TokyoTomo Travel Guide

Shirakawa Village in Gifu Prefecture is in the foot of holy Hakusan Mountain within the mountainous area between Ishikawa and Toyama Prefecture. In the middle of the village lies Shirakawa-go, an area with gasshozukuri (A-frame) style houses that have been designated as the World Heritage in 1995. In the past, Shirakawa-go was said to be the hideout of fleeing Heike warriors, and people with high cultural accomplishments created its own culture and lifestyles. – However, since it was an area with less contact with the other regions and also from its harsh natural environment, it was left over from the impact of the modern developments. The unique architecture of gasshozukuri might as well be one of the fruit from its original culture. The raftered roof with steep slopes is just right for the natural conditions with heavy snow falls, and the building are built in north-south direction to minimize the resistance of the wind while controlling the sunlight on the roof. These are excellent architectures rationally designed to make the people’s living comfortable in this tough environment.

Gasshozukuri in Shirakawa-go leaves strong impact on travelers, but the environment surrounded by high mountains also shows us the dynamic change of the four seasons. The village is snowed up for four months, but fresh green leaves sprout out at once when spring comes, and rice planting starts by the end of May. After the cool and genial summer, autumn, the harvest time comes. As soon as the village reaps the blessings of nature, the area is filled with crimson foliage.

In the end of the autumn harvest, the villagers have a celebration with “Doburoku (unrefined sake)” to express their gratitude to god for the good harvest and pray for peace in the village and good health of their families and friends. This is “Doburoku Matsuri Festival” of Shirakawa-go, one of the bizarre festival held in Japan. Three Hachiman Shrine in the village take turns to be the host of the festival, and I have visited the “Doburoku Matsuri Festival” held in Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine from 14 to 15 October. Nowadays Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, a branch of Meishin Express way, penetrates the village from north to south, and connects to Hokuriku Expressway at Toyama prefecture; the area no longer has the image of the distant and rough outpost; you only need five hours to drive in from Tokyo.

On 14 October, a ceremony was performed in the precincts of the shrine from early in the morning, followed by a sacred parade with five-colored flag accompanied by flutes and drums. After the parade ended around 3pm, Shishimai (Lion Dance), appointed as intangible cultural asset of Gifu, was dedicated in Hachiman Shrine. Then, the first cup of “Doburoku” prepared that winter was offered to the god. This sake was then served to villagers, worshippers, and to tourists who came along from afar. “Doburoku” is free of charge, but you need to make a donation beforehand to receive a special cup for this event. The local fire fighting teams, police, and the staff of the shrine is in charge of controlling the worshippers, but it is the local ladies in cooking coats over kimonos who walk around to serve the “Doburoku.” The drink is brought out from the shrine using a bucket, and is stocked in a large barrel of one meter in diameter.

Then, the “Doburoku” is poured into a special kettle-like vessel called “Kittate,” ready to serve hundreds of drinkers. Being in an all-you-can-drink style, high feast starts here and there, while the crowd is entertained by local performing arts on the main stage. With the stalls by the venue, it looks like one of the shrine festival held only by villagers, but in fact, it is eccentric but quite a sight where everyone sits on the straw mat and drink together whether or not you belong to this village. Living under a rigorous climate, the villagers are especially delighted in the autumn harvest, and “Doburoku” is one of the few things that eases their mind. Drinking the night away before the severe winter comes. “Doburoku Matsuri Festival” was an unalloyed festival filled with such emotions of the people living in Shirakawa.

Source: Travel Vision

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Michelin will soon be releasing its first comprehensive guide to Japan, Michelin Green Guide Tokyo, scheduled for Sep.21. Michelin has awarded 17 sites with three-star ratings, as must-see spots; the Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the village of  Shirakawa-go, Himeji Castle, Yakushima, Kyoto, Nara and Mt Takao just outside of Tokyo to name a few.

The guide is divided into regions, introducing you to the best of Japan with in-depth coverage of Tokyo and Kyoto, and other destinations in Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa, and Hokkaido. The easy-to-use Michelin maps will help guide you around town, highlight tour routes and identify the very best sights by star rating. Detailed walking tours make you your own tour guide on the road less traveled.

Of course, no Michelin publication would be complete without restaurant recommendations. Accommodations and restaurant recommendations feature in the address books throughout the guide, where you will find entertainment venues and everything from the revered tea ceremony to nabemono, the Japanese fondue and, of course, sushi.

Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture together with Gokayama in Toyama Prefecture was listed as World Heritage by UNESCO in December 1955 for its historical landscape featuring the “Gassho-zukuri”, thatched-roof houses and the well preserved beautiful natural environment.

“Gassho-zukuri” is a unique architectural style developed in this particular region of heavy snowfall with a steep thatched roof to let snows easily slide down from the roof. The steep roof looks like “Gassho”, meaning, literally, hands clasped together in pray, hence it is called “Gassho-zukuri”.

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