Shirakawa-Go Valley.Day trip

I was lucky enough to go with friends to the valley of Shirakawa-Go to see a town where an old style of thatched roof housing has been preserved. Unfortunately it was a weekday, Pam was stuck at work.

Traveling to the remote village

Shirakawa-Go valley is on the edge of Gifu prefecture, near the city of Takayama. It was a long three and a half hour drive from Nagoya to Shirakawa-Go valley. The main highway passing through a series of long tunnels and bridges as the road across Japan burrows through the mountains. After moving off the highway, the last hour follows a windy path along the edge of a river. A spectacular view.

The mountains on either side of the river was dotted with ski runs. In winter, the towns in the valley get 2-3 meters of snow.

Winding our way toward the village, passing a large dam and a Hydro-electric scheme.

Wandering around the Village of Ogimachi

The main village in the valley is the village of Ogimachi. You can drive and park at the information centre (500 yen), and spend a few hours wandering around the village. The village is a mix of the thatched roof houses and more modern (practical) houses.

gasshō-zukuri Houses

Gasshō-zukuri means "clasped-hands" and is the shape of hands in prayer. This angled shape gives the roofs the strength to withstand the pressures of the heavy snows in winter.

The houses are actually quite large, and have a number of different tiers. The village specialized in growing silk worms, and the top levels of the houses were usually put toward this enterprise.

A gasshō-zukuri style house called Rihee. Notice the sign stuck to it, it means No smoking in the village (for obvious reasons).

No nails.

The roofs used to last 40-50 years, but now with different grasses and less utilization of the inside fireplaces, the roofs last about 25 years. There are some great photos in my guidebook showing the community efforts to rebuilt the roofs. Each year a couple of houses are reroofed and hundreds of people come out to help complete it in a day.

The roofs are very thick

A bridge separating the main part of town from the bus parking and tourist village

Rice fields were everywhere in the town. It was strange wandering around. Locals drove by, had their washing out, did their gardening and tourists like us wandered around them taking photos.

One of my favorite shots. You get a reflection, can see the mountains that surround the valley and also get an idea of scale as the people wander by.

Furusato and Kidoya houses

Not all houses are in the Grassho style. Still the traditional look around the town is charming.

Each town in Japan has its own manhole covers. I liked this one.

A more artistic shot.

yet another shot...... The houses were spectacular, I had a lot of fun with my camera

Another hut.

A shot across the village

Some of the surrounding mountains still had a touch of snow (it is summer). You can just make it out on the mountain in the distance

Final shot

Inside Kanda house

A number of houses were open for viewing for a few dollars each, we chose to have a look inside Kanda house. for our 300 yen, we received a pamphlet, cup of tea, a chance to sit and relax and a tour of the 3/4 levels of the house. (Bargain!)

The central fireplace. The black wall colour is actually quite attractive (terrible photo), and it has taken 150 years to give the house its current look and feel.