Shirakawa-go FAQ

Questions from Visitors Using Personal Cars or Tour Buses

Q. Is there a gas station?

A. Shirakawa-go’s cherry trees usually blossom from mid to late April. Additionally, the nationally rare “Ota Cherry Tree” (at the Hongakuji Temple within the World Heritage area) flowers at around the beginning of May each year. Please check the live cameras to see the current situation in Shirakawa-go.

A. The trees on the mountains surrounding Shirakawa-go start to take on hues of red and yellow from around the beginning of October. The Hakusan Park Line, Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road, and Amo Pass are closed in winter, so the best fall foliage viewing period extends until the end of October. Additionally, the trees around the gassho style village change color from mid-October to early November. Please check the live cameras to see the current situation in Shirakawa-go.

A. Snow falls annually in Shirakawa-go from December to March. Please check the current snowfall situation in Shirakawa-go using the live cameras and services such as Yahoo! Weather. Additionally, winter season temperatures may fall below freezing, even during the day. Please be sure to wear a warm coat and other appropriate clothing such as gloves. There are frequent accidents caused by slipping on snow and ice, even when snow is not actually falling. Please refrain from wearing heels, and use appropriate winter footwear such as snowshoes or boots. We also recommend wearing rainwear or a poncho, rather than using an umbrella when it is snowing.

A. The Doburoku Festival is held annually at shrines in Shirakawa Village between October 14 & 19.

A. As the entire Ogi-machi Gassho Style Village is a designated World Heritage area, we recommend exploring the area freely at your leisure. However, an important feature of the gassho style village is that residents continue to live their daily lives here. For this reason, we strongly request that visitors do not enter private residences or gardens, peer into houses, or open doors without permission.

Additionally, you can find the Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum located next to the Seseragi Park Parking Area. This park encloses 26 buildings, including nine that are designated by the prefecture as important cultural properties, allowing visitors to learn more about the history and culture of Shirakawa Village.

You can also download a walking map detailing the gassho style village from the Shirakawa-go Tourism Association’s website.

A. There is a wide choice of places to eat, ranging from low cost options such as soba and udon restaurants, coffee shops, fast food, and convenience stores, through to specialty restaurants serving regional cuisine including high grade Hidagyu beef, hobamiso, and “Shirakawa-go Hirase Hot Springs Hidagyu Suttate Nabe” hotpot.

A. There are a variety of accommodation options including thatch-roofed gassho style lodgings, guesthouses, hotels, and traditional hot spring inns. Please visit the Shirakawa-go Tourism Association website for more information.