Participated in a tour in early February to coincide with the World Heritage “Shirakawa-go” light-up event. A bird’s-eye view of the entire Gassho (it seems like hands in prayer, thatched roof house) village, which emerges fantastically when illuminated, was taken from the Shiroyama Observatory. It was a good condition for shooting because of the weak wind and light snow on that day.
The Shirakawa-go Gassho Village, together with the Gokayama Gassho Village, was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1995.
Others: Shirakawa-go “Guide MAP“, Shirakawa-go Tourist Association “Official Site” 2015/2/1
Shirakawa-go: Stay at “Shiroyama-kan” near Shiro-yama Observatory, and after a light-up sightseeing, relax at nearby hot spring “Shirakawa-go no Yu”.
Shirakawa-go: At 4:00 pm, I went to the shooting spot near the Myozenji temple, where I set up a tripod and secured a shooting location. and I bring a camera and go to other shooting spot, Until the light up starts
Shirakawa-go: Walk south on the main road that runs through the Gassho village.
Shirakawa-go: Heading to the next shooting spot, “Three row of Gassho houses”, overlooking the Shogawa River on the way.
Shirakawa-go: Walk about 600m from Myozenji Temple, will see a tripods and a many of people, which is the shooting spot “Three row of Gassho houses”.
Shirakawa-go: That is the “three row houses”, The area around the shooting spot was so much crowded, so I took a photo from bit far position.
Shirakawa-go: After shooting at the “three row Gassho houses”, I returned to Myozenji Temple.
Shirakawa-go: Near 5 pm, the surroundings were getting dark little by little.
Shirakawa-go: Designated as an important cultural property of Myozenji “Bel tower gate” by Gifu prefecture. The roof is thatched and has a gassho roof, which is unique gate.
Shirakawa-go: The Myozenji temple priest’s quarter, an important cultural property designated by the Gifu prefecture, and a large Gassho-roof house. The interior is open to the public for a fee as “Myozenji Folk Museum”.
Shirakawa-go: You can see the Shiroyama Observatory (upper right in the photo) from the vicinity of Myozenji Temple, and it is about 1200m from here to the observatory.
Shirakawa-go: It seems that the light-up started at 5:30 pm, wandering around Myozenji Temple.
Shirakawa-go: The bell-tower gate of Myozenji Temple is light up and the mood is getting better.
Shirakawa-go: At 6 pm, I returned to the Myozenji shooting spot that I had secured with a tripod. The right is a priest’s quarter of the Meizenji temple, and the center is a main hall of the Meizenji temple. The Meizenji Temple which is surrounded by snow and warm light. Looking at the photo, it looks like a quiet mountain village, but the area around the shooting spot was crowded and quite lively. Fold a tripod and walk to Shiroyama Observatory.
Shirakawa-go: Most of the tourists who strolled in the illuminated gassho village are foreigners.
Shirakawa-go: A bird’s-eye view of the Ogimachi Gassho village from the Shiroyama Observatory.
Shirakawa-go: This is a white light lit up. After returning to Shiroyama-kan(hotel) and having a supper, After that go to hot spring “Shirakawa no Yu” healed the tiredness of a relaxing.
