Shirakawa-go (Ogimachi Village)

UNESCO World Heritage

白川郷荻町集落

Shirakawa-go is a mountain village area in Shirakawa Village, famous for gassho-zukuri farmhouses with steep thatched roofs. Ogimachi has the largest group of these houses, and many are still lived in. Together with Gokayama in Toyama, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1995. Visitors walk among the houses and rice fields, and the Shiroyama viewpoint gives a wide view of the village.

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Visitor information

Getting there

Shirakawa Village is about 3 hours from Nagoya Station by train and bus.

The open-air museum is about a 12-minute walk from Shirakawago Bus Terminal.

Hours and fees can change. Please check the official website before you go.

Good to know

The houses are still homes for local people. Ogimachi can be crowded with tour groups in the daytime.
For a panoramic view of the village, go to the Shiroyama viewpoint.
An open-air museum in Ogimachi has 25 gassho houses; some can be visited up to the attic floors.

Tips for Muslim visitors

Residents still live in the gassho houses; do not enter private homes or gardens or peer into houses.
The busiest tourist seasons are May, August, September and October.
There are no trash cans in the village, so take your rubbish with you, and use only the designated public toilets.
Old streets are lined with small shops and food stalls. Ask about pork and alcohol before buying snacks.
Many old houses are private homes. Do not enter them or take photos of residents without permission.
Plan your visit around prayer times. Below are today's prayer times for Gifu and the verified places to pray nearby.