Weekend Trip to Hokuriku, 2009 (Gujohachiman & Shirakawago)

2009/01/17 - 2009/01/18

I joined the bus tour trip to Hokuriku, for Shirakawago, Kenrokuen and Eiheiji. It was a easy trip, just hop in at Shinjuku, and go to the destination, explore by myself. I did not have car and alone to travel, much easier to take public transportation and cheaper to use rental car. It was cold and worth to see!

エリア 白川郷(岐阜)

• 同行者: 一人旅
• 交通手段: 高速・路線バス
• 旅行の手配内容: ツアー（添乗員同行なし）

Streets of Gujo Hachiman, they preserved the old town.

It would be "Saishoji" (Saisho temple). I did not have map and just walked around town and found it.

Gujo Hachiman town is famous for clear water from Nagara river, they have some small streams through the town. But its image is not Gujo hachiman...

This is an old town hall and currently open as a memorial hall, registered the tangible cultural property, built in 1936, next to the river. Nice nostalgic building.

It was the river next to Town Hall. It was Yoshida gawa running in Nagara river.

I walked through the pass without map. Nice small pass with taste.

At last, I could arrive at the typical image of Gujohachiman, "Yanaka mizu no komichi". This kind of small stream made for avoiding the big fire in the town in 17 century.

This is Gujo Hachiman castle, I did not have time to visit there. This origined in the middle of 16 century, Sengoku era, but it was destroyed in the beginning of Meiji era, because of "Haihan Chiken" (The government changed the municipal system, old system "Han", governed by Daimyo, was abolished and put prefectures newly). So, this reconstructed in 1990s.

After the Hida Tunnel, the scenery completely changed.

This is the "Deai Bashi" (meeting bridge), connecting parking space and Shirakawa Go. This is suspension bridge, but modern one so many people pass at the same time.

This is the main streets, feel like time slip to the old times, everywhere was covered with snow, completely different from Tokyo!!

This is the "Shoromon" (Bell Tower Gate) in Myozen Temple, built in the early 19 century. There were many icicle from the roof, brrr looks sooo cold!

Their houses have a special style, "Gassho Zukuri", roofs were made in steep degrees in thatching because of heavy snow in this area.

"Sarubobo" is famous souvenir from Hida area. They looked so cute, you know Japanese loves Kawaii things. Those dolls uses as amulets, swaying away bad lucks. Saru means monkey, Bobo means baby of Hida areas dialect.

It was so cold (yes, obvious from pictures!) and I enjoyed Amazake (Sweetened japanese sake) as always like my winter ritual.

It might be tough to live there... Otsukaresama desu.

With evening lights, they have more special atmosphere, I felt like being lost in old time story.

Even they made nicer with candles.

I walked around and felt hungry a bit... so I bought "Gohei Mochi" ( crashed rice put around the sticks and grilled with sweetened soy source or beans paste ), local cuisine in Nagano and Gifu area.