Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up
白川郷ライトアップ36°15′ N 136°54′ EFestivalJan 11, 2027
Shirakawa-go's light-up shows the thatched village under snow and lamplight on four January evenings in 2027, and it suits anyone who plans months ahead; every visitor needs a reservation, and the famous view from the observatory comes only with a village stay or a route-bus tour.
The 41st light-up runs on 11, 17, 24 and 31 January 2027, from 17:30 to 19:30. Every visitor wears an entry ticket on a neck strap, coloured by date and valid for that evening only. A heavy cold wave that threatens wide traffic disruption can cancel an evening.
There are five ways in, and the tourist association sells three of them. A night in the village by lottery includes an observatory ticket. Reserved parking at the Midashima car park and a taxi booked into that car park give village entry only. The other two are tours: the route-bus companies Nohi Bus, Kaetsuno Bus, Toyama Chitetsu Bus, Hokutetsu Bus and Iruka Kotsu run special evening tours, some with observatory tickets, and travel agents sell coach tours without them.
The observatory takes visitors in three timed groups and bans tripods and pets. Staff check tickets at a gate before the walk up. Reserved parking costs ¥7,000 a car for one to five people in the December round, it cannot be cancelled or refunded, and cars must arrive from 15:00 and leave by 20:00.
Worth knowing
- Apply for the village stay lottery between 1 and 31 October 2026, one application per person and in the name of the guest who will stay.
- Day visitors on a light-up date must park by 15:00 and leave the day car parks by 17:00, and bus riders need a bus that reaches the village by 15:20.
- Fit studless winter tyres; the village requires them for the event.
- Leave the drone at home; the village refuses drone filming over the settlement.
Quick answers about Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Upよくある質問
When is the Shirakawa-go light-up in 2027?
On 11, 17, 24 and 31 January 2027, from 17:30 to 19:30.
Do I need a reservation for the Shirakawa-go light-up?
Yes. Entry is by advance reservation only, through a village stay, a reserved parking space, a booked taxi or a bus tour, and no tickets are sold on the day.
Can I see the light-up from the Shirakawa-go observatory?
Only with an observatory ticket, which comes with lottery-allocated village stays and some route-bus tours. It is not sold separately.
When is Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up?
Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up takes place four Sunday or holiday evenings in January, 17:30 to 19:30. The next dates we have are January 11, 2027, announced.
What are the opening hours of Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up?
Shirakawa-go Winter Light-Up is open lights on 17:30–19:30. From 15:30 a gate stops anyone without an entry ticket from entering the village, and day visitors' car parks stop admitting cars at 15:00.