For years, I’ve seen the snow capped thatched huts on covers of magazines and the odd web banner. Shirakawago seems to be one of the most iconic Japanese tourist destinations out there, along with Mount Fuji, Kiyomizudera and Itsukushima Shrine.
My mother had formed some sort of romantic fantasy around this little village, and we set out just to visit it. I’m not sure what exactly drew her to Shirakawago, but years of advertising had made it just as appealing and mysterious to me.
As with all over-hyped destinations though, I should have expected the crowds that greeted us. It certainly wasn’t what I imagined, though I’m not sure what exactly I expected in the first place.
Maybe I envisioned it to be more like Ainokura, where we had stayed the night before? Untouched by tourism, quiet and tranquil. Whatever it was, Shirakawago took me by surprise but I still enjoyed it, crowds and all.
JQ ☆ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ 