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Historic house · Shirakawa, Gifu
Wada House (Wada-ke)
The largest gassho-zukuri house in Ogimachi, from the village headman’s family, open to visitors, with the hearth on the ground floor and the upper floors displaying silk-working tools.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
A look at the place
Wada House (Wada-ke) in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
Click the picture to enlarge it.
Discover
About Wada House (Wada-ke)
The Wada House (Wada-ke) is the largest gassho-zukuri house in the village of Ogimachi and one of the oldest, built in the mid-Edo period. It belongs to the Wada family, who served as village headmen for generations, maintained a checkpoint on the road, and grew wealthy from producing saltpeter for gunpowder and from silk. The house is an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
Part of the house is still lived in by the family, and the remainder is open to visitors. On the ground floor are tatami rooms with a hearth set into the floor, the irori, where the fire warmed the house and the smoke helped protect the thatch and wood from insects. The reception rooms have painted sliding doors, lacquerware, and household items that reflect the family’s status.
Steep stairs lead to the upper floors beneath the thatched roof. There you can see the wooden framework bound with ropes, without nails, and the tools used for rearing silkworms, which occupied these levels. Light enters through windows at the gable ends, and from above you can see the surrounding fields.
The house is at the beginning of the village, near the suspension bridge that leads from the bus terminal, and is surrounded by a pond, a storehouse and a garden. In autumn the trees around it change color, and in winter snow accumulates on the roof.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 to 45 minutes.
Best time
In the morning, before the groups. In winter, the house with snow is one of the village’s most sought-after images. The house is closed on some days and in the late afternoon: check opening hours.
How to get there
About a 5-minute walk from the Shirakawa-go bus terminal, just past the suspension bridge over the Sho River.
Tip
Climb to the upper floors to see the roof structure from the inside. The wooden floors are cold in winter: bring thick socks, since you enter barefoot.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Wada House (Wada-ke)
What is there to see at the Wada house?
Tatami rooms with a sunken hearth, belongings of the village head family and, on the upper floors, the roof framework and silk-production tools.
Is the Wada house still inhabited?
Yes, the family lives in part of the house; the rest is open to visitors.
How do you get to the Wada house?
On foot, about a 5-minute walk from the Shirakawa-go bus terminal, past the suspension bridge.
How long does the visit to the Wada house take?
About 30 to 45 minutes.
Do you need to pay to enter the Wada house?
Yes, there is an admission fee.
Beyond the guide
