Shirakawa-go’s Gassho-zukuri Village

Visited on a rainy day, Shirakawa-go’s iconic thatched-roof houses looked entirely different from their winter fairy-tale image—yet just as magical. The steeply pitched roofs, resembling hands in prayer (*gassho*), were now lush green, blending harmoniously with the surrounding rice paddies and misty mountains. Strolling through Ogimachi, the largest village, I marveled at the ingenious architecture designed to withstand heavy snow. At the **Wada House**, a 300-year-old farmhouse-turned-museum, the attic revealed how silkworms were once cultivated in the spacious loft. Nearby, the **Shirakawa-go Viewpoint** offered a panoramic vista of the valley—a patchwork of emerald fields and dark thatch under the summer sun. A highlight was trying **gohei mochi** at a roadside stall—grilled rice cakes coated in sweet miso and walnut paste, best enjoyed with cold local barley tea. Later, I dipped my feet in the crystal-clear **Sho River**, watching dragonflies dart over the water. As dusk fell, fireflies appeared near the irrigation canals, their soft glow mirroring the warm lights inside the farmhouses. Unlike winter’s tourist crowds, summer here felt serene, alive with the rustle of wind through rice stalks and the occasional chime of wind bells. Travel Notes: - Access: 2.5-hour bus ride from Kanazawa or Takayama (reserve seats in advance). - Don’t Miss: Open-air **Minka-en** folk village, hands-on **sansai** (wild herb) cooking workshops. - Summer Perk: Fewer visitors, ideal for photography and slow exploration. - Stay: Book a farmstay (*minshuku*) to experience rural hospitality and starry nights.