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All 13 Shirakawa-mura Attractions »

World Heritage Shirakawago Gassho Frame Housing Community

Ogimachi, Shirakawa-mura, Ono-gun, Gifu Prefecture 501-5627, Japan
4.5 of 5 stars 142 Reviews
Type: Historic Sites, Lookouts, Landmarks/ Points of Interest
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142 reviews from our community

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Date Rating
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Top Contributor
54 reviews 54 reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
11 helpful votes 11 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 24, 2012 NEW

We were here in early april and was suprise it snowed !! Shirawakago is so beautiful when the whole place was blanketed with snow. The A shape farm house here is very unique and beautiful. Small village and very nice to stroll around. From the bus station, we walked across the suspension bridge to the village. Turn left at the... More

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Singapore
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed April 22, 2012

We were surprised that village still covered in snow in early Apr 2012. Some of us were not so warmly dressed especially in the drizzle that day. Took bus from Takayama Nohi bus station. Picturesque village. Walk across a suspension bridge over the Shokawa River from the Shirakawa bus station. Be prepared to pay admissions to some of the popular... More

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New York City, New York
Top Contributor
64 reviews 64 reviews
Reviews in 25 cities Reviews in 25 cities
15 helpful votes 15 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 31, 2012

We had to cross a bridge to reach the village. It was snowing all morning and it looked like just beautiful. The old farmhouses were about 250 years old. We walked all around and went to see the Wada house. It used to belong to one of the richest families and you get to walk around inside and see what... More

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Bangkok, Thailand
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
5 of 5 stars Reviewed March 20, 2012

I went here in March 2012. Still has a small snowing. It was such a lovely small village with a great moutain view and shirakawa river. I went up to the viewpoint with a bus. (Walking path to the viewpoint is closed because of snow.) Very good experience. More

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Auckland Central, New Zealand
Top Contributor
98 reviews 98 reviews
Reviews in 51 cities Reviews in 51 cities
163 helpful votes 163 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 26, 2012
2
people found this review helpful

Even in the rain, brolly in left hand, camera in right, Shirakawago is still beautiful. My wife and I stayed two nights in Takayama and on the second day took a Nohi Bus Guided Tour to Shirakawago. We normally do our own thing but for visiting Shirakawago, taking a tour is probably the better option. Doing it on your own,... More

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Shiki, Japan
Senior Contributor
42 reviews 42 reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
65 helpful votes 65 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed February 24, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

The night time illumination is quite good but, to be honest, wasn't as magical as I expected. If you are going for the night time illumination ainm to arrive mid afternoon because the traffic jam waiting for the car park can be intense! We waited in a queue to enter for well over an hour. Then, there is more waiting... More

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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contributor
15 reviews 15 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
45 helpful votes 45 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed February 18, 2012
3
people found this review helpful

Gassho-zukuri is a house built of wooden beams combined to form a steep thatched roof that resembles two hands together. The roof can be looked triangular just like a standing book open. The structure is built to suit the environment in Shirakawa. It is made to with stand heavy snowfall. The house face north and south, to minimize wind resistance.... More

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Country Victoria, Australia
Top Contributor
88 reviews 88 reviews
Reviews in 53 cities Reviews in 53 cities
54 helpful votes 54 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 28, 2012

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995, Shirakawa-go in the Shogawa Valley is renowned for the distinctive architectural style of the farmhouses Gassho-Zukuri "; translation "Constructed like hands in Prayer". These appealing dwellings with steeply slanted roofs are examples of a traditional way of life adapted to the mountain environment, to shed heavy winter snows, and provide comfortable living... More

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Tokyo
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed January 2, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

According to the websites Shirakawa-go is a quaint little town nestled in a valley with nothing but farms and mountains. However it was nothing like what we expected — as we arrived we were surrounded by hordes of elderly Chinese tourists getting on and off of an endless flow of tour buses, choking every single street, alley and path through... More

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Tokyo, Japan
Contributor
16 reviews 16 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
14 helpful votes 14 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed December 31, 2011

Thick white snow, heritage buildings and the snow makes one feel really happy More

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