Day in my Life Traveling Japan Full Time 🚐🇯🇵 | 24 hours in Shirakawago (Iconic Traditional Village)

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(More info about Shirakawa-go below!👇)
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🛖 About Shirakawa-go:
The thatched farmhouses of Shirakawa-go (白川郷, Shirakawagō) in Hida, Gifu Prefecture are an absolute must-see attraction when visiting Japan. The iconic triangular roofs make Shirakawago one of Japan’s most photogenic tourist spots and have earned the village its World Heritage status and title of The Most Beautiful Village in Japan.
The area receives around 35 feet of snow each year which can reach 4.5m deep - some of Japan’s heaviest snowfall - resulting in the need for the famous gassho-zukuri (合掌造り, gasshō-zukuri) style thatched roofs. Gassho-zukuri means “clasped hands” and the steep 60-70 degree angle of the roofs is said to mimic Buddhist monks hands in prayer. The clever architectural style allows the farm houses to withstand heavy snow and creates an idyllic snowy scene in winter months. In total there are around 180 farmhouses, with some nearly 300 years old. We were lucky to see one of the houses being rethatched, which is apparently a rare sight that only happens every 50-60 years!
The small villages of Shirakawago are still inhabited today, and Ogimachi (荻町, Ogi-machi), the largest and most popular attraction, has many minshuku (民宿), Japanese-style bed and breakfasts, where tourists can stay and experience traditional Japanese life as well as an open-air museum for day trippers. Here you can also try Japan’s second most famous beef, Hida beef (飛騨牛), the local speciality, Hoba Miso (朴葉味噌), and Japan’s most delicious tofu! Of course, we followed our stomachs and were not disappointed 😅.
It’s easy to see why this idyllic triangle-shaped thatched village is one of Japan’s most popular tourist attractions!
📍LOCATION:
UNESCO World Heritage site Hida Shirakawa-go Ogimachi Village (荻町、白川郷)
Restaurant Irori (白川郷 お食事処いろり)
www.shirakawag...
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Most Beautiful Rural Villages in Japan:
No.1 Shirakawago (Gifu Prefecture)
No.2 Takayama (Gifu Prefecture)
No.3 Ine (Kyoto Prefecture)
No.4 Tsumago (Nagano Prefecture)
No.5 Taketomi (Okinawa Prefecture)
Source: www.japan-expe... (5 Japanese Villages to Visit 日本の美しい村)
Find similar recommended villages in Japan: utsukushii-mur... (The Most Beautiful Villages in Japan NPO)
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#vanlifejapan #japantravelguide #バンライフ #traditionaljapan #japantourism #国際カップル
The production cost of this vlog was paid in part by JNTO as part of a video production competition we entered to help promote Japan tourism. A huge thank you to all of you and to JNTO for helping us to create more Japan travel content!

[@OshareJapan]

Shoutout to the bug that attacked my forehead at 9:56 👋

[@Kimiotazunete]

初めて白川郷見たけどお味噌が美味しそうですね！😋😋

[@no.name-nanashi]

はじめまして‼️そして明けましておめでとう🎊ございます🎍 岐阜飛騨地区には、他にも朴葉(ほうば)味噌、漬物ステーキ、鶏(けい)ちゃん、堅豆腐、明宝(めいほう)・明方(みょうがた)二枚看板ハム、美味しい日本酒🍶、👋😍💋色々な良いもの沢山有りますよー😃😆💕✨見て、食べて、楽しんでいって下さい‼️おすすめは、ラーメン🍜ですよー👋😃✨

[@OshareJapan]

明けましておめでとうございます！そして見てくれてありがとうございます！😊✨岐阜県の料理はすごく美味しいです！😭🙌

[@パラレルワールド-q7t]

4:27~ 『ちょい汚いけど』のコメントはここの住人に失礼だな。『ちょい濁ってる』のが適切。

[@荒木誠治-d3w]

そう、ゴミが捨てられていたりしたら汚いだけど、水が 雨の後か工事か何かで濁っているような色をしてたようだが、汚いのとは違うと思う、

[@えんちゃん-f7c]

日本人だけど、白川郷に行ったことがありません。😁 でも、この番組で見せてもらったからいいか⁉️😜

[@nanarokuossa3418]

日本語でのコメント許して。いつか日本の地方の感想を奥さんの集大成の動画日本向けに流してほしい。特にイギリスとの 比較対象を交えて。

[@OshareJapan]

コメントありがとうございます！是非！

[@hy1943]

明けましておめでとうございます、本年も沢山のVLOG楽しみにしています。 キャンピングカーを製造中は材料を節約しないで施工していたので、懐具合の良い坊ちゃんかと思っていましたが、食事についてシビアな予算設定しているところなど、苦労人なところも持ち合わせ。 応援していますよ。

[@OshareJapan]

明けましておめでとうございます！今年もよろしくお願いします！ 旅は長いので貧乏旅で頑張ってます！ いつも応援ありがとうございます😊

[@小山田健児]

とても綺麗な奥さんですね✨凄い優しい感じだし　　仲良くて　ほのぼのしてて良い動画ですね🍀　(∩´∀`∩)

[@ghzhammer]

I recommend highly going in the winter it’s just magical. We also got the hida beef Croquette and 100% agree with both of you tho it’s still good but nothing new. Loved the video and really brought back memories.

[@OshareJapan]

That’s a relief haha we were wondering if vanlife supermarket raids had turned us into croquette snobs 😂. I wonder if the mochi would’ve been a better deal. And seeing it in all the snow would be a dream! Though I’m not sure how anyone survives without falling over all over the place. Do they grit the paths?

[@ghzhammer]

@@OshareJapan They just did a super good job of clearing the paths we had no issues tho a few spots had a lot of snow like the little pond area but you just walk in the other foot prints.

[@OshareJapan]

@@ghzhammer oh wow that must take a lot of doing, that’s amazing and also useful to know for a potential future visit!

[@kaseyklein2370]

I love architecture and the style of these historical houses was interesting from a structural and aesthetic perspective

[@OshareJapan]

They’re gorgeous! Apparently the roofs are at a 60-70 degree angle to keep the snow off, which I thought was both clever and a huge feat of engineering since the thatching is only strung together with rope!

[@山口生三]

＜令和６年８月１８日動画受信＞ 　ワールドヘリテイジとして登録された白川郷は、一度も行ったことがありません。なので、ほぼ要所要素を動画で配信されていただいて白川郷の魅力が肌と伝わってきました。この地域は、冬場に日本屈指の豪雪地帯であってそのために茅葺き屋根の厚さが50㎝ぐらいの厚みと見受けられました。それらを維持管理するためには大変な労力が必要となり、その屋根の吹き替え時期には村住民総出でするそうですね。それを何百年も継続してきた村人達の生活力には驚きでしかない。そんな不便な土地に住み続けるにはそれなりの理由があるのですよね。私にはそれが理解できていません。

[@ringo3895]

いつも美味しい物を食べているところを見たいのでもっと登録者が増えることを願ってます！

[@OshareJapan]

ありがとうございます！

[@mariamperez2099]

Amazing experience, thank you for sharing, today is my birthday, best present, a new video from Japan 😍 Happy New year everyone!!💕

[@OshareJapan]

Happy birthdaaaay! And omg aren’t you the cutest?? 😭❤️ very happy to be considered a present haha. Have an amazing day and happy new year! ✨

[@mariamperez2099]

@@OshareJapan Thank you lovelies 💗 I am Living vicariously through your videos 😸 hahaha yes, the best present for those of us that can't travel to Japan!! 😁😁

[@optivion]

Groovy!!!

[@franklinthewoman]

I just went there with snow so it was really cool to see it without any! It looks completely different! I'd definitely like to go back during another season as well

[@OshareJapan]

I heard that it looks pretty spectacular during cherry blossom season too! I never pictured seeing it without the snow but I’m happy we did 😊. Someday we’ll be back in the snow!

[@あーちん-z1z]

関係ないけど、行った事ある。雪が降ってる時も綺麗だった。

[@OshareJapan]

冬にも行きたいです🥺🌨

[@RajinderKumar-lg4xz]

❤️💕🙏🏽👍🏽

[@e.s.8552]

Happy New Year to you both, Kiwi & Bear! 🎊 Catching up on your beautiful videos of your interesting travels now that we're home...Enjoying them all very much!

[@OshareJapan]

Happy new year from the two of us, too! 😊✨🐯 I hope you had a lovey holiday season and thank you for tuning in now you’re back!

[@gopheritnow]

This is one unique place. You are fortunate to go by Campervan. We went pre covid and we were traveling Japan by JR Pass. We took the bus from Kanazawa (which was scenic), but it only goes roughly every hour, so be sure to book for in and out leg. Then, there were the tourist buses, so from 10am onwards it was really crowded.

[@OshareJapan]

Ouch 😬 I have to admit I was shocked at how empty it was even with domestic tourists. It’s been on my bucket list for a while, but I hesitated to visit thinking it would just be an overrun tourist trap, so I wonder if we would have reacted the same had it been at full capacity 😅. Did you see it with all the snow?

[@gopheritnow]

@@OshareJapan We were there end of Oct. So no snow. Although, its the perfect Christmas card picture with all the snow.

[@OshareJapan]

@@gopheritnow ah, prime Instagram leaf spotting time haha. I bet those buses are even worse for the fairytale snow pictures though 🙈

[@EnigmaDave]

Another couple I follow live in Gifu Prefecture. The shots she posts from her jogs and hikes make me think Gifu must be one of Japan's most beautiful overall. Such overwhelming natural beauty explains why people have decided to live there for so long

[@OshareJapan]

We absolutely fell in love with Gifu. I imagine we might feel a bit differently if we were stuck in the van in all of the heavy snow, but at least in autumn it could well be my favourite prefecture so far and your friend is very lucky!

[@confetti8030]

Watch the anime “Higurashi When They Cry” the anime takes place inside Shirakawa expect in the anime it’s called “hinamizawa” it’s a really good horror anime

[@OshareJapan]

Ooh thanks for the recommendation! We don’t often watch horror!

[@spicytunanigi]

Oh gosh, I know that feeling of traveling on a budget and all the food around you is expensive 😭😭😭

[@OshareJapan]

Constantly eating with our eyes 🥲🥲 haha

[@shigetoshihayashi6978]

いつもクイーンズ英語を楽しみながら日本再発見をしています。

[@OshareJapan]

ありがとうございます！💖

[@omunomu]

I love Shirakawago!!! ❤️❤️❤️ We were there during winter so yes it looked pretty different!! Shirakawago gacha + Hidadesuuuu... I NEED THOSE!!! Hahahaha.. THAT HIDA BEEF LUNCH!!!!!! Also need!!! PS: Not Shirakawago, but I had the best goheimochi in Naraijuku, and after that we searched high and low in Matsumoto but couldn't find them easily T_T So your search for goheimochi is so so relatable hahahaha..

[@OshareJapan]

Hahaha so hard to resist 🥲 And your pictures in the snow are beautiful! I need to see it in winter too! And omg yes the mochi hunt struggles are too real 😭😭

[@bebeinjapan7434]

So similar to UK thatching but so different, I shall have to try the tofu as still not found one I like. 😭 also I still cannot pick up such large amounts of rice with chopsticks. It is so pretty there and impressed with bears 3 portions of rice

[@OshareJapan]

It’s kind of nostalgic to see thatching. It always looks so quaint 🥰. Omg this tofu is like nothing else I’ve tried I hope you’d like it! It’s not slimy or anything. You’ll get there with the rice! But maybe best you don’t so you don’t end up wolfing down 3 bowls all in one sitting just because refills are free 🙈😂

[@bebeinjapan7434]

@@OshareJapan I see nothing wrong with the 3 bowls, I feel like I don’t take proper use of refills, today I got half a refill on my drink 🤦‍♀️ still not found much that reminds me of home yet

[@benzskyeshxc96]

that taufu so thicc looking.

[@OshareJapan]

No lie, it was the BEST tofu we’ve ever eaten 😭❤️. We went and bought like 3 supermarket ones before we left because they only seem to sell the thiccc ones in the Hida area!

[@duncanrogers7573]

Hey great video you guys. How tall are you two?

[@OshareJapan]

Thanks 😊 erm 167 and 175cm I think!

[@nataliepriddle9909]

Absolutely stunning place!

[@OshareJapan]

I’m so in love! I really thought it was all just social media hype but it really truly is gorgeous irl too 😍

[@nataliepriddle9909]

@@OshareJapan I really want to visit... one day!

[@heliomakuda8949]

I was in winter, very beautiful. This restaurant is very good

[@OshareJapan]

Oh how lucky 😍 It must look so dreamy in winter! One day we'd love to go and stay there in the snow!

[@amaemanabat]

what date did you go here?

[@OshareJapan]

November 8th!

[@dennistani1986]

Thank you for the nice tour. I have added this place to my visit list for next year. Take care!

[@OshareJapan]

Thanks for watching! 😊 Shirakawago is a treat! We hope you’ll enjoy it!

[@zackary1232]

Is this the best dish you've had in your travels so far?

[@OshareJapan]

Hmm good question! It’s definitely up there! We bought some of the local miso and tofu to have in the van after because it was so good 😆. I’m still a little biased towards the scones we ate at the British Hills in Fukushima though (so good I cried 😅😅).

[@zackary1232]

@@OshareJapan ofcourse you would be biased to the british scones..sorry i meant scones lol. Just a suggestion, whenever you guys are back from a trip and have some free time do some tutorial cooking videos together, especially with ramen.

[@OshareJapan]

We did a ramen one a long long time ago haha cooking videos never really were a huge hit with out audience though 🥲

[@ClarisseMori]

I like what you said, every Prefecture has different style, that’s true! They are all unique! I’m really planning to go there too this winter season but I think Spring is much better time to visit😅 More travel vlogs couple! 🥰

[@OshareJapan]

I want to come back for every season 😍 it’s so pretty!

[@MrTork49]

Happy NEW YEAR!

[@OshareJapan]

Happy New Year to you, too! 😊

[@hirogetusori9029]

白川郷は隠れ里で、幕府からおしっこ集めて火薬を作るところだったんですよ～見ましたか？

[@OshareJapan]

見ませんでしたが、面白そうです！😄

[@felicitytillack9582]

Your husband and you are so cute together! I love Shirakawego!

[@OshareJapan]

Thank you 🥰 and I’m so happy it wasn’t just Instagram hype haha it’s a lovely area!

[@jonn_mace_80_95_]

That cute Japanese village looks like it could be a setting somewhere within the video game series _Animal Crossing_ .

[@OshareJapan]

Omg it really does! 😍

[@sennennodokusouka]

周りの人達の服装と比較して お二人が 半袖姿で 薄着なのが 何気にびっくりしました 笑

[@OshareJapan]

撮影中にちょっと暑くなりました😅😂

[@handrinjapan396]

Shirakawa-go is on our bucket list too. What is the best view in fall with the color leaves or winter with snow? Looks like your dinner was good, but we want to eat negi soba there. Was that the store that was closed? nice video, keep up the the good work.

[@OshareJapan]

Without seeing it for ourselves in the snow it’s hard to say. I’d say that the view in winter is definitely more iconic and I’d love to see it all covered in snow, but I imagine it’s busier and the minshuku inns probably get booked up early. We had the bonus of being able to walk around without fear of slipping too 😂. I think it depends on your preferences and time/budget constraints mostly. If you want to visit for a day, autumn is probably better as you can walk around leisurely and don’t have to worry about getting out of the cold, in winter you’d most likely want to stay overnight. The negi soba is famous in Ouchijuku in Fukushima (the other post town we compared Shirakawago to at the start). I don’t think you’ll find it in Shirakawago, but we tried it in Ouchijuku for a video last year and it was a lot of fun to eat so would recommend it if you’re in the area!

[@和田有功]

Beautiful

[@kzua8491]

고기가 엄청 맛있어보이네요

[@OshareJapan]

맛있었습니다!😍

[@simranbashyal4245]

❤️❤️❤️