Nagoro Village, This Villager Has Been Changed To Be A Doll

The village of Nagoro, located off the southern mountainous area of Japan, was once home to hundreds of families. But currently, there are only 35 people. This is due to premature aging and death, not worth the birth rate. 

Now the beautiful villagers and away from this pollution are replaced by hundreds of dolls. This village became a quiet village, silent and here and there only seen big dolls. Being a quiet village with the inhabitants of strange dolls.

The doll was made by an elderly mother named Tsukimi Ayano and some of these villagers to replace her deceased neighbors or leave the village.

In 1965, Tsukimi Ayano was one of the young people in Nagoro Village. He moved back from Osaka to Nagoro. He came to look after his 85-year-old father.

"They (the dolls) bring back memories," Ayano.o said then showed dozens of dolls the size of a human crowd the corners of his house. 

If coming to this village, we would feel strange, because there are many dolls of human beings occupying an empty house, on the veranda of houses, a number of dolls at bus stops, perched on fences and trees, huddled in shops and wherever.

"Parents used to drink sake and tell stories, which reminds me of the past when they were alive and well," he said, showing the dolls of old women.

In general, births in Japan dropped sharply, as well as the population experienced premature aging. Nagoro is one of a number of villages in Japan which is a village with very few inhabitants, the once crowded village is now deserted by the inhabitants.

The schools in the village are closed, the houses and shops are locked quiet, shut forever. Lastly, the elementary school in the village was closed two years ago.

Japan's population began to decline in 2010 from its peak of 128 million. Without a drastic increase in birth rates and a growing population of migrations it is expected to fall to 108 million by 2050 and to 87 million by 2060. 

Shirakawa-go, Japan's Cultural Heritage Village

Japan is always synonymous with Tokyo, Osaka, or Sapporo. But did you know that Japan also has a tourist village that is so beautiful outside these three popular places? Introduce, Shirakawa-go!

If you intend to travel to Japan and want to experience a different kind of tourist experience, Shirakawa-go must be your choice. The tourist village of Shirakawa-go is located in Gifu prefecture, still within the main island of Japan, Honshu Island. Let's get first acquainted with this tourist village of Shirakawa-go!

#1 Japan's tourist village which is a UNESCO cultural heritage

Shirakawa-go has been named as UNESCO's cultural heritage in 1995. This tourist village is located at the foot of Mount Haku and in the Shokawa river basin so that almost 96% of the area of Shirakawa is a forest and has a magnificent natural landscape.

Geographically, this former village of Shirakawa-go belongs to an isolated and unexplored area. Not only because of its place under the foot of the mountain and surrounded by forests and mountains, but some areas of this village of Shirakawa are often covered by thick snow when the winter comes.

#2 Traditional home architecture unique and rare

The most unique and iconic of Shirakawa-go is the architectural form of its traditional houses. When you come here, you will be amazed by the traditional houses of the surrounding community that looks like the village landscape in ancient Japan.

The traditional houses in Shirakawa-go are all Gassho-zukuri style. The gassho-zukuri house model is also called the "praying house construction" because it has a sloping roof and looks like two hands in prayer. The roof of the house is made of a haystack but is very sturdy considering Shirakawa-go is always covered in thick snow during winters.

Ogimachi Village is the largest village in Shirakawa-go and at most traditional houses. The average traditional houses in Shirakawa are around 250 years old. The number of traditional homes gassho-zukuri this finally UNESCO set Shirakawa-go to the world cultural heritage sites.

#3 What can you see in Shirakawa-go?

You will be presented with the beautiful natural beauty of the surroundings and experience how to live in the countryside with unique traditional houses. In addition, you can also enjoy living in traditional Japanese houses gassho-zukuri style and will be treated to a variety of traditional Japanese food is delicious.

There are several things that are required for you to do, some of which are: Gasshozukuri Minkaen Outdoor Museum, Tajima House Museum of Silk Culture, Myozenji Temple Museum, Tenshukaku (castle keep) Observatory, Doburoku Matsuri Festival Hall, and Jin Homura Art Museum.

#4 When is the right time to visit Shirakawa-go?

Japan has 4 seasons, namely spring, summer, autumn, and snow. While Shirakawa-go is at a fairly high altitude, so this causes the four seasons are more felt.

In spring, Shirakawa-go will be filled with pink flowers Sakura blooming in various corners of the village. In summer you will be treated to warmer weather and lush landscapes. When fall, Shirakawa-go will look a little red because the leaves in the trees will turn yellow, brown, and red and many leaves are falling. While the winter comes, Shirakawa-go will be covered in thick white snow.

Then, when is the best time to visit Shirakawa-go? The answer is, whenever you want, you will still get a memorable tourist experience. Depending on you want to see Shirakawa's face during what season.

#5 Access and transport to Shirakawa

Shirakawa-go now has become one of the tourist attractions visited by many tourists, so access to get it is very easy. Shirakawa-go is located in the northwest of Gifu Prefecture. you can rent private vehicles or can also use public transportation.

If you are using a car, you can follow directions through the maps by searching "Shirakawa-go". If you choose to use the train, you can depart via Tokyo train station to Toyama railway station, then head to Shirakawa-go by bus. You can reserve a bus first to make sure when the time of departure so that you do not miss the bus departure schedule. Apart from Tokyo, you can depart from Osaka / Kyoto, Nagoya, and Tak