Historic Site · Shirakawa, Japan
Shirakawa-gō
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Photo: 663highland via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Shirakawa, Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Area | Area: 588.731 km² |
| Coordinates | 36.4000° N, 136.8833° E |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Shirakawa-gō is known for
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
About Shirakawa-gō
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The cultural property consists of three historic mountain villages over an area of 68 hectares (170 acres) in the remote Shogawa river valley, stretching across the border of Gifu and Toyama Prefectures in central Japan. Shirakawa-gō (白川郷, "White River Old-District") is located in the village of Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture.
History
Mt Hakusan is the principal mountain in this area, and has been regarded as a sacred summit since ancient times. In the 8th century, the Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama area became a location for ascetic religious practices, and mountain worship centred on Mt Hakusan. For a long time afterward, the region was under the control of the Tendai sect of Buddhist Japan.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Shirakawa-gō website — the official site has the current visiting information.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Shirakawa |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Toyama Airport (TOY) |
| Distance from the airport | 23.9 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Komatsu Airport / JASDF Komatsu Air Base (KMQ) · Kanazawa, Japan · 26.5 miles away
- Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) · Tokoname, Japan · 106.6 miles away
- Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport (FSZ) · Makinohara / Shimada, Japan · 133.0 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Japan
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Shirakawa-gō?
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Where is Shirakawa-gō located?
Shirakawa-gō is in Shirakawa, Japan. Its coordinates are 36.4000° N, 136.8833° E.
How do I get to Shirakawa-gō?
The nearest town is Shirakawa, and the nearest airport is Toyama Airport (TOY), about 23.9 miles away (straight line).
What is the history of Shirakawa-gō?
Mt Hakusan is the principal mountain in this area, and has been regarded as a sacred summit since ancient times. In the 8th century, the Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama area became a location for ascetic religious practices, and mountain worship centred on Mt Hakusan.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historic_Villages_of_Shirakawa-gō_and_Gokayama — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q877626 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/734/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.