“Shirakawago, A World Heritage Site” Easily Accessible from Kanazawa. Stay with Us !
Shirakawago, an original landscape of Japan that makes you feel nostalgic.
Its popularity attracts not only domestic tourists but also tourists from all over the world.
This time, we will introduce three points: “Historical background of Shirakawago, Coexistence with nature and ingenuity of residents, and Access from Kanazawa”.
Do you have your notes ready📝✨? Then, Let’s get started 🎶
―Historical background of Shirakawago―
If you go back in history, you can confirm the place name of “Shirakawago” in the early Kamakura period, but that unique architectural style “Gassho-zukuri” , It was built from the mid-Edo period to the early Showa period.
However, since the 1940s, small villages had been detached, burned down due to fires, some Gassho-zukuri style houses had started selling.
Due to the circumstances, there were about 300 Gassho-zukuri style houses in the Taisho period, but in the Showa period, the number decreased sharply to about 190.
In 1971, in response to this drastic decrease in Gassho-zukuri style houses, the “Association to Protect the Natural Environment of Ogimachi Village in Shirakawago”was established with the consensus of all residents, and preservation activities began.
The preservation activities was taken an action under the three major principles of “do not sell”, “do not lend”, and “do not destroy”.
5 years after the preservation activities, Shirakawago was selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Besides, in 1995, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Reference: Shirakawa Village Office HP
―Coexistence with nature and ingenuity of residents―
Now we would like to introduce what Gassho-zukuri style house is.
As the definition of Gassho-zukuri is not integrated, but it seems refer to Japanese architectual style which is combining two building materials in a mountain shaped.
Gassho🙏 means putting our hands together when we pray, and the Gassho-zukuri style houses are similar in the form to Gassho, hence the name.
The slope of the roof is about 45°～60° which is very steep so the slope makes snow fall off easily.
You will be fascinated by wisdom and intelligence of our ancestors🤔💭
Gassho-zukuri style houses were built up with woods from forests around the houses, and chestnut wood which has tolerance for humidity are used in wet area🌲
―Access from Kanazawa―
It is about 75 km from Kanazawa, and it takes just over an hour. You can take a bus at Kanazawa Station.
Kanazawa
北鉄バスHP
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Shirakawago
【🚌】Hokutetsu Bus or Nohi Bus at Kanazawa Station (East Gate, Terminal #2 )→ Shirakawago (1h 15min)
【🏨】Kanazawa Station（Right Loop Bus）→Hatagoya Yuimaru EAST (7 min)
【🎫】Fare (one way trip) Adult ￥2,600 Child ￥1,300
【Hokutetsu Bus HP📝】http://www.hokutetsu.co.jp/en/en_highway-takayama
Reservation in advance is higly recommended.
Our hotel is only 7 min from Kanazawa Station you will be definitely relaxed after your trip from Shirakawago✨
We woulk like to support you about buying tickets if you need any help.
Feel free to ask us about anything you want to ask 🙌😊