This is a two-hour guided walking tour in Shiramine, a quiet mountain village at the foot of Mt. Hakusan, where daily life has long been shaped by prayer and nature.
Through visits to traditional houses and temples, participants experience the wisdom and culture of Japan’s snow country and enjoy the slow passage of time in this peaceful community.

【HIGHLIGHTS】

• Experience a mountain village shaped by prayer
  Walk through a community where Hakusan worship is still deeply rooted, gaining insight into local life, architecture, and food culture in a compact yet rich two-hour experience.

• Guided by a knowledgeable local guide
  A local guide shares stories of Shiramine’s people, traditions, and the wisdom passed down through generations in an easy-to-understand way.

• Visit Traditional Houses, Temples, and Long-Established Local Shops
  Enjoy a walk that includes an irori hearth experience in a traditional house, a Buddhist statue viewing at Rinzei-ji Temple, and stops at local shops to discover regional specialty sweets.

• Learn how people live in harmony with nature
  Discover architectural techniques and preserved food culture developed to survive heavy snowfall, offering insight into sustainable rural living.

• Small-group, relaxed experience
  With a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 5 participants, the tour allows time for photos, questions, and quiet appreciation of the surroundings.

【SCHEDULE】

Choose from two start times, 10:30 AM or 2:00 PM. 

[10:30] Meet the guide
[10:50] Traditional house experience (irori hearth, walnut cracking, etc.)
[11:10] Walking tour and visit to local shops for regional snacks and ingredients
[11:40] Visit a temple and learn about local faith and spiritual culture
[12:10] Visit a large traditional residence and learn about snow-country architecture
[12:30] Lunch (optional, not included) / Tour ends

If a site is closed, an alternative location of equal value will be arranged. 

【DETAILS】

Shiramine, located in the foothills of Mt. Hakusan, is a mountain village that has long lived in harmony with Hakusan worship. Surrounded by deep winter snow, rich forests, and blessings from the mountains, local people have developed a unique culture rooted in prayer and respect for nature.

The tour begins with a visit to the traditional house of Yohei, where participants gather around an irori hearth and try small daily-life activities such as cracking walnuts, gaining a sense of traditional mountain life.

Next, the walk continues through the village, stopping at long-established food shops and sweet shops to encounter local specialties like firm tofu and tochimochi.

At Rinsaiji Temple, participants view the Hakusan Descent Buddha, statues prepared to welcome ascetic practitioners returning from Mt. Hakusan. This is a moment to reflect on the lives of people who have long faced the mountain with prayer.

The tour also includes a visit to the former headman’s residence, where you will learn how traditional architecture was adapted to withstand heavy snowfall.

This is not simply a sightseeing tour.

It is an opportunity to experience a worldview centered on “living with the mountain,” savoring the quiet rhythm of life in Shiramine.

Through daily life, faith, and food culture in a heavy-snow region, participants gain insight into a sustainable way of living nurtured over generations.

【THINGS TO NOTE】

• Duration：2 hours
• Meeting point： Saisai  [MAP]
• Access： Minimum number of participants：1 person
• Language support： Japanese, English
• Included：
  ・Guide fee
  ・Traditional house (Yohei) experience fee
  ・Temple visit fee
  ・Insurance
• Excluded：
  ・Transportation to the meeting point
  ・Meals
• Participation requirements：
  ・Over 7 years old
  ・15 years old and under Minors must be accompanied by a guardian.
  ・The tour will be cancelled if weather warnings or advisories are issued.
  ・The tour will proceed in light rain; raincoats are available for purchase.
• Clothes： comfortable clothes 
• Other things to note： In a case of cancellation due to bad weather, natural disasters, service disruptions of transportation, or any other unavoidable reasons, we will contact you by email by 3:00 PM  on the day before the tour.

【CANCELLATION POLICY】

Until 72 hours before the experience start time: 0%
From 72 hours before the experience start time to start time: 100%
Cancellation after the experience has started, or cancellation without contact: 100%