Saturday, September 29, 2012

Shirakawago

Photobucket

Hello Sandwiches,

If you ever have the chance, please pop on over to Shirakawago, Gifu. We stopped here after my book promotion tour. Shirakawago is a gorgeous little world heritage  village of traditional farm houses. It's gorgeous and green in summer, and looks really beautiful in the winter snow, too!

Photobucket

You can take a bus to the village and wonder around, and then walk up to the look out for a breathtaking view something like this!

Photobucket

Photobucket

The flowers in summer were just so pretty. You'll want to make sure your camera battery is charged to it's max.

Photobucket


Photobucket

Photobucket

It's incredible to look at the construction of these homes!


Photobucket

Photobucket

After wondering around, we set up our painting kits and created mini watercolour works.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

We stayed at a lovely Ryokan in nearby town, Takayama.

Photobucket

Each night they served us amazing dinners in our ryokan room.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Pretty floral futons in the morning sunlight.

Gifu is a really lovely area and we decided to rent a car and drive back to Nagoya to soak up some more scenery. We took the scenic road along side the river and listened to The Postal Service and took photos along the way. There is also something I really love about stopping at Japanese road side diners.

I can highly recommend a trip to Shirakawago. There's some more information about the village here.

Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xoxo
Posted by at

43 comments:

  1. MelissaSeptember 29, 2012 at 1:26 PM

    What a beautiful and picturesque destination for all seasons! I'd love to see this place with a blanket of fresh snow~ :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 29, 2012 at 1:35 PM

      Yes! I really want to see it covered in snow too! Thanks so much for your comment :)

      Delete
  2. MeibutsuSeptember 29, 2012 at 2:00 PM

    Your pictures are gorgeous! I've always wanted to go there, and then on to Kanazawa. It seems tricky to get there from Tokyo though. One day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 29, 2012 at 2:10 PM

      Thank you for your nice comment! Yes, I want to go to Kanazawa too! Yes, a little tricky from Tokyo so we went on the way back from my Kansai book tour via Nagoya. I did, however, see a bus that goes from Shinjuku to Takayama and was so cheap (like ¥6500 one way) and then it's another 1 hour bus from Takayama, so potentially doable! :) One day I'll get to Kanazawa, too :) It's always wonderful just staying in Tokyo! Often I have to force myself to get out and see more of Japan. There is so much in Tokyo to see! x

      Delete
  3. ms.bulatSeptember 29, 2012 at 2:12 PM

    Thank you for sharing! It's so beautiful! Even the futons are happyhappy~

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 29, 2012 at 2:49 PM

      It's my pleasure Ms. Bulat! Yes the futons are so lovely! I actually took so many photos of them from different angles - even a photo of them when they were folded in the cupboard! Ha ha maybe it's my years of work at VOGUE Living and trying to have 'options' for the layouts! ha ha!
      Thank you for commenting!

      Delete
  4. moiraSeptember 29, 2012 at 2:49 PM

    Oh it's beautiful! It has a an old-europe feel a little bit, like switzerland or something. So dreamy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Whimsy and JunoSeptember 29, 2012 at 5:32 PM

    Wow, what an amazing village! I'd love to visit there, it looks so pretty with the surrounding forests and wildflowers. Your pictures are just gorgeous too!
    xoxo Lauren

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 29, 2012 at 8:58 PM

      Thank you so much for your kind words about the photos! Yes it's such a pretty town! It's not hard to take nice photos there! :)

      Delete
  6. merci GinetteSeptember 29, 2012 at 5:34 PM

    I love your blog! Super creative! Not need to move from home to escape ... Thank you, thank you! Elise

    ReplyDelete
  7. KatSeptember 29, 2012 at 5:47 PM

    Sooo lovely! I might try and visit when we go to Japan next year! We've been looking for a nice traditional village type place to visit.

    Thanks so much for sharing your lovely adventure!

    Kat x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 29, 2012 at 8:59 PM

      Yes I can recommend staying for a day here (it's only a small town) and then maybe going to Kanazawa! :)

      Delete
  8. Japan AustraliaSeptember 29, 2012 at 6:27 PM

    Definitely a must see place in Japan and part of the new Golden Route of Japan with Takayama and Kanazawa. The gassho zukuri farmhouses are built strong enough to withstand the heavy snow that falls during the winter months. Winter is amazing here when all white with snow, but also love the green of summer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 29, 2012 at 9:00 PM

      Yes, I would love to go back there in winter. Some of the photos I've seen with them covered in snow - simply amazing! You just realise how strong they are!

      Delete
  9. Maggie MaySeptember 29, 2012 at 6:42 PM

    Thank you for sharing these absolutely magical images.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 29, 2012 at 9:00 PM

      It's an absolute pleasure. Thanks so much for your lovely comment!

      Delete
  10. Miss Cinti - my poppetSeptember 29, 2012 at 10:15 PM

    looks lovely, Hoping to see more of the county side on my next trip :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 30, 2012 at 1:38 PM

      Yes! And make sure you can come along to a Hello Sandwich workshop, too!

      Delete
  11. VermillionSeptember 29, 2012 at 11:18 PM

    Wow, beautiful photos. I hope I can visit that village one day, I like the architecture and the scenery.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 30, 2012 at 1:38 PM

      Thank you so much for your comment! I hope you can visit soon!

      Delete
  12. Emily WhittakerSeptember 30, 2012 at 7:00 AM

    Oooohhhhh Shirakawa and Takayama are on my list of 'places to go when next in Japan' (hopefully next May) and now I've seen your beautiful pics I'm desperate to go! Gorgeous colours and views, and your ryokan looks lovely! Perhaps you can share which one it was if you recommend it, I'll need somewhere great to stay on my dream trip! hehe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 30, 2012 at 1:39 PM

      Yes, you will love it! Absolutely, I'll find out the name of the ryokan and let you know :)

      Delete
    2. Emily WhittakerOctober 1, 2012 at 2:34 AM

      Brilliant, thank you! x

      Delete
  13. MescrapSeptember 30, 2012 at 8:56 AM

    My dream place on earth.
    Such impressive...

    ReplyDelete
  14. MarsSeptember 30, 2012 at 10:12 AM

    I'm totally fascinated with these pictures. Everything is beautiful.
    Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichSeptember 30, 2012 at 1:39 PM

      Thanks so much Marce! It's my pleasure to share them with you!

      Delete
  15. AnnaSeptember 30, 2012 at 5:04 PM

    Looks gorgeous! I was there just briefly in April on the way from Takayama to Kanazawa, and it was still very cold and buried in snow! So interesting to see a different side in your pics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichOctober 1, 2012 at 9:36 PM

      Oh how lovely that you could see it covered in snow! I'd love to see that! Do you have any photos posted online?

      Delete
  16. Cathg1g2September 30, 2012 at 9:21 PM

    Just back from a couple of days in Kanazawa, sweet town, gorgeous garden and the loop and flat buses are so cute! Also he museum of contemporary art there is fantastic, esp lunch at the cafe!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichOctober 1, 2012 at 9:37 PM

      Yes, I can't wait to see the SANAA designed museum!

      Delete
  17. satsuki shibuyaOctober 1, 2012 at 4:55 AM

    such beautiful shots! i thoroughly enjoyed this post. :) thank you for sharing your trip with us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichOctober 1, 2012 at 9:38 PM

      Hello lovely! it's my pleasure! Thank you for your lovely comment! OMG I saw how many pinterest followers you have - amazing! xoxo

      Delete
  18. MomographicaOctober 1, 2012 at 7:41 PM

    I have a friend who lives in Gifu and she told me about this gorgeous place. Shirakawago is stunning.

    Congratulations on your pictures, they are so beautiful that make the place just more awesome! The first one is especially lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello SandwichOctober 1, 2012 at 9:39 PM

      Yes! Please visit if you can!
      Thank you for your sweet words about the pictures, I'm still getting the hang of my DSLR but it's a lot of fun!

      Delete
  19. aiOctober 1, 2012 at 11:46 PM

    Oh, dang, you should've let me know that you'd be in Nagoya. We could've hung out!

    Lovely shots of inaka in Japan. :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. sideoats + scribblesOctober 2, 2012 at 1:04 AM

    Thank you so much for the virtual vacation! I really miss Japan, haven't had a chance to explore this part yet but now I know where I want to go on my next trip! Just lovely. xo

    ReplyDelete
  21. mindyOctober 2, 2012 at 2:32 PM

    looks awesome , i always so excited with your nice shot . you're my inspiration =D

    ReplyDelete
  22. gretchenOctober 3, 2012 at 7:02 PM

    Oh, Your photo story looks just so wonderful as your blog is big inspiration! Love to go those places someday!

    ReplyDelete
  23. JamieOctober 11, 2012 at 9:52 PM

    So that`s what it looks like without snow! :) Great post. I have one image up of the village with snow. http://ramenrunner.tumblr.com/page/6 (towards bottom of page)

    What still sticks in my memory the most on my visit, was how absorbent the snow was when it came to sound. Unless people were talking or a car was driving past, or a tree branch gave way to excess snow, there was often no sound at all!

    ReplyDelete
  24. DOctober 15, 2012 at 8:53 AM

    Ah this is perfect! I'm heading to Gifu in January! Could you tell me which ryokan you stayed at in Takayama?

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)