Gokayama - Shirakawago chapter 童话式雪中小屋の白川乡

"Final" destination  -- Shirakawago

When the bus passed by many other housing area then only I realised I underestimate the size of Gokayama.  Again, I was the only person in the bus, I fell sleep on the way to Shirakawago. When I woke up I saw the bus went pass a place bears the name - Shirakawago, I was very panic and pressed the bell to get off from the bus. The bus had to stop at the next bus stop. I was really upset, walking wasn't a problem but walking with two heavy bags during winter was a big problem! But the bus driver was so kind, he asked me my destination, informed me that I not yet reached Shirakawago. Shirakawago still have long way to go! BUT the bus fare stop 'jumping' any more ^^ (I have paid the bus fare when he asked me, it wasn't cheap. Almost 2,000 yen!!!)

Many tourists on the road when i reached Shirakawago ( ^_^)／ やぁ！

Many people said they don't like Shirakawago because it was commercialised. But I like this place and I like the crowd after not seeing crowd for the whole day :P

Compare to two other village, here have more houses and they were more concentrated. 

                                            I was trying to walk to the viewing deck. I walked very long and I was very hungry and tired. I only ate the free bread and coffee in the hotel for the whole day to right with this cruel weather ~

Viewing deck is too far, i think i can only stay on the viewing deck for 5minutes even i can reach there.  

I gave up walking after half an hour. And the last bus went up to the viewing deck also saying bye bye to me ＿|￣|○

Missed the opportunity!


Suddenly i saw him running around on the snow. When I looked at him, he ran away from me. Then I tried to wait for him to come out again. He came out after 2minutes ^^
I took a lot of photos and videos then only he realised I was there stared at him :P
He tried to hide again ~(=^・・^) 

He was really dangerous. Jumping from the roof of the house ＼(>o<)／ギャーッ！

I wasn't the only one scared by his 'action movie'. All the tourists also got the shock

I walked to the bus station very early. The museum in this village more expensive and I think the artifacts in the museum will be almost same as the previous two villages. Nothing else for me to see, and I cannot miss the last bus to out. I have tried to book a minshu here but one night went up to minimum 8,000 yen! And they were fully booked! Left the room up to 12,000 yen! If i missed the bus, I don't know whether i can find a room in this peak season. 

Finally i spent some money to buy warm food to eat. It was just a snack but not an ordinary meal ~

さよなら白川乡

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It was almost 8pm when i arrived at Takayama. I didn't know the exact location of the hostel! I thought it should be somewhere near to the train station but NO 
Where to find the hostel 
Luckily due to touristic hotspot, there were many hostel along the road. I stood outside those hostel to "borrow" the free wi-fi to find the address of the hostel and tracked the location with google map. Thanks to the wi-fi and the smartphone advanced technology!

There was a french guy in the dorm, he was a student studying Japanese language. Not many things to chat and I have to hunt for my first proper meal of the day! My shoes were wet due to the snow, it was great that they provided the rain boots though they were too big for me. Freezing cold air again ~ almost all the shops were closed. I walked for almost 1 hour then only decide to eat in this shop.

The Ramen was too salty 

Went back to have shower and good rest :) And...this journey was too lonely. I think I need to go back and disturb other backpackers. 

Sad that winter not many tourists ~

Alone in the common area watching TV. I like this room, it was really comfortable + comfy room temperature   

Life is so great. Just be simple and easy ~ 

Gokayama - suganuma chapter 童话式雪中小屋の菅沼篇

Next destination  -- Suganuma

I can't find any information on this place. This place doesn't have any website for me to do research. I wouldn't mind for a website to share a very limited minimum level of information...I didn't even know what will be available there? what was the attraction there? where was the viewing deck? any map available?

Here was not really interesting compare to Ainokura, or maybe just came from Ainokura...so here wasn't an attraction to me??!!! Museum here cannot take photo. According to the caretaker, there was God (altar) in the house so no photography allowed.

Sorry for refusing to listen!

I was the only visitor here. Most of the things I have seen in Ainokura, exhibition no much differences

the altar

The only thing not available in Ainokura

When i first opened the door, I thought he was the caretaker of this place. After several greetings still not response??? Then only I looked at him properly, he didn't look like ordinary people and...fake people. What a shame 

Not a real gun. It was used to shoot at the target to activate the movie/show on the LCD screen. I stood here too long until the museum people came here to see what happened! Here also no photography allowed. Luckily I was ready to leave when she came

Public toilet. I looked at the entrance I really felt reluctant to go in...I thought it must be dirty and smelly BUT it was not and it was extremely clean and without bad smell. I judged it by the appearance again! Sorry...I will try to change.

I wasted a lot of time then only see this map. I thought this place was so small and nothing to see + i looked for viewing deck for a very long time. I don't have time for the other side, it took me more than 10minutes to walk there. Nobody there as well after my 10minutes walk...I immediately turned back to wait for the bus as I didn't want to miss the bus and wait for additional 2 hours at this boring place. BY looking at the poster, I saw a place which was the attraction near Takayama, I felt like want to walk there to save the bus fares. I worried if it was just using the same name but different destination altogether as what I expected then I really die...I gave up the idea

Finally I found the viewing deck, you guess where was it -- it was the road where the cars and buses passed by!!!

I waited for bus at the opposite direction again! The bus passed by and saw me...he stopped and waited for me but no response. He purposely came to the hut to call me! So nice! I was sorry that I was not going to the direction...just that opposite direction was just a signboard without a hut. I felt cold to stand there...After few minutes, I tried to hitch hike...I felt upset and planned to give up Shirakawago. For me, I didn't see any attraction of Shirakawago after Ainokura. I hold a white paper with the word "Takayama 高山". I was very shy and didn't have the courages but i did try for few cars. They really slow down to look at the paper! In the end, bus came first...no choice hop on to the bus!