What's special about the ancient village of Shirakawa-go in autumn? Experience the red leaves season at the Japanese heritage village

If you have ever wondered: "Is there any place in the world where time can stop?" - Shirakawa-go in autumn is the most beautiful answer. Not only is it a peaceful ancient village hidden in the valley of Gifu province, Shirakawa-go in the red leaf season is also a vivid oil painting, where the color of time is magically intertwined with the color of nature.

Experience slow living in the middle of an ancient Japanese village – Shirakawa-go in autumn

Shirakawago ancient village - An autumn painting that captivates visitors. (Photo: Collected)

Nestled in the Shokawa Valley of Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go is one of the ancient Japanese villages recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, not only beautiful in architecture, but also captivating people with its traditional culture, charming scenery and heart-wrenchingly quiet atmosphere, especially when autumn comes.

The ancient Japanese village of Shirakawa-go seems completely isolated from the modern world. No neon lights, no car horns, no high-rise buildings. Only ancient triangular thatched roofs, thickly covered to protect against the snow, line a clear stream, surrounded by a forest of brilliant maple leaves turning to autumn.

And it is during the red leaf season from late October to mid-November that this place transforms into a magical visual symphony, making anyone who sets foot here exclaim: “This is not a tourist destination. This is a journey back to the originality of the soul.”

>> Check out the hottest Japan tours in autumn 2025 here

Comparing Shirakawa-go in autumn with other seasons

In autumn, Shirakawa-go is covered in brilliant red and yellow from the rows of maple and ginkgo trees. (Photo: MoritaHiromi)

Although Shirakawa-go has its own beauty in each season, autumn is perhaps the perfect balance of nature and experience.

• In winter, Shirakawa-go is covered in snow, beautiful as a fairytale snow dream – but cold and difficult to move around.
• Cherry blossoms bloom in spring, but only last a few weeks.
• Summer is lush and cool – but without the magical transformation of autumn.
• Autumn in Shirakawa-go is the time when you can see life and tranquility coexist most clearly.

What is beautiful about Shirakawa-go in autumn?

Shirakawa-go in autumn: Red leaves are not just for viewing, but for absorbing. (Photo: Collected)

When autumn comes to Shirakawa-go, the transformation doesn’t just happen on the treetops, it permeates every little detail of the village. Shirakawa-go in autumn isn’t a place to rush out and snap a few photos. It’s a place that makes you want to linger, to listen to yourself as nature transforms from summer to winter.

I still remember clearly the feeling when I got out of the car, a dry and cool wind blew past my face, carrying with it the pungent scent of rotten wood, old straw and fallen leaves. In front of me, each Gassho-zukuri house covered in moss, leaned under the blazing red maple trees. The golden sunlight of late autumn poured down, making everything warm and dreamy, like a scene from a classic Japanese movie you saw somewhere when you were a child.

In Shirakawa-go, you don’t need to “look” for a beautiful corner because the entire space is a living painting. No scene is the same as another, because every glance, every step you stop will be a different perspective, a different color, a different emotion.

Shirakawa-go ancient village in the eyes of Japanese people: Not only beautiful, but also "country soul"

The ancient village of Shirakawago is dyed yellow in the ripe rice season in September. (Photo: collected)

For the Japanese, Shirakawa-go is not only a famous destination, but it is a symbol of preserving the national soul. Gassho-zukuri architecture is not only special because of its shape, but because it is the crystallization of traditional construction techniques, passed down from generation to generation, without cement, without nails, but can last for hundreds of years under the white snow and time.

In autumn, villagers set up ancestral altars in front of their houses, wash vegetables in the stream, and dry rice in the yard. You will see old men sweeping fallen leaves with bamboo brooms, children in uniforms going to school across wooden bridges, or the sound of a fire crackling from a wood stove in the late afternoon... These are vivid memories that only Shirakawa-go in autumn can evoke in you, a feeling that no modern neighborhood can bring.

>> See Shirakawa-go tour in autumn:
1. Japan: Tokyo - Mount Fuji - Oshino Hakkai - Matsumoto - Kamikochi Valley - Shirakawa Ancient Village - Kyoto - Osaka (Enjoy Kobe beef) (5N4D)
2. Japan: Tokyo – Mount Fuji – Shirakawa Ancient Village – Kamikochi Valley - Takayama – Kobe – Osaka | Enjoy Kobe beef (6 days 5 nights)

A unique experience not to be missed when traveling to see red leaves in Shirakawa-go

Conquer the Deai-Bashi Suspension Bridge to admire the beautiful landscape on both sides of the river. (Photo: Collected)

Drinking hot tea in an ancient house among the red leaves forest

You can visit a ryokan homestay, sit by the fire, sip hot green tea, and look out the window where red leaves are falling gently in the wind. No need for photos, that moment is enough to stay in your heart for life.

Walk across the ancient Deai-bashi bridge

This suspension bridge is the gateway to Shirakawa-go. When you cross it in the morning mist or at dusk, it feels like you are entering another world – where everything is slower and gentler.

Meet the locals and try your hand at handicrafts

If you have time, join a workshop on washi paper making, or Hida-style hand embroidery. You’ll see hands that have lived here most of their lives – slow, steady, and full of appreciation for detail.

Shiroyama Observatory - The best place to see red leaves in Shirakawa-go

Panoramic view of the ancient village of Shirakawago in autumn from the observation deck. (Photo: Collected)

The Shiroyama Observatory is a must-visit, offering a panoramic view of Shirakawa-go. From here, the autumn scenery is in full view: thatched roofs stacked like fairytale models, surrounded by a forest of red leaves stretching to the horizon.

I arrived at 4pm – the time when the sunset light shone through the foliage, creating a fiery orange-yellow hue. The photo I took at that time is still the most favorite in my Japan travel album.

Shirakawa-go autumn travel experience: What to prepare?

Shirakawa Hachiman Shinto Shrine is where people celebrate the Doburoku festival to pray for a bountiful harvest in late September and early October. (Photo: Collected)

Ideal timing

Autumn in Shirakawa-go starts in early October and lasts until mid-November, however, the peak of autumn leaves usually falls in the second to third week of November. That is when the whole village is “dyed red” by thousands of maple and ginkgo trees. This time of year also has little rain, clear skies, and mild sunshine – perfect for a fall foliage tour.
Weather: cool during the day, cold at night (can be below 10°C), bring a warm jacket.

How to get to Shirakawa-go

• From Tokyo, you can take the Shinkansen to Toyama or Kanazawa, then take the Nohi or Hokutetsu bus to the village (about 1.5 – 2 hours). Although it takes a bit of time, the scenery along the way is extremely pleasing to the eye – the red forests interspersed with the rolling mountains will make you regret it.
• If you are coming from Nagoya, you can use your JR Pass to take the train to Takayama, then transfer to a bus to Shirakawa-go, which takes about 3–4 hours. Buses to Shirakawa-go require advance reservations as they are very crowded during peak season.Buses to Shirakawa-go require advance reservations as they are very crowded during peak season.

Staying in Shirakawa-go

Book a room at a Gassho-zukuri house – a traditional wooden house with a triangular thatched roof to protect against snow. Staying overnight here will give you a true sense of village life: traditional dinners, a fireplace, and waking up early in the morning to a misty window.

Suggested 2N1D itinerary to fully enjoy autumn in Shirakawa-go

Gassho-zukuri Minkaen Museum (Photo: Collected)

Day 1:

• Morning: Depart from Tokyo → Toyama → Shirakawa-go (about 5–6 hours travel)
• Lunch: Lunch with Hida beef + new autumn rice
• Afternoon: Stroll around the village, go up to Shiroyama observatory at sunset
• Evening: Ryokan-style dinner, experience sleeping in a Gassho house

Day 2:

• Morning: Watching early morning mist + red leaves in the village
• 10am: Join a craft workshop or visit the Gassho-zukuri Minkaen museum
• Noon: Buy local gifts, leave the village and return to the city

The journey to Japan to see autumn in Shirakawa-go is not just a destination, but a place for you to slow down, breathe in the atmosphere of old Japan and immerse yourself in the gentle red color of time. And if your heart is urging a truly “memorable” trip, bringing more than just photos, then perhaps it is time to start.

Start planning your autumn trip to Shirakawa-go today. Whether you go on your own or book a tour, choose a way that allows you to experience this place to the fullest, as a beautiful memory that will make you smile when you remember it every autumn.
-
For more information about the program, please contact:
VIETRAVEL
190 Pasteur, Xuan Hoa Ward, HCMC
Tel: (028) 3822 8898 - Hotline: 1800 646 888
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/vietravel
Website: www.travel.com.vn

Source of article: Collected and compiled
@traveltips #traveltips

_CN_

Source: https://www.vietravel.com/vn/am-thuc-kham-pha/du-lich-shirakawa-go-mua-thu-la-do-v17863.aspx