Shirakawago Village & Gokayama Village

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 may have time after lunch to take a quick look. Then the village of Gokayama welcomes you with a unique hands-on experience. Watch as your hosts demonstrate the art of Japanese paper-making and then join in the process gaining a special appreciation for the daily life of rural Japan.