A fairy-tale village in the Japanese Alps: houses with steep thatched gable roofs, so sharp they look like hands in prayer, built to bear meters of snow. In winter, blanketed in white and lit up just a few nights a year, they're otherworldly. A World Heritage Site. Climb to the Shiroyama lookout for the classic shot.
💡 Getting there: bus from Kanazawa (~75 min, ¥2,000) or Takayama (~50 min, ¥2,600). Book ahead, especially in winter. 🕐 Village open 24/7. House-museums 8:40–17:00. 💴 Village free (house-museums ~¥300–400). ❄️ Winter illumination: only a few nights in January/February (book MONTHS ahead). 🏠 Gasshō-zukuri houses ("hands in prayer") with 60° roofs to bear the snow. UNESCO Heritage. The Shiroyama lookout gives the classic view.