When one thinks of the Japanese countryside Shirakawa-go comes to mind. Most people think of the village of Shirakawa in the Ono district but the Gassho-zukuri-thatched roof houses and the surrounding area of Gokayama are registered together as part of the Shirakawa-go World Heritage Site. The most famous area of Shirakawa-go is the Gassho-zukuri, named so because of the shape of the roofs that look like two hands coming together.

Shirakawa-go is at a high altitude, and the temperature is low, resulting in a higher-than-average annual rate of snowfall. This leaves a pure white blanket of snow over the old village creating a golden aura of light reflected off of the snow in the evening light. Setting an incredibly romantic scene.

Shirakawago is a world heritage site and can be visited at any time of year, but the light-up events only occur six times a year. It's an experience to be treasured but you can only participate with a reservation. So we have gathered all the information you'll need to see the 2023 Shirakawa-go Light-up, check it out.

2023 Light-up Dates

The light-ups in 2023 are held three times in both January and February when the heavy snows fall. The light-up lasts from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

How to participate in the 2023 Light-up

Many tourists like to visit during the light-up event, but Shirakawa-go is a small village, and many problems arise, such as limited parking space that prevents visitors from entering the village before the light-up event ends. The Shirakawa-go Tourist Association has made reservations mandatory for the light-up event since 2019, aiming to improve the experience for everyone. So make sure you get that reservation if you want to attend the light-up event.

So how do you participate in the light-up event? Centrip Japan has put together a brief explanation of the four ways to participate.

1. Overnight village stay ticket (Chosen by lottery)

[Including admission ticket to the observatory]
From October 1–31, 2022, the Shirakawa-go Tourist Association will accept applications for an overnight village stay during the event period and will draw from among the applicants. On November 10, the Tourism Association will contact people who have been selected.

[Not including admission ticket to the observatory]
You can also use the other hotel booking sites to make your own hotel reservations in Shirakawa-go.
You can enter the village during the light-up event, but the observatory requires a ticket. That means you won't see the panoramic view of the town and mountains. Hotels also fill up quickly, so make an early reservation.

Booking Reservation Site (in Japanese)

2. Coming by rental car (First-come-first-served basis, begins on September 10, 2022)

[Not including the admission ticket to the observatory]
After the reservations for overnight village stays are announced the reservations for parking permits from Shirakawa-go are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Be careful if you reserve a space, there are no refunds for cancellations.

3. Bus for Light-up Event (First-come-first-served basis. Operation hours are undecided)

[Including admission ticket to the observation deck]
During the light-up period, regular buses will run until 5:30 p.m., and only the buses for the light-up events will operate until nighttime. Advance reservations are required for the light-up buses.

The same bus is used for the round trip. There are also plans that include dinner, so it is like taking a "day trip on a light-up bus". The companies currently operating this service are Nohi Bus and Kaetsu No Bus, so please check their websites.

4. Taxi (First-come-first-served basis. Acceptance period undecided)

(No admission ticket to the observatory)
Reserving a cab is the same as renting a car: first reserve a parking space, obtain a parking permit and then contact the cab company to reserve a cab. If you are unable to drive or want to visit Shirakawa-go without being tied to bus times, it is recommended that you first pull a parking permit and reserve a cab after you have been selected.

How to obtain a ticket to the observatory

Many people come to Shirakawa-go to take pictures of the whole village. The only way to get a picture of the entire village is to climb up to the Shirakawa-go Observation Deck.
That is why it is important to obtain an observatory entrance ticket. If you do not have a ticket, you'll have to settle for watching the lights from the village. During the lighting-up period, there are only two ways to obtain an admission ticket to the observatory.

1. Lodging in the village

2. Dedicated bus for light-up events

Do you want to visit in the daytime?

Even if you do not participate in the light-up event, you can visit Shirakawago during the day before the light-up event begins. However, tourists who do not participate in the light-up must leave the village by 3 pm, parking is only available until 1 pm, and the observation deck closes at 3 pm. Sightseeing at Shirakawa-go takes about 3 hours, so please visit with that in mind.

Transportation for daytime

If you would like to go to Shirakawa-go in addition to taking part in the light-up event, please refer to the Centrip Japan article:

Things to keep in mind

The light-up is held in January and February, and it is very cold in Shirakawa-go. If you aren't used to the cold a simple shirt and jacket won't be enough, so make sure you bundle up appropriately and bring some extra clothes in case you need them. Be sure to fully charge your mobile phone or camera for all those photos, and remember it is a residential zone, so drones are prohibited.

Wrap-up

The Shirakawa-go Light-Up is one of the big seasonal events in the Chubu region, it's worth checking out, so if you are interested in the 2020 Shirakawago Light-up, book now.