A striking contrast between the rural past of the traditional village of Shirakawa-go and the urban present of the great city of Nagoya.

From Takayama we head east through the hills until we reach a traditional village of Shirakawa-go, place of the traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.

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We spend a very raining but lovely day here exploring the traditional houses and the countryside and then head south to one of the largest mega cities of Japan - Nagoya, famous for its Science museum and Nagoya castle.

On our way to the dream destination of Kyoto we stop in a small town of Hikone - also famous for its picturesque castle and wonderful parks surrounding it.

Shirakawa-go.

Shirakawa-go (Shirakawa Village) is a Japanese mountain settlement in what was once considered a wild and unexplored region.

Shirakawa-go.

The village is famous for their traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouses, some of which are more than 250 years old.

Shirakawa-go.

Gassho-zukuri means "constructed like hands in prayer", as the farmhouses' steep thatched roofs resemble the hands of Buddhist monks pressed together in prayer.

Shirakawa-go.

The architectural style developed over many generations and is designed to withstand the large amounts of heavy snow that falls in the region during winter.