Shirakawago – Part 2

What to do / Where to go in Shirakawago?

1.Iroriいろり – for a proper meal

Operating Hour: 10am-2pm
Soba, tempura, Irori set meal at 1575¥

2. Kondou Shouten (今藤商店) – for snacks

Operating Hour: 9am-6pm

3. Tenshukaku viewpoint (天守閣展望台)

Location: about 20 minutes on foot from Shirakawago Bus Terminal / 10 minutes by Shuttle bus
Note: I will highly recommend you to take bus if you have elderly / children along
Bus fare: 200¥ / one way / adult (Pay cash on bus)
■ To observation deck (Last bus 3:40pm）Bus stop: Wada house; Operation time: 9am-3:40pm;Departure on every 20 minutes (00,20,40)
■ To Wada house (Last bus 16:10）Bus stop: Shiroyama Tenshukaku Parking; Operation time: 9:10am-4:10pm; Departure on every 20 minutes (10,30,50)

4. 3 shimai / Kanmachi 

The location of this 3 small Gassho houses is a bit tricky. It can’t be spotted along main road. If you walk along the main road from Shirakawago bus terminal towards the direction of Kanmachi, turn right to walk on the snow after you walk pass the ‘お食事忠兵衛’a sign on your left. Then, you will see the 3 small Gassho houses on your right.

5. Cafe Karyudo 狩人(Kissa Kariudo) – for a proper meal / high tea

Operating hour: 10am – 6pm

6. Shirakawa-no-yu  

Operating Hour: 7am-9pm
Rate for the day trip to the onsen: 700¥/ adult; Towel 150¥;Shaver 100¥; Bath towel rental 300¥

7. Myoenji temple

Operating Hour: Apr – Nov 8:30am – 5pm / Dec – Mar 9am – 4pm;
Admission fee: Adults: 300¥ / Children: 100¥
*We did not pay any entrance fee because we just take photo at its entrance.

8. Gassho with scarecrow puppets

Located next to the backside of Sobadokoro Nomura restaurant 

Here’s the map with marking, correspond to the spots I shared above:

What is the fastest / cheapest route to Shirakawago?

I find HERE provides the most complete guide on the access (with cost & duration) to Shirakawago from Tokyo / Nagoya / Osaka / Takayama.

Apart from the methods proposed in the link above, you may consider to take flight to Komatsu Airport. Komatsu Airport is just 1h22min drive from Shirakawago. 

However, there is no direct bus from Komatsu airport to Shirakawago. Therefore, the fastest way is to rent a car from Komatsu Airport and drive to Shirakawago on your own.

So, which route I have chosen?

Narita Airport – Tokyo Station – Kanazawa – Shirakawago

• Narita Airport – Tokyo Station (Narita express; 1 hour; fare included in Hokuriku Arch Pass; Normal rate is at 3020¥) 
• Tokyo Station – Kanazawa Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen; 2.5 hours; fare included in Hokuriku Arch Pass; Normal Rate is at 14120¥)
• Kanazawa Station – Shirakawago (Express bus; 1.5 hours; 1850¥ / way)

10280¥ saved by utilize Hokuriku Arch Pass 7 days for NEX and Hokuriku Shinkansen for both ways!

Where to buy Hokuriku Arch Pass:
JR website
JTB
Klook

Note for Hokuriku Arch Pass:

• It is cheaper if you purchase outside of Japan (24000¥ / S$284). After making purchase outside of Japan, you will need to redeem the actual pass later in Japan with passport of all passengers and the redemption voucher.
• The purchase of Shinkansen / NEX ticket with Hokuriku Arch Pass can only be done at the counter (not the machine)
• Check the schedule in advanced to save time during ticket redemption, allow yourself to have more buffer time (especially at Narita Airport, we queued for almost an hour).
• After you get the ticket, it is compulsory to pass the gantry by showing ticket and Hokuriku Arch Pass to the officer, instead of passing the gantry with machine.

I booked the express bus from HERE  

• The booking slot is open 1 month on the same calendar date of your departure date. 
• Eg: The slot opening for bus on 10 February will be on 10 January.
• Print the ticket / email confirmation as it is required for boarding.