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The Gokayama-Shirakawa-go area is still graced with homes built in the traditional 'gassho-zukuri' style and is included on UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage list. Villages in the area are still lived in, just like in the past. With historic architecture, natural environments, traditional crafts, and gastronomic cultures that have all been carried on respectfully from the past and that express the 'real Japan,' these villages are becoming popular sightseeing spots for both domestic and international visitors alike.

A convenient way to make your way around the Gokayama-Shirakawa-go without losing too much time is the fixed-route sightseeing bus service run by Nohi Bus Company (Takayama City). This fixed-route sightseeing bus runs one service per day, leaving from and returning to JR Takayama Station Bus Center. It travels around Shirakawa-go and the Ainokura area in Gokayama. The service includes an English-speaking guide and lunch in Shirakawa-go. It takes about six hours to complete the journey.
Allow us to explain the fixed-route sightseeing bus schedule to you.

8:30 a.m. Depart from Takayama Nohi Bus Center

(The Takayama Nohi Bus Center is beside JR Takayama Station. Please complete reception procedures at the ticket counter.)

The bus then heads to the thatched-r...