Shirakawa

Recommendation by Wabisavi

🍁 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘄𝗮-𝗴𝗼, located between Kanazawa and Takayama, is perfect to sandwich in as you travel between the two cities. An optimal plan, if not for the fact that the bus fill up very quick, as I soon discovered. 👍 Be sure to book your seat in advance, either at the station or online at the 𝗡𝗼𝘂𝗵𝗶 𝗕𝘂𝘀 website (❗don't forget to reserve your way home too, or you might end up stuck there for the night!). Most tours only stop for 2 hours in the town, I spent 5 hours and it was way more than enough. 🍁 Though most of the town is already gassho-zukuri styled, the open-air 𝗚𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗵𝗼-𝘇𝘂𝗸𝘂𝗿𝗶 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗺 houses 25 buildings laid out in a photogenic rural setting. Most people who take a 2h tour do not make it this far, so you can enjoy at your leisure away from the crazy crowds. Explore the interiors, try climbing into the thatched roof (and get a mini-heart attack when one of the boards flips underfoot), and sip on free tea on the verandah of the rest house. After that, if you still have time, you can sit through a 40min video explaining the whole construction process. 🎫 Admission Fee: 600¥ 📌 If you don't feel like going all-out with the museum, you can get a feel of what the gassho-zukuri are all about at 𝗪𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲. 📌 Climb up to the 𝗢𝗴𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗢𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗸 for a sweeping view of the valley. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minka https://www.nouhibus.co.jp/english/

From Hokkaido To Kyushu Autumn Itinerary