This will be a blog series of our micro-adventure to Shirakawago.
In our previous post, Exploring an underrated Hidden Gem in Kyoto | Snow Lantern Festival we shared a village in Kyoto that is similar to Shirakawago.
In this blog series, we will share with you our quick vacation in Kanazawa and Shirakawago.
We originally planned to visit Shirakawago on January 3-6, 2024 via Kanazawa but a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the western part of Japan on the first day of 2024. Lives were lost, many buildings were destroyed, roads were ravaged, and tsunami warnings were reported after the earthquake. It was a sad time for Japan. Kanazawa was affected so we postponed our trip for our safety.
An opportunity came to us a month later, so we were able to push through with our trip. February 12 is a national holiday in Japan that falls on a Monday so it's a long weekend! We immediately booked accommodation and a roundtrip bus (Kanazawa <-> Shirakawago).
Our Online Bus Reservation. Reserved at Japan Bus Online.
Booking hotels or apartments near Shirakawago might cost you a fortune, especially during peak season. There are two cities in Japan that you might want to consider if you're planning to go to Shirakawago - either via Nagoya or Kanazawa. We chose the latter because the travel time by bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawago is shorter.
The train fare from Osaka to Kanazawa is a little expensive. We travel on a budget so to compensate for the expensive train ticket, we booked affordable accommodation near the station. Instead of staying on an Airbnb or hotel, we opted to stay in a Guesthouse.
Just look at these prices going to Kanazawa from Osaka.😭
We left from Osaka to Kanazawa before noon and boarded the JR Thunderbird. We forgot to buy a bento. Traveling by train from Osaka to Kanazawa takes more or less 2-3 hours. Since we left before noon, imagine how hungry we were when we arrived. Thankfully we packed lots of snacks for the baby. Sharm would have felt the mom guilt if we did not bring any food for our baby.
It was raining when we arrived at Kanazawa station. It was already 2:30 pm and our check-in was at 3 pm. We decided to check in first so that we could leave our luggage. Then we looked for a restaurant where we could dine.
Selfie with the Sacred Gate at the back. Still smiling even though we’re tired and hungry.
Kanazawa Fountain Clock. We hope you can see the fountain writing ‘KANAZAWA’.
Kanazawa Fountain Clock showing the current time.
The guesthouse is only a few blocks away from the station so it's not hard to find. The room is small, only enough for sleeping. Well, it is expected for a PHP 4000 (2 Nights for 2 Adults) accommodation. The host also told us ahead of time that the space is small. Although the space is small, the amenities are great. However, if you are traveling with a baby, we suggest booking a private house/room with a private bath and toilet. We had challenges changing baby diapers.
This is our room in the guesthouse. Inside was just a double deck for us to sleep and a little space to move
After the check-in, we went out to find a restaurant where we could eat. We saw this Korean restaurant just a few meters from the guesthouse. There were no customers. When we went inside, we were told they were closed. Most restaurants in Kanazawa close after lunchtime and open again at around 5 pm for dinner. We looked for other restaurants nearby but there were none or were not yet open. Thankfully, there's a Famima (Family Mart) nearby! We just bought food there and brought it to the guesthouse.
Our humble dinner.🤗
Who would say no to ice cream on this rainy day?🍦
After we filled our tummies with Famichiki and other Kombini foods, we went upstairs to our room to rest. It was a rainy day so the three of us took a nap.
Selfie before the mama takes a nap too.😊
Our baby feels refreshed after a long nap!
When we woke up, it was still raining. I guess we're not meant to go exploring on our first day. For dinner, we found Saizeriya, a family restaurant, nearby. We ordered too much - still, we were able to finish all the food!
On our way to Saizerya, we passed by the station. Aya keeps on playing (Ninja run!)
At 16 months, our baby is already running.🥹 Time to teach her how to ride a bike!😂
Small Replica of the Sacred Gate
That's it for the first day of our trip. Day 2 will be in Shirakawago. That will be on the next blog. :)
Family picture on a rainy day at Kanazawa station