Off to Shirakawa-go next! I've read about how travelers stayed at this UNESCO world heritage site, in the 200 year old gassho-zukuri farmhouses that have been reinvented as Minshuku. Thus we tried to book by calling them directly and enlisting the help of a Japanese colleague. It was after that we realised we could book by sending a email to info@shirakawa-go.gr.jp, which is the tourist office in the area. Alternatively, one could use the site japaneseguesthouses.com but that would require a credit card deposit, which may be a form of guarantee anyway. I wouldn't worry if i booked just through phone or email though. The foreign guests are more likely to default than the honorable Japanese.
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| "Wide View" Hida Express to Takayama |
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| Takayama Tourist Office |
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| Nohi bus to Shirakawa-go / Kanazawa |
The journey to Shirakwa-go is not a short one by any means. First, we had to take the shinkansen for a 50min journey to Nagoya, then the "Wide View" Hida Express for a 2 1/2 hour journey to Takayama and finally a 50 min bus ride to Shirakawa-go.
When we reached Takayama we were surprised to see snow. I knew Shirakawa-go was still snowing in March but kinda expected it to cease by April. Luckily we brought our thermal wear, thick jackets, etc.
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| Map of Shirakawa-go |
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| Koemon - our Minshuku |
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| Gassho-Zukuri Farmhouse |
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| Entrance of the house |
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| Entrance to our rooms. |
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| Living room with Irori (cooking hearth) |
The snowfall was heavier here in Shirakwa-go. We went straight to our Minshuku - Koemon which we booked for 8800 yen per person per night. This includes breakfast and dinner. The Minshuku was as authentically rustic Japanese as we had imagined. Tatami mats and wax paper doors all round. Dumped our luggage and went to look for the famous Hida beef!
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| Local restaurant |
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| Udon |
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| Hida beef |
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| Shiraogi |
We had lunch at a local restaurant near the bus station. The Udon we had was hand made and with fresh ingredients. We also ordered sticks of grilled Hida beef and a minced beef patty. All were delicious. However, we had originally wanted to try Shiraogi which was reccomended on a travel blog,
http://paulstravelpics.blogspot.com/2008/11/shirakawago-guesthouse-and-restaurant.html.
We went on a thursday however, and it was the only day it was closed -_-
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| Gassho Zukuri Museum |
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| 1 metre thick thatch |
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| One of the many Gassho-Zukuri farmhouses |
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| Top floor of the farmhouse |
After lunch we went to a outdoor museum of Gassho Zukuri Farmhouses using a ticket we bought as part of a package from the Nohi bus terminal. Nothing really interesting unfortunately.
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| Our Minshuku dinner |
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| Iwana Trout |
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| Glorious Hida Beef with Miso paste |
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| Time for bed |
At last, the highlight of our Minshuku stay, the homecooked meal. Let me say right out that i like japanese food. It's light and the meal is not too oily or salty. Even the tempura was just a small portion so its not too heavy. Everything else is boiled or grilled. Really healthy and i won't get a bloated or puffy from eating food that is too salty or oily. The centerpiece of the meal is of course the Hida beef with local miso sauce. Tender and sweet, it melts in your mouth. The miso sauce is used by locals for almost everything. Pork, vegetables, almost everything really. After the meal it's a slow walk to the local Onsen for us!
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