HomeAsiaEast AsiaJapanShirakawa-go 9 Places to Visit in Shirakawa-go and Gifu + Things To Do By Marcos Detourista. Updated on April 15, 2020. Where to go in Shirakawa-go and Gifu? Achieve your travel goals with this list of beautiful destinations, things to do, best places to visit, Shirakawa-go tourist spots, attractions & more. 1. Shiroyama Viewpoint (Tenshukaku Observatory) Location: 889 Ogimachi | In front of Tenshukaku Restaurant, Shirakawa, Ono District, Gifu, Japan. Save on Google Maps. A must-visit when in Shirakawa-go! This viewpoint offers a great view overlooking the famous houses, which are built in a unique architectural style known as gassho, surrounding farmland and mountains. The best time to visit is during winter when the triangular thatch-roof houses are covered in snow and in the summertime when vibrant green vegetation covers the fields. To get to Shiroyama Viewpoint, walk a bit (100m from the “Shirakawa Bus Terminal” to the “Observatory Sightseeing Shuttle Bus Stop.” Shuttles leave every 20 minutes. One-way fare is JPY 200. Tenshukaku Restaurant, which serves traditional gassho style food, is located on top of the hill. If you want to take your time on your way back, consider walking & enjoy the view. It’s downhill so it’s less tiring. Shirakawago, Ainokura & Gokayama Day Tour from Takayama See discounts Takayama and Shirakawa-go Day Trip from Nagoya See discounts Shirakawa-go village view from Shiroyama viewpoint, Japan Shirakawa-go village view from Shiroyama viewpoint, Japan Shirakawa-go village view from Shiroyama viewpoint, Japan Shirakawa-go Travel Essentials: Where to stay in Shirakawa-go (click below to see rates and book online)Cheapest Rates | Best Reviews | Home Rentals/Airbnb Shirakawa-go Tours & Discounts Japan WIFI/SIM Card See also: Best Places to Visit in Japan | Best Places to Visit in Tokyo | Japan Itinerary. To help with your trip planning, I’ve added links to the locations on Google Maps. Feel free to click/tap on the links posted. Then, use the “save” feature on the Google Maps app for easy reference. I’ve also shared photos from my Instagram feed. Use Instagram’s save feature for quick access to your travel/feed goals. Follow me on Instagram 2. Shirakawa-go Walking Tour Shirakawa-go Village in Gifu, Japan Shirakawa-go Village in Gifu, Japan Shirakawa-go Village in Gifu, Japan Shirakawa-go Village in Gifu, Japan Coffee shop at Shirakawa-go Village in Gifu, Japan Shirakawa-go is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are outstanding examples of a traditional way of life perfectly adapted to the environment and people’s social and economic circumstances. The best way to see the gassho-style houses is on a walking tour. Many of the houses are open to the public, so you can have a look inside and learn about the traditional way of life. The main spots include the Wada-ke House ( the largest gassho-zukuri farmhouse in town), Kanda-ke House, Nagase-ke House and Myozenji Temple. 3. Gassho Zukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum Location: 2499 Ogimachi, Shirakawa, Ono District, Gifu, Japan. Save on Google Maps. Located across the river from Ogimachi village center, this open-air museum is filled with gassho-zukuri farmhouses that have been relocated from the surrounding villages in an effort to save them from destruction. The Gassho Zukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum is set in a peaceful scenic area, perfect for photo-ops. Other structures include a watermill, a shrine, and a temple’s main hall preserved in their original state. Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Marcos at Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Marcos at Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Marcos at Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Gassho Zukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan 4. Deai Bridge Deai Bridge in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Deai Bridge in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Location: Ogimachi, Shirakawa. Save on Google Maps. Passed by this pedestrian suspension bridge on my way between the Gassho Zukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum and the Ogimachi village center. The Deai Bridge is a picturesque vantage point of the Sho River and surrounding mountains. 5. Eat Traditional Shirakawa-go Food Shirakawa-go traditional food – Lunch at Tenshukaku Observatory, in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Eating local food is one of the best ways to get a better appreciation of the traditional way of life in Shirakawa-go. During my trip, I enjoyed a nice lunch at Tenshukaku Restaurant (located at Shiroyama Viewpoint) since it was included in the tour packaged that I booked. You can also find a number of restaurants in the main village. The must-tries include home-made soba (buckwheat) noodles, river fish, tofu, fresh vegetables & Hide beef. 6. Try Soba Ice Cream Soba Ice Cream in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan Buckwheat or Soba is popularly grown in the mountainous areas of Japan. In Shirakawago, you can enjoy not only home-made soba noodles but also soba ice-cream. I had my taste of soba soft-serve at the Gassho Zukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum. It’s perfect while having a break from walking around the village. 7. Ainokura Village Marcos at Ainokura village in Gokayama, Toyama, Japan Ainokura village in Gokayama, Toyama, Japan Ainokura village in Gokayama, Toyama, Japan Marcos at Ainokura village in Gokayama, Toyama, Japan Ainokura village in Gokayama, Toyama, Japan Location: Ainokura, Nanto, Toyama 939-1915, Japan. Save on Google Maps. Ainokura is one of the three villages with gassho-style farmhouses designated as UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the most remote, so it gets fewer tourists compared to Ogimachi in Shirakawa-go. Ainokura was the first stop of the tour package that I booked. As soon as the bus stopped at the village, I hopped off and followed the 10-minute trail uphill to the Ainokura Observatory, which offered a nice overlook of the area. 8. Gokayama Village Gokayama village, Toyama, Japan 9. Takayama Kajibashi Bridge in Takayama, Gifu, Japan Shorenji in Takayama, Gifu, Japan Shorenji in Takayama, Gifu, Japan Daiou-ji Temple in Takayama, Gifu, Japan Daiou-ji Temple in Takayama, Gifu, Japan Takayama, Gifu, Japan Takayama was my base when I went to Shirakawa-go village in Gifu prefecture. This town is famed for its well-preserved wooden merchants’ houses dating to the Edo Period and a place to taste delicious Hida Beef. Takayama is also the gateway to the hiking paradise of the Japan Alps. What places have you added to your bucketlist? Have you been to beautiful places in Shirakawa-go that should be on this list? Feel free to share your thoughts! Places to visit in Shirakawa-go Shirakawa-go tourist spots, things to do in Shirakawa-go, where to go in Shirakawa-go & more. 1. Shiroyama Viewpoint (Tenshukaku Observatory) 2. Shirakawa-go Walking Tour 3. Gassho Zukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum 4. Deai Bridge 5. Eat Traditional Shirakawa-go Food 6. Try Soba Ice Cream 7. Ainokura Village 8. Gokayama Village 9. Takayama Note: Destinations featured above are not listed by rank. Where to Stay in Takayama Click below & search recommended Takayama hotels/hostels/home rentals within your budget. Remember to set your min/max price, travel dates, and sort by review ratings. I often book online with these trusted booking sites below for rock-bottom prices & convenient bookings. AgodaAirbnbBooking.com Book sooner rather than later if you already have your dates set. Cheaper-priced rooms and hotels with high reviews tend to get fully booked faster, especially during busy days like weekends, holidays & peak tourist seasons. Where to Stay in Shirakawa-go Click below & search recommended Shirakawa-go hotels/hostels/home rentals within your budget. Remember to set your min/max price, travel dates, and sort by review ratings. I often book online with these trusted booking sites below for rock-bottom prices & convenient bookings. AgodaAirbnbBooking.com Shirakawa-go Essentials & Top Discounts JR Pass for Whole Japan See discounts JR Takayama-Hokuriku Area Tourist Pass (5 Days) See discounts Shirakawago, Ainokura & Gokayama Day Tour from Takayama See discounts Popular discounts and tours booked by other travelers: Takayama and Shirakawa-go Day Trip from Nagoya Shoryudo Highway Bus Pass Asia 4G LTE WIFI Hotspot (Manila Airport Pick Up) Click below to see more on: KlookGetYourGuide Don’t Stop Here Click below for more travel inspiration: Shirakawa-go Itinerary + Travel Guide 14 Places To Visit in Tokyo 16 Places To Visit in Japan 11 Places To Visit in Osaka Osaka Itinerary + Travel Guide Don’t leave yet. 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