Shirakawago On Your Own

Shirakawago, widely-known as one of the most scenic places in Japan, is nestled against the pine tree-covered mountains of the Shokawa River valley. Here you'll find steeply thatched farmhouses of international significance. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1995, along with the nearby village of Gokayama, centuries-old buildings present a fascinating opportunity to wander amidst fine examples of the region's distinctive gassho-zukuri style of rural architecture. A collection of traditional farmhouses, barns and sheds are clustered in an open-air museum: a photographer's dream. While admission is not included in the tour, you will have enough time to take a look.