Shirakawa-go · Shirakawa-go
Ogimachi Village
Ogimachi is the Shirakawa-go village that was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in December 1995, together with Ainokura and Suganuma in Gokayama, in Toyama Prefecture. The preservation district has 59 gassho-zukuri houses, and with the storehouses and smaller buildings, more than 100 structures. The name comes from the steep thatched roofs, which look like hands joined in prayer, and according to the village their slope comes close to 60 degrees.
The steep roofs are an answer to the snow: in February 170 centimeters or more pile up here, and the record measured is 4.5 meters. In 1971 the residents signed a charter of three rules, do not sell, do not rent and do not tear down, and in 1976 the village was named one of Japan's first seven national preservation districts. The thatched roofs are still replaced today through shared work by the neighbors, called yui.
The village is a place where people live, not a museum, and its rules were set accordingly: visitors come between 08:00 and 17:00, and in the evening only overnight guests stay. No smoking in the village except in the smoking areas, there are no trash bins, flying drones is not allowed, and you may not enter yards or fields or peer into the houses.
Good to know
- The winter illumination in 2027 is on four evenings only: 11, 17, 24 and 31 January, 17:30-19:30. You get in only with a ticket bought in advance, and on those days a visitor without a ticket cannot enter the village from 15:30. If you come by bus you need to be in the village by 15:20, and daytime parking takes cars until 15:00. The lottery for rooms in the village has closed, and the second round of parking spaces opens on 1 December 2026.
- The bus terminal has lockers, ¥500 for small and medium and ¥1,000 for large, 08:00-17:00. If you continue from Takayama to Kanazawa the same day, leave your suitcase there.
- Nohi Bus warns that the Shirakawa-go line may be delayed by more than two hours, because of parking congestion, snow and expressway closures. Do not book a train right after your planned arrival time.
What is nearby
Approximate walking minutes from the entrance of Ogimachi Village.
- HereOgimachi Village
- 1 min
Irori Restaurant, Shirakawa-go Food
A restaurant in a gassho house, a minute from the bus terminal: Hida beef with miso on a magnolia leaf, grilled tofu, soba and udon with mountain vegetables. According to the tourism association there is also a vegetarian menu.
- ~2 min
Hakusuien Food
A large restaurant with 100 seats near the bus terminal: Hida beef, Yui pork, ayu fish and soba. Credit cards accepted.
- ~2 min
Shirakawago no Yu More to see
The only hot spring inside the village, according to the place itself, with an open-air bath facing the river and a dry sauna. ¥900, children ¥500, towel ¥200. According to the onsen's website it is closed every Thursday and on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month, and the tourism association shows different hours, so call ahead.
- ~3 min
Memenko Shopping
A souvenir shop on the main street. Its signature product is kintsuba (a red bean cake) flavored with doburoku, the village's cloudy rice sake, and there is also doburoku yokan and pickled red turnip. Cash only.
- ~8 min
Kissa Ochiudo Cafe
13 seats. You pick a cup from the cups hanging on the wall, and the best-known items are zenzai (a sweet red bean soup) and curry with five-grain rice. Cash only.
- ~8 min
Soba Nomura Food
A counter with 12 seats, where the soba is rolled out every morning and cooked in front of the diners. Because the place is small there is a wait. Cash only.
- ~10 min
Shirakawa-go Purin no Ie Cafe
A pudding shop run by a family that has lived in the village for generations. The best-known items are 'mizu purin' and goheimochi-flavored pudding, and there is also soft serve. In October 2026 it is closed every Wednesday and also on 15 October, because of the village festivals.
More in Shirakawa-go
Appears in: Shirakawa-go: the thatched village in the valley, from the morning viewpoint to the Wada House