Shirakawa-go & Hida-Takayama – Gifu Pref, Japan

Trip to Hida-Takayama & Shirakawa-go : 
It is one of the very famous and old villages in Japan, That everyone wants to visit at least once.

It took 5:30 hours travel from Shinjuku to Hida -Takayama by bus. You can either stay in  Shirakawa-go village or in town side of Hida –Takayama. Staying in Shirakawa-go will be bit costly but if you really wish you can stay there.

Let me share about my three day trip.

Iconic Photo of Shirakawa-Go

On the Way to Shirakawa-Go

Hida Folk Village :  

It is an open air museum which depicts different style of houses from Hida Village. Of course they will make you to take one such photo like this.

Goami Pond:

Once this pond served main water source for people and In winter the Pond gets frozen.

This gave big entertainment for the kids in the village to do skating. It was frozen when I was there.

Goami Pond - Hida Folk Village

Lucky day for me, In one of the house they were serving food in old style, Salted Black Bean Mochi.

Various styles of houses you can see like Arai style, Takuji style, Carpenter style , Fisher man style houses you can see, one such house is here, Near Goami Pond.

Try wooden craft activities and make you own souvenir.

Ice from Roof

Old Street in Hida-Takayama :

History Feels alive in the olden streets , It is a preserved area.

Old Village Street - Hida

Here you can taste different Kinds of Sake, Miso Soup and specially beaf.

Sake Brewery

Day 2 - Jet Skiing in MontDeus Ski Resort

You can go for skiing or you can take Jet Ski option, where they will take you to top of the hill in Jet ski inside the Ice forest

You can taste the Cold water, which is from Snow

Hida Daishonyudo Museum : 

Lime Stone Cave in Daishonyudo:

They found lot Gold in this cave and it is kept in museum hall.

Just outside of the Cave you can see the Ice Ravine, this winter special

Ice Ravine

This is really a Nabe pot for cooking, on a festival time people will use the vessel for cooking.

Day 3 - Shirakawa-go , Jinya & Hachimangu Temple

Shirakawa-go:

It is really heaven on earth. this small village hidden inside the mountains on all the side. It is very famous the Gassho style houses.

Shirakawa-go from the observation deck.

Panoramic View of Shirakawa-go village

This suspension bridge is the main source to connect Bus stop an parking area.

Suspension Bridge -Shirakawa Village

Roofs of these Gassho-style houses will be like triangle, same as our hands folded for prayers.

You can visit inside the houses by paying 300 Yen, famous houses like Wada house, Kanda house and the temple which is inside the village

Kanda House

The above picture is taken inside Kanda House

Nakabashi Bridge:
This place gets crowded at festival time and good location for cherry blossom.

Hida-Takayama Jinya :

It was a local government office in Edo period.

Here you can see places used for various purpose like office, document writing place, guest room, store room for saving rice which is paid for tax purpose and interrogation place.

Interrogation Place

The way of enquiry was different, the person has to sit on the uneven surface and 40kg of stone will be placed on their knee while interrogating.
Hida - Sakurayama Hachimangu Temple : 
This is the place where takayama festival takes place and they use floats to celebrate the festival.

Main Entrance of Shine

Hachimangu Shirne

Yatai Kaikan - Floats Exhibition : 

The Floats used in Takayama festival is exhibited here and it costs 700 - 900 Yen per person

Due to bad weather I was not able to cover some places but you can enjoy there as, if you get chance try to visit places like :

Geon Onsen

Hirayuku Onsen

Aikgami Onsen (Crystal Ice Forest)

Hope you enjoyed my  blog on Trip to Hida Takayama, Keep Reading and Keep Sharing.
Cheers!!