Shirakawa-Go Easy Travel Guide　SHIRAKAWA going

Between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. You cannot tour the village after 5:00 p.m.

Ogimachi Village, a world heritage site, is not a theme park or reconstructed facility, so it does not have business hours. Around 500 residents still live in this area, and make a clear distinction between life and tourism hours. Therefore the village is only open to tourists during the day.

• Designated parking business hours: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last admission at 4:30 p.m.)
• Only people staying in the village overnight can tour it at night. No other tourists will be permitted.

Large vehicles are 10,000JPY each, normal cars are 2000JPY each, and motorbikes are 500JPY each.

No reservation is required (a part of parking fees is used as funding to preserve the world heritage site).

<Caution>
The winter Shirakawa-Go Light-up Event requires a reservation and admission tickets.
Tours, parking, stopping cars along the roadside, etc., will be completely prohibited without a reservation.
For more details on the Shirakawa-Go Light-up Event, visit the Shirakawa-Go Tourist Association website.

On foot or by paid shuttle bus.

It takes around 15 minutes one way on foot.
See here for the shuttle bus timetable. It costs 300 yen per person.

There are two adjacent observation points where you can see the whole of Ogimachi Village: Ogi-machi Castle Ruin Observation Area and Tenshukaku (castle keep) Observatory. You cannot access either point using personal vehicles.
You can only access Tenshukaku Observatory by reserving a tour bus.

You can check the whole village for yourself at any time using the live video stream.

The scenery throughout the different seasons at Shirakawa-Go, said to be the original landscape of Japan, can be seen from the video stream at the observation points on the Shirakawa Village official website.

Winter tires are required between the biginning of December and the end of March. 
Shirakawa Village is a snow country. From the start of the season, even if the snow does not settle, melted snow will freeze on the roads making many areas slippery and dangerous. The village has learned from many years of experience, and generally fit stud-less tires on all personal vehicles between the biginning of December and the end of March.
The live video stream and weather forecasts on this website should also help you drive safely.

There are regulations on winter tires when driving on highways.
Highways have regulations on winter tires. Please be aware that you cannot use the highways unless your car is fitted with winter tires, such as stud-less tires, or tire chains.
Please check NEXCO Central's traffic information for details on the regulations for highways and traffic situations. 

-Spring-
The snows start to melt in March, and the cherry blossoms bloom around mid-April. In May, Shirakawa-go becomes a beautiful sea of green. In early spring the temperature can vary a lot even during the day, so we recommend wearing thin outer layers.

-Summer-
Shirakawa-go, a mountainous region 500 m above sea level, is comparatively cool in summer, but it can still get unexpectedly hot during the days in July and August. When touring the village on foot, it is important to be prepared for strong sunlight and wear cool clothing. You can enjoy seeing the Gassho-style village with its beautiful green rice paddies.

-Autumn-
Come September, the temperatures become cooler and more bearable. During the popular autumn foliage season (late October to early November), a chill can creep in during the warm daytime, and it starts to feel colder. It is best to wear long-sleeved shirts and bring a thinner layer you can wear on top. 

-Winter-
Shirakawa-go is snow country. Snow starts falling in December, turning the region into a beautiful winter wonderland. While you can enjoy the magical scenery, some days can reach -5℃, so you need to be prepared for the cold, including snow and wind. Wear very warm clothing like down jackets and waterproof boots, etc.
While walking on snow-covered roads, your socks and gloves can get wet. Bring extra clothing, and take any wet clothes home with you.