T0029
Shiragawa Village UNESCO Heritage Day Tour
Gifu
Guided/FIT:
Guided
Highlights
This day tour guides travelers through Gifu Prefecture's most iconic UNESCO Heritage site Shirawaga Village. The Gassho farmhouses have become a symbol of Japan's well-preserved culture and tradition. Walking with our guide, you will take much more out of the day than simply doing it by yourself.
Details
In order to join this day tour, travelers are recommended to stay in either the Takayama city or Shiragawa for the night before. The tour does NOT provide overnight accommodations but we are happy to help travelers book hotels or ryokans according to their budget.
There is convenient bus commute between Takayama Station and Shiragawa Bus Terminal, so we will meet you at the Shiragawa bus terminal. The bus journey takes about 45 minutes and you will be amazed by the beautiful landscape along the route. We can also arrange private transportation to and back from Shiragawa.
The Shirakawa village and neighboring Gokayama areas line the Shogawa River Valley in the remote mountains that span from Gifu to Toyama Prefectures. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, they are famous for their traditional Gassho (thatched roof) farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old. The steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer, implicating the unification of nature and human. The architectural shape was designed to withstand the large amount of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter. The roofs, made without nails, provided a large attic space used for cultivating silkworms.
Our guide will walk you through the village and explain the history and tradition. You will take much more from this tour than simply walking around by yourself.
The farmhouses provide a place to work and live, and look amazing in all seasons. Many of the farmhouses are now restaurants, museums or homestay, where you can stay overnight, the ultimate way of experiencing Shirakawago. Walking through different houses, our guide will explain the history, function and stories of each, allowing travelers to have a thorough understanding of the village rather than feeling "all look the same".
We will enjoy lunch and drinks in the village, and enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
If you have time, it is highly recommended to stay overnight in the village. We are happy to help you book the accommodation according to your budget. Otherwise, we will send you back to the Shiragawa bus terminal towards the evening.
Included
Entrance fees of all visits
Tour guide and translation on site
Excluded
Hotel accommodations
Transportation tickets
Travel or accidental insurance
Eating, drinking or purchases by the guest own