Ogimachi Village

Largest village in Shirakawa-go
•••Highly Recommended
★★★★★
4.5 (324)
#1 of 5 most visited in Shirakawago & Gokayama

Ogimachi () is the largest village and main attraction of Shirakawa-go. Declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, the village is home to several dozen well preserved gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.

The farmhouses are quite amazing structures, designed to withstand the harsh winters while providing a place to work and live, and are best seen either covered in snow or surrounded by green fields. Many of the farmhouses are now restaurants, museums or minshuku, where you can stay overnight, the ultimate way of experiencing Shirakawago.

Some of the many gasshozukuri farmhouses

Furthermore, a number of farmhouses from the surrounding villages have been relocated to an open-air museum across the river from Ogimachi's village center in an effort to save them from destruction. This museum along with the large concentration of farmhouses and attractions in the village and the area's relatively good accessibility make Ogimachi the best place in Shirakawa-go and Gokayama to see gassho-zukuri farmhouses.

  • Gassho-zukuri Minkaen
    Hours: 8:40 to 17:00 (Mar to Nov), 9:00 to 16:00 (Dec to Feb)
    Admission ends 20 minutes before closing
    Closed: Thursdays from Dec to Mar (or Wed if Thu is a holiday)
    Admission: 800 yen
    This open-air museum lies across the river from the village center. It exhibits farmhouses and other structures relocated to Ogimachi in order to save them from destruction.
  • Shiroyama Viewpoint
    The Shiroyama Viewpoint north of the village center offers nice views of Ogimachi and its farmhouses. The viewpoint can be accessed via a walking trail (closed during/after heavy snow) in about 15-20 minutes from the village center or by a shuttle bus (300 yen one way), which stops near the Wada-ke House. The parking lot got closed to the public due to frequent bad behavior by tourists, such as long-term parking.
  • Wada-ke House
    Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
    Closed: Irregular closing days
    Admission: 400 yen
    The Wada family was one of the wealthiest families and village leaders of Ogimachi. Their former home is the largest gassho-zukuri farmhouse in the village, and is now open to the public as a museum.
  • Kanda-ke House
    Hours: 10:00 to 16:00
    Closed: Wednesdays (except national holidays)
    Admission: 400 yen
    This picturesque house is one of the best preserved farmhouse turned museums in Ogimachi. Located in the village center, you can get good views of the surrounding houses from the windows on its upper floors.
  • Nagase-ke House
    Hours: 9:00 to 16:00
    Closed: Irregular closing days
    Admission: 400 yen
    The Nagase family were doctors for the Maeda lords in Ishikawa Prefecture before relocating to Ogimachi. Their farmhouse turned museum exhibits some medical tools and gifts from the Maeda family. The upper floors display many tools for farming and raising silkworms.
  • Myozenji Temple and House
    Hours: 8:30 to 17:00 (Apr to Nov), 9:00 to 16:00 (Dec to Mar)
    Closed: Irregular closing days
    Admission: 400 yen (includes entry to both temple and house)
    Myozenji Temple, which is unique for its thatched roof rather than the typical tiled roof seen on most temples, is connected to the Myozenji-ke farmhouse next door where the priest of the temple lives. Admission to the house includes admission to the temple hall.
  • Shirakawa-go no Yu
    Hours: 7:00 to 21:00 (entry until 20:00)
    Closing: Thursdays, and 2nd and 4th Wednesdays
    Admission: 800 yen
    The Shirakawa-go no yu is a combined minshuku and bath house, which offers hot spring bathing to the visitors of Ogimachi.

Attractions outside Ogimachi

  • Toyama-ke House
    Hours: 9:00 to 16:00 (from 10:00 December to March)
    Closed: Wednesdays (or Tuesday if Wednesday is a holiday) and Saturdays
    Admission: 300 yen
    Located about 15 minutes by car outside of Ogimachi, this old farmhouse now stands as a museum displaying typical period life. The farmland around the house continues to be worked by local farmers.

Getting there and around

Ogimachi is the transport hub of the Shirakawa-go region, where the bus lines from Takayama, Nagoya, Kanazawa, Toyama and Takaoka meet. The Shirakawago Bus Terminal is located at the entrance to the village center. Ogimachi is small and can be easily explored on foot.

How to get to and around Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

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