murmurShirakawa-go Winter Light-up
Shirakawa Village · Ogimachi Village, Shirakawa-go
Dates and details can change. Always check the official website before you go.
Shirakawa-go Tourist Association · Last checked: Oct 11, 2026
Dates
Dates confirmed with official sources
- 2026
- Mon, Jan 12, 2026 / Sun, Jan 18, 2026 / Sun, Jan 25, 2026 / Sun, Feb 1, 2026 （Ended）
- 2027
- Mon, Jan 11, 2027 / Sun, Jan 17, 2027 / Sun, Jan 24, 2027 / Sun, Jan 31, 2027 17:30–19:30 (advance reservation only)
- Usual timing
- Usually in January
- How the date is set
- Changes from year to year Held on a few set evenings in January and early February; advance reservation required
- Venue
- Ogimachi Village, Shirakawa-go
- City
- Shirakawa Village, Gifu
About
On just a few winter nights each year, the World Heritage village of Ogimachi in Shirakawa-go is lit up after dark. The village sits in one of Japan's heaviest snowfall zones, with winter snow nearly 2 meters deep, and the sight of glowing windows in the thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses, their roofs heavy with snow and shining white, belongs to this season alone. Entry is by advance reservation and ticket only; turning up on the day will not get you in, and the observation deck needs a separate ticket. Nights fall below freezing and roads ice up, so bring warm clothes and footwear for snow. The last regular bus leaves before the light-up begins, so arrange your return beforehand.
Sources
- OfficialShirakawa-go Tourist Association shirakawa-go.gr.jp
- OfficialGifu Travel Guide (Gifu Prefecture Tourism Association) www.kankou-gifu.jp
Last checked: Oct 11, 2026. Event information is based on official announcements, but changes may not always be reflected here. Please check each official website for accurate details.
Other events this month
On the day, see what locals are murmuring on the murmur map
murmur is an app that shows short, anonymous posts on a map, right where they were written. On festival day, open the map around the venue and see what people nearby are saying.