car in Takayama and drove towards Kanazawa while stopping along the way. Renting a car made sense as I was planning to visit Kanazawa after Takayama, and it gave me the flexibility to stop at some other Gassho-zukuri villages along the way.
The bus service is a good alternative if you can’t or don’t want to drive. Buses run frequently, and it’s possible to travel from one of the cities to another and stop at Shirakawa-go en route. For example, you could travel from Takayama to Shirakawa-go and onwards to Kanazawa by bus.
Here is some more information on how to take a day trip to Shirakawa-go:
To get to Shirakawa-go from Takayama, you can either rent a car or use the bus.
The bus departs from Takayama Nohi Bus Terminal, which is located next to JR Takayama Station. A single ticket from Takayama to Shirakawa-go costs ¥2,800 and will take around 50 minutes. Children aged 6–12 can get a discounted rate, and those younger than 6 can ride for free.
At the time of writing, there are 17 services every day, some of which only have reserved seats. To reserve a seat, you can pre-book tickets here. As this website doesn’t allow you to book return tickets, make sure you book two single tickets. It’s also possible to book a ticket from Takayama to Shirakawa-go and then onwards to Kanazawa, depending on the rest of your itinerary.
You can also pre-book the non-reserved buses here, which means you can use any of the non-reserved buses on the day. This website lets you book a return ticket if preferred, unlike the website for reserved buses.
Alternatively, you can buy the tickets on the day at the bus station in Takayama. Both the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass and Shoryudo Highway Bus Pass are also valid on this route, but it’s recommended to use one of the non-reserved bus services, as it’s not possible to pre-book the reservations with these passes online. You can make a reservation by phone, but it’s just as easy to use the non-reserved buses instead.
To properly plan your day trip to Shirakawa-go, it’s best to check the timetable on the official website to see what time the buses depart and which services require a reservation.
Driving to Shirakawa-go from Takayama is also an option, and one that I prefer over the bus service. On both our trips to Shirakawa-go, we rented a car from Toyota Rent a Car in Takayama (located outside of JR Takayama Station) and dropped it off in Kanazawa (near JR Kanazawa Station).
From Takayama, it takes roughly 50 minutes to drive the 50km to Shirakawa-go. There is plenty of parking available in Shirakawa-go, too. Most rental cars will come with a navigation system built in, making it very easy to make your way to Shirakawa-go.
To get to Shirakawa-go from Kanazawa, you can either rent a car or use the bus.
The bus to Shirakawa-go departs from the bus station west of JR Kanazawa Station. A single ticket costs ¥2,800 and will take around 1 hour and 25 minutes. Children aged 6–12 can get a discounted rate, and those younger than 6 can ride for free.
At the time of writing, there are 17 services every day, some of which only have reserved seats. To reserve a seat, you can pre-book tickets here. This website doesn’t allow you to book a return ticket, so you need to buy two single tickets instead.
Tickets for the non-reserved bus cannot be purchased online, but you can buy them at Kanazawa Station on the day.
Both the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass and Shoryudo Highway Bus Pass are also valid on this route. If you’re using these passes, it’s best to stick with the non-reserved bus services. The only way to make a reservation on the reserved buses is by phone, so it’s just as easy to stick with the non-reserved buses instead.
To properly plan your day trip to Shirakawa-go, it’s best to check the timetable on the official website to see what time the buses depart and which services require a reservation.
Similar to renting a car from Takayama to drive to Shirakawa-go, it’s very easy to do the same from Kanazawa. On our two trips to Shirakawa-go, we rented a car in Takayama, drove to Shirakawa-go, and then drove onwards to Kanazawa.
From Kanazawa, it takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes to drive to Shirakawa-go (roughly 65km). We rented our car with Toyota Rent a Car, which came with a built-in navigation system, making it very easy to make our way to Shirakawa-go. Shirakawa-go also had plenty of parking spaces available.
If you’re still unsure about accommodation in Kanazawa, check out our guide on where to stay in Kanazawa for our top picks.
Toyama isn’t quite as popular as Takayama or Kanazawa, but it’s relatively close to Shirakawa-go, making it a great day trip if you’re staying here. Especially since Toyama is the end (or start) of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, it’s gaining more and more traction.
Similar to Takayama and Kanazawa, you can use the bus or rent a car. It’s also possible to get the train to Kanazawa first (which takes around 20 minutes), and travel from there if you’re also planning to visit Kanazawa.
The bus station in Toyama is located just outside Toyama Station. The buses to Shirakawa-go and back run a bit less frequently than those between Takayama and Kanazawa, so it’s best to double-check the bus times on the official website before making any plans.
It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to Shirakawa-go from Toyama by bus. A single ticket costs ¥2,400 per adult. Children aged 6–12 can get a discounted rate, and those younger than 6 can ride for free.
Similar to the routes above, the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass and Shoryudo Highway Bus Pass are also valid on this route.
The drive from Toyama to Shirakawa-go takes roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes (around 85km). Similar to Kanazawa and Takayama, Toyota Rent a Car has a shop located just outside the train station for easy access.
On both our trips to Shirakwago, we rented a car to drive from Takayama to Kanazawa, and I would highly recommend doing so if you’re able to and feel comfortable driving abroad. I understand this isn’t an option for everybody, as you do need the correct papers to drive in Japan (I needed an international driving permit alongside my UK license), plus it can be scary driving abroad, but it has so many benefits!
Having a car for our day in Shirakawa-go gave us a lot of flexibility, allowing us to arrive and leave when we were ready to. As we weren’t returning to Takayama, but travelling onwards to Kanazawa, it was also very easy to leave our luggage in the car booth while we explored Shirakawa-go. It’s possible to take luggage on the bus and store it in a locker when you get to Shirakawa-go, but it can be tricky.
Shirakawa-go also has plenty of parking spaces available, along with an overflow car park not too far from the main village. Our first visit was during Golden Week (which was a mistake!), and even with the large crowds in Shirakawa-go, there was still parking available.
On top of that, the drive through the Gifu and Toyama mountains is stunning – it was such a treat driving through this beautiful landscape. Having our own car also gave us the easy option to stop at some of the other Gassho villages in the area, including Ainokura and Suganuma.
Driving can also be a bit more expensive than taking the bus (depending on how large your group is, it can be cheaper than the bus), but I still think it’s worth it for the benefits it’ll add to your day.
If you’re visiting Shirakawa-go in winter, getting a bus may be a better and safer option unless you have experience driving in snow. This area in Japan gets heavy snowfall during winter, so roads may be icy.
Here are some alternatives to visiting Shirakawa-go:
Whether or not Shirakawa-go is worth visiting is a tricky one for me. While many guides (printed and online) say Shirakawa-go is an absolute must-visit, I can’t say that I agree.
On my first visit, I assumed it was the large crowds that flocked together during Golden Week that made me feel slightly underwhelmed by my visit. However, even the second visit didn’t quite get me as excited as I’d hoped.
It’s a lovely town with a ton of history, and the houses are beautiful – I can’t say it’s not. But on both visits, I didn’t quite get the hype. There isn’t a whole lot to do, and despite the fact that people are living in this town, it did feel a bit like walking through a museum (a bit Disneyland-esque).
I know a lot of people won’t agree with me on this, which is absolutely fine. But I probably won’t go back again, especially when there are so many other spots in Japan that I would absolutely love to revisit (think Shikoku, Kinosaki Onsen, the Nakasendo, and so on).
Because it sits between Kanazawa and Takayama, Shirakawa-go does act as a great middle point for a travel day. If you’re in this area anyway, it won’t hurt to stop by and see it yourself. Again, many other guides rate Shirakawa-go very high, so maybe I’m just missing the point!
Located in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go is a popular day trip destination, known for its beautiful thatched-roof farmhouses. Even though this picturesque town is still an active village, it almost looks like time has stood still.
As Shirakawa-go is located right in between Takayama and Kanazawa, many people visit on a day trip from either of these popular spots. And since I’ve visited twice now, in spring and autumn, it’s time to share my Shirakawa-go day trip itinerary:
In This Travel Guide:
- Shirakawa-go Itinerary Overview & Map
- Shirakawa-go Day Trip Itinerary
- 1. Cross the Deai Suspension Bridge
- 2. Visit Gassho-Zukuri Minka-en (Open Air Museum)
- 3. Walk by the Three Houses of Shirakawa-go
- 4. Explore Shirakawa Kaido
- 5. See Shirakawa-go From Above at Shiroyama View Point
- 6. Go Inside One of the Gassho Houses
- 7. Stop by the Free Museum at Shirakawa-go’s Roadside Station
- How to Get to Shirakawa-go
Shirakawa-go Itinerary Overview & Map
Shirakawa-go (in Gifu Prefecture) and Gokayama (in Toyama Prefecture) are areas in the Northern Japanese Alps home to a few picturesque traditional farm towns. They are particularly known for their unique style of architecture.
This region of Japan famously gets a lot of heavy snow during the winter, forcing the locals to create steep thatched roofs, preventing the snow from piling up and breaking through. This style is called gassho, which roughly translates to “hands in prayer” as the shape looks like two hands in prayer position.
When talking about Shirakawa-go, people often refer to one of the towns called Ogimachi, the largest and most popular town in the area. It’s home to 59 thatched-roof houses. This is also the town the buses take you to, as Ogimachi has the most things to see and do.
However, if you’re travelling by car, it’s easy to stop by some of the other gassho-zukuri towns in the Shirakawa-go and Gokayama area: Ainokura (which has 20 houses) and Suganuma (home to nine gaucho-styled houses). These towns are a bit harder to get to, which also means they attract fewer tourists – perfect if you want to avoid the large crowds.
Any season is good for visiting Shirakawa-go. In spring, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful blossoms, while summer gives way to the vibrant rice paddies. The autumn leaves are a highlight later in the year, and winter brings up to 30 feet of snow – a stunning sight.
This Shirakawa-go itinerary focuses mainly on Ogimachi, as it’s the easiest spot to get to and has to most things to do. The Google Maps below shows you some of the highlighted points in the itinerary:
Click here for the interactive Google Maps
Before diving into this one-day Shirakawago itinerary, I want to clearly mention that this town isn’t an open-air museum. It’s a real town where people live and work. Most of the houses here are private property, so please do not trespass or peek inside windows. There are houses that you can enter for a small fee and act as a museum (more info on that below), so stick with those instead!
I also have to say that even after two visits, I didn’t quite love it as much as I hoped I would. Even though many other articles claim Shirakawa-go to be an absolute must-see in Japan, I’m not sure if I agree. Both visits were nice, but I left slightly underwhelmed.
While Shirakawa-go is undoubtedly a beautiful town, with the famous gassho farmhouses and the stunning Japanese Alps in the background, it’s very crowded. And truly, there isn’t that much to do. Obviously, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t visit – but I wish I had visited with fewer expectations.
Shirakawa-go Day Trip Itinerary
When visiting Shirakawa-go for the day, here are some of the things to check out. Depending on whether you arrive by bus or car, you may have to swap the order of some of the spots below, as the arrival spot may differ. Either way, you’ll have more than enough time to see everything in Shirakawa-go in one day.
1. Cross the Deai Suspension Bridge
If you arrive in Shirakawa-go by car, you’ll most likely park in the main car park on the western side of the village. To get to the town from there, you’ll have to cross the Deai Bridge.
This 107-meter-long suspension bridge dates back to 1993 and lets you cross the Sho River. When a lot of people walk across the bridge, you’ll feel it bounce slightly up and down.
Walking across the bridge and looking around the crystal blue water of the Sho River feels like a great welcome to Shirakawa-go. The surroundings here are beautiful.
2. Visit Gassho-Zukuri Minka-en (Open Air Museum)
Most of Shirakawa-go is still active, people are living and working here. Over the years, many of the houses have been removed or left empty as villagers moved away. To preserve parts of the town, some of the houses were moved to this side of Ogimachi to create an open-air museum, or Gassho-Zukuri Minka-en.
A ticket for the museum costs ¥600 per person (¥400 for children) and gives you access to what I thought was the best part of the town. There are 25 thatched-roof houses in the museum, all with information on what they used to be and where they were moved from. Some of them are over 250 years old.
One big plus was that it was very quiet here compared to the rest of the town, but it’s also the best place to learn more about the houses, the village and its people. There are short videos in some of the houses available, too.
The information plaques attached to all the houses give a much deeper insight into why the gassho architecture style was created and how the people used to live here. Partly because of the heavy snow, but it also created large attics where the villagers were able to store food and crops.
On my first visit to Shirakawago, I skipped the museum, thinking I could see the houses in town without paying for a ticket. After visiting it on my second trip, I now realise that was a mistake. Visiting the museum added so much to my time here – it was the best part of the day trip, in my opinion.
3. Walk by the Three Houses of Shirakawa-go
One of the most iconic spots in Shirakawa-go is the Three Houses. These three thatched-roof farmhouses line up picture-perfect. They are located on the south end of the town, slightly out of the way of the other sights, but if you’re in Shirakawa-go anyway, it’s worth walking by.
The name “gassho-zukuri” roughly translates to “praying hands construction” as the triangular shapes mimic two hands in a praying position. But the shape of these houses wasn’t just an aesthetic choice.
Shirakawa-go sits in the middle of the mountains and is only around 50km from the Sea of Japan. The combination of the wet air coming from the ocean and the cold mountain air makes this area of Japan known for its heavy snowfall. The villagers of Shirakawa-go had to adapt to survive the harsh winters here, including how they built their houses.
The distinct gassho-style houses have a triangular shape, distributing the weight of the snow better. This prevents the roof from caving in and stops water from dripping inside easily.
4. Explore Shirakawa Kaido
Walking around Shirakawa-go can be very enjoyable, despite the large crowds. The town is undoubtedly beautiful, especially with the small fields of crops and the old farm houses on a beautiful mountainous backdrop. It’s not a very large town, so take your time to explore it.
The main road, the Shirakawa Kaido, runs straight through the village and used to connect Shirakawa-go with the centre of Takayama. On it, you can find small restaurants, cafes and shops.
5. See Shirakawa-go From Above at Shiroyama View Point
If you’ve come across any pictures of Shirakawa-go before, chances are that you’ve seen photos taken from this iconic spot. It’s the perfect spot to look out over the village and the beautiful backdrop of the mountains.
It’s free to visit, but you will have to walk up the hill to get there. From the town, it takes around 20 minutes (depending on where in the town you start, it could be slightly longer).
Shirakawa-go in November
Shirakawa-go in May
You can also use the bus service that takes people from Wada House to the top of the hill for ¥300 each way. The walk itself isn’t too difficult, so unless you have any mobility issues, I would stick with walking.
There are a few spots near the top of the hill to check out for the best views. Don’t skip the “Ogimachi Castle Observation Deck”, as it’s a little hidden but gives you one of the best views – it’s where Ogimachi Castle used to stand.
If you want to check out the view right now, you can visit the Shirakawago live cam here.
6. Go Inside One of the Gassho Houses
People still live and work in Shirakawa-go, so remember that a lot of the houses here are private properties. Some of the houses are used as museums, sharing more information about the history of the families that used to live here and what life used to look like in Ogimachi. Some of the houses you can visit include:
- Wada House: The largest gassho-zukuri-style house in Shirakawa-go, which you can enter for a small fee (¥400 for adults, ¥200 for children). It used to belong to the Wada family, a rich family that lived in Shirakawa-go and worked in the silk trade. Inside the house, you can learn more about the family and the importance of Wada House.
- Kanda House: Kanda House is one of the best preserved houses in Shirakawa-go, dating back to 1850. Inside, you’ll find an exhibition hall with old tools used as part of the silk production, which was one of the main industries in Shirakawa-go at the time. Tickets to enter cost ¥400 per adult, ¥200 for children.
- Nagase House: Stretching over five stories, Nagase House is the tallest one in Shirakawa-go. It’s over 250 years old and was the house of the town doctor for decades. Inside, you can find a large altar and old medical equipment dating back to the Edo Period. Tickets cost ¥300 for adults, ¥150 for children.
When visiting Shirakawa-go and the surrounding areas, it’s best to bring some cash. While some more tourist-oriented places accept cards, this isn’t the case everywhere in rural places in Japan.
7. Stop by the Free Museum at Shirakawa-go’s Roadside Station
If you’re travelling by car, it’s also worth making a short stop at Shirakawa-go’s roadside station (道の駅 白川郷 合掌造りオブジェ). It’s a short drive from Ogimachi’s UNESCO World Heritage Site to the other side of the town.
On our first visit to Shirakawa-go, we stopped here first and mistook it for the parking spot near the actual town. Turns out, it was still a great spot to stop at!
At the roadside station, you can find a small restaurant and souvenir shop, as with most roadside stations. But what’s special about this one is that it also hosts a free museum. Inside, you can find a gassho-zukuri farmhouse. It shows you how these houses are made, and you get to see the layers of the roofs. As it’s free to visit, it won’t hurt to stop by before or after your visit to the main town.
There are some places in both Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi) and Gokayama (Ainokura) where you can stay overnight in one of the gassho-style farmhouses. They do book up quickly, so if this is something you want to do, make sure you book it early.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go
Shirakawa-go sits between Takayama and Kanazawa, making it an easy day trip from either city. It’s also possible to travel to Shirakawa-go from Toyama, however, most people use Takayama or Kanazawa as a base for this trip. As Shirakawa-go doesn’t have any trains, you can either use the bus service or rent a car for your day trip.
On both my visits, I rented a car in Takayama and drove towards Kanazawa while stopping along the way. Renting a car made sense as I was planning to visit Kanazawa after Takayama, and it gave me the flexibility to stop at some other Gassho-zukuri villages along the way.
The bus service is a good alternative if you can’t or don’t want to drive. Buses run frequently, and it’s possible to travel from one of the cities to another and stop at Shirakawa-go en route. For example, you could travel from Takayama to Shirakawa-go and onwards to Kanazawa by bus.
Here is some more information on how to take a day trip to Shirakawa-go:
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Takayama
To get to Shirakawa-go from Takayama, you can either rent a car or use the bus.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Takayama by Bus
The bus departs from Takayama Nohi Bus Terminal, which is located next to JR Takayama Station. A single ticket from Takayama to Shirakawa-go costs ¥2,800 and will take around 50 minutes. Children aged 6–12 can get a discounted rate, and those younger than 6 can ride for free.
At the time of writing, there are 17 services every day, some of which only have reserved seats. To reserve a seat, you can pre-book tickets here. As this website doesn’t allow you to book return tickets, make sure you book two single tickets. It’s also possible to book a ticket from Takayama to Shirakawa-go and then onwards to Kanazawa, depending on the rest of your itinerary.
You can also pre-book the non-reserved buses here, which means you can use any of the non-reserved buses on the day. This website lets you book a return ticket if preferred, unlike the website for reserved buses.
Alternatively, you can buy the tickets on the day at the bus station in Takayama. Both the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass and Shoryudo Highway Bus Pass are also valid on this route, but it’s recommended to use one of the non-reserved bus services, as it’s not possible to pre-book the reservations with these passes online. You can make a reservation by phone, but it’s just as easy to use the non-reserved buses instead.
To properly plan your day trip to Shirakawa-go, it’s best to check the timetable on the official website to see what time the buses depart and which services require a reservation.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Takayama by Car
Driving to Shirakawa-go from Takayama is also an option, and one that I prefer over the bus service. On both our trips to Shirakawa-go, we rented a car from Toyota Rent a Car in Takayama (located outside of JR Takayama Station) and dropped it off in Kanazawa (near JR Kanazawa Station).
From Takayama, it takes roughly 50 minutes to drive the 50km to Shirakawa-go. There is plenty of parking available in Shirakawa-go, too. Most rental cars will come with a navigation system built in, making it very easy to make your way to Shirakawa-go.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Kanazawa
To get to Shirakawa-go from Kanazawa, you can either rent a car or use the bus.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Kanazawa by Bus
The bus to Shirakawa-go departs from the bus station west of JR Kanazawa Station. A single ticket costs ¥2,800 and will take around 1 hour and 25 minutes. Children aged 6–12 can get a discounted rate, and those younger than 6 can ride for free.
At the time of writing, there are 17 services every day, some of which only have reserved seats. To reserve a seat, you can pre-book tickets here. This website doesn’t allow you to book a return ticket, so you need to buy two single tickets instead.
Tickets for the non-reserved bus cannot be purchased online, but you can buy them at Kanazawa Station on the day.
Both the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass and Shoryudo Highway Bus Pass are also valid on this route. If you’re using these passes, it’s best to stick with the non-reserved bus services. The only way to make a reservation on the reserved buses is by phone, so it’s just as easy to stick with the non-reserved buses instead.
To properly plan your day trip to Shirakawa-go, it’s best to check the timetable on the official website to see what time the buses depart and which services require a reservation.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Kanazawa by Car
Similar to renting a car from Takayama to drive to Shirakawa-go, it’s very easy to do the same from Kanazawa. On our two trips to Shirakawa-go, we rented a car in Takayama, drove to Shirakawa-go, and then drove onwards to Kanazawa.
From Kanazawa, it takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes to drive to Shirakawa-go (roughly 65km). We rented our car with Toyota Rent a Car, which came with a built-in navigation system, making it very easy to make our way to Shirakawa-go. Shirakawa-go also had plenty of parking spaces available.
If you’re still unsure about accommodation in Kanazawa, check out our guide on where to stay in Kanazawa for our top picks.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Toyama
Toyama isn’t quite as popular as Takayama or Kanazawa, but it’s relatively close to Shirakawa-go, making it a great day trip if you’re staying here. Especially since Toyama is the end (or start) of the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, it’s gaining more and more traction.
Similar to Takayama and Kanazawa, you can use the bus or rent a car. It’s also possible to get the train to Kanazawa first (which takes around 20 minutes), and travel from there if you’re also planning to visit Kanazawa.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Toyama by Bus
The bus station in Toyama is located just outside Toyama Station. The buses to Shirakawa-go and back run a bit less frequently than those between Takayama and Kanazawa, so it’s best to double-check the bus times on the official website before making any plans.
It takes around 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to Shirakawa-go from Toyama by bus. A single ticket costs ¥2,400 per adult. Children aged 6–12 can get a discounted rate, and those younger than 6 can ride for free.
Similar to the routes above, the Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass and Shoryudo Highway Bus Pass are also valid on this route.
How to Get to Shirakawa-go From Toyama by Car
The drive from Toyama to Shirakawa-go takes roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes (around 85km). Similar to Kanazawa and Takayama, Toyota Rent a Car has a shop located just outside the train station for easy access.
Why I Recommend Driving to Shirakawa-go
On both our trips to Shirakwago, we rented a car to drive from Takayama to Kanazawa, and I would highly recommend doing so if you’re able to and feel comfortable driving abroad. I understand this isn’t an option for everybody, as you do need the correct papers to drive in Japan (I needed an international driving permit alongside my UK license), plus it can be scary driving abroad, but it has so many benefits!
Having a car for our day in Shirakawa-go gave us a lot of flexibility, allowing us to arrive and leave when we were ready to. As we weren’t returning to Takayama, but travelling onwards to Kanazawa, it was also very easy to leave our luggage in the car booth while we explored Shirakawa-go. It’s possible to take luggage on the bus and store it in a locker when you get to Shirakawa-go, but it can be tricky.
Shirakawa-go also has plenty of parking spaces available, along with an overflow car park not too far from the main village. Our first visit was during Golden Week (which was a mistake!), and even with the large crowds in Shirakawa-go, there was still parking available.
On top of that, the drive through the Gifu and Toyama mountains is stunning – it was such a treat driving through this beautiful landscape. Having our own car also gave us the easy option to stop at some of the other Gassho villages in the area, including Ainokura and Suganuma.
Driving can also be a bit more expensive than taking the bus (depending on how large your group is, it can be cheaper than the bus), but I still think it’s worth it for the benefits it’ll add to your day.
If you’re visiting Shirakawa-go in winter, getting a bus may be a better and safer option unless you have experience driving in snow. This area in Japan gets heavy snowfall during winter, so roads may be icy.
Shirakawa-go Alternatives
Here are some alternatives to visiting Shirakawa-go:
- Gokayama’s Ainokura and Suganuma: The best alternative (or addition to your trip to Shirakawa-go) is the neighbouring town in the Gokayama area. If you’re driving, stopping by Ainokura or Suganuma (or both) is a must! These towns also host the famous gassho-style farmhouses and are a lot less busy. Even though they are smaller, it’s still worth adding them to your day in the area.
- Takayama’s Hida no Sato Folk Village: If Takayama is on your Japan itinerary but you can’t make it to Shirakawa-go, adding Hida Folk Village could be a great alternative. This open-air museum hosts 30 houses, including some traditional gassho-style houses.
- Gero Onsen’s Gassho Village: Similar to the open-air museum in Takayama, Gero Onsen has a similar attraction. The Gero Onsen Gassho Mura has 10 gassho-zukuri farmhouses that were transported from the Shirakawa-go area. If you want to combine some of the best onsen in the area with these houses, Gero Onsen could be a great choice.
- Kyoto Prefecture’s Miyama: While not exactly the same, Miyama in Kyoto Prefecture is home to some thatched roof houses (called kayabuki, so not the same as gassho-zukuri). Kayabuki no Sato in Miyama has 40 houses scattered around the area.
Conclusion – Is Shirakawa-go Worth Visiting?
Whether or not Shirakawa-go is worth visiting is a tricky one for me. While many guides (printed and online) say Shirakawa-go is an absolute must-visit, I can’t say that I agree.
On my first visit, I assumed it was the large crowds that flocked together during Golden Week that made me feel slightly underwhelmed by my visit. However, even the second visit didn’t quite get me as excited as I’d hoped.
It’s a lovely town with a ton of history, and the houses are beautiful – I can’t say it’s not. But on both visits, I didn’t quite get the hype. There isn’t a whole lot to do, and despite the fact that people are living in this town, it did feel a bit like walking through a museum (a bit Disneyland-esque).
I know a lot of people won’t agree with me on this, which is absolutely fine. But I probably won’t go back again, especially when there are so many other spots in Japan that I would absolutely love to revisit (think Shikoku, Kinosaki Onsen, the Nakasendo, and so on).
Because it sits between Kanazawa and Takayama, Shirakawa-go does act as a great middle point for a travel day. If you’re in this area anyway, it won’t hurt to stop by and see it yourself. Again, many other guides rate Shirakawa-go very high, so maybe I’m just missing the point!