Hakusan Folk Museum
A small “village” museum where old houses were moved to for preservation. You can learn about the ancient mountain culture of Shiramine, such as ‘yakihata’ slash-and-burn farming, silk-worm raising, kimono production, and more. You can also enter a number of the old houses and admire their size and architecture.
Cultural and craft experiences are sometimes run inside one of the old houses.
Open: 9am to 4:30pm (last entry 4pm)
Closed: Thursday, Winter (December 11 to March 9)
Price:
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Adults: 260 yen
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Seniors (65+): 200 yen
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Hakusan Dinosaur Park Shiramine ticket holders (same day only): 150 yen
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High School Students and younger: free
Hakusan Dinosaur Park Shiramine
Fossils have been discovered and researched in this area for over 100 years, including dinosaur fossils. In this child-friendly facility, you can explore fossils of the world, see how fossils are made, and see real local fossils and fossil cleaning. One of the highlights of this museum is a 30-minute fossil excavation experience, where you are almost guaranteed to find a fossil to take home!
Open: 9am to 5pm (last entry 4:30pm)
Closed: Mondays (following day if Monday falls on a public holiday), Winter (End of November to end of April)
Prices:
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Museum only: 520 yen (adults), 200 yen (children)
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Excavation experience only: 550 yen (adults), 300 yen (children)
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Special entry + excavation experience set: 850 yen (adults), 400 yen (children)
Shiramine Onsen Soyu
A natural hot spring in the centre of Shiramine with indoor and outdoor baths, and a sauna and water bath. This hot spring is known for its soft feeling on the skin.
Open: 12pm to 9pm weekdays, 10am to 9pm weekends
Closed: Tuesdays (following day if Tuesday falls on a public holiday), New Years period (December 31 to January 1)
Price:
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Adults: 670 yen
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Elementary School Children: 360 yen
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Toddlers (3+): 260 yen
Discounts available for Hakusan City Residents
Tedori River Development Museum
Built in commemoration of the completion of the Tedori River Comprehensive Development Project, this museum shows the importance of water, as well as the history and nature that surrounds the Tedori River and the Tedorigawa Dam.
Open: 9am to 4:30pm
Closed: Thursday (following day if Thursday falls on a public holiday), Days following public holidays*, Winter (December to March)
Entry: Free!
Hakusan Sabo Science Museum
The upper region of the Tedori River is susceptible to heavy erosion, with a high risk of causing sediment-related disasters. In an effort to minimise this risk, the National Government has been conducting ‘sabo’ (erosion-prevention) work for over 100 years. At the Sabo Science Museum you can learn about this work, and also the connection between nature and topography.
Open: 9am to 5pm
Closed: Thursdays, New Year season (December 29 to January 3)
Entry: Free!
Hakusan Koubou
Shiramine was once one of Japan’s top three producers of silk, but today only two producers remain, with Hakusan Koubou being one of them. Here you can see how silk is produced and woven, see some beautiful examples of Ushikubi Pongee kimono, and even try your hand at weaving yourself.
[IMPORTANT] Entry is by reservation only. The below times are when reservations can be made. May close irregularly.
Open: 9am to 4pm (workshop closes 12pm to 1pm)
Closed: Weekends and public holidays
Price:
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Adults: 400 yen
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Children: 250 yen
Weaving experience
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Price: 500 yen, additional 300 yen per coaster
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Time: Approximately 20 minutes
Rinsai-ji Temple Gezan-butsu Buddhist Statues
Mt. Hakusan is one of Japan’s three sacred mountains, and was once covered by hundreds of spectacular Bhuddist statues. In 1868, when the government demanded the separation of ‘shinto’ and Buddhist religions in a movement called ‘shinbutsu bunri,’ Mt. Hakusan became a ‘shinto’ location, and the majority of the statues on the mountain were destroyed by those enforcing the new law. However, the villagers of Shiramine treasured the statues with great pride, and carried some of the more precious statues into the village to hide them.
Nowadays these statues are displayed for all to see inside the Rinsai-ji Temple. Feel the immense pride and sorrow that the villagers must have felt at the time, and be awe-inspired by the size of the statues that they carried down.
Open: 10am to 3pm (January to March), 8:30am to 4pm (April to December)
Closed: Tuesdays
Price:
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Adults: 400 yen
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Children: 200 yen
Festivals
Shiramine hosts a number of unique festivals throughout the year. Contact us for the latest information on festival dates.
Spring: Wakaba Festival. A festival to welcome spring where you can enjoy the fresh foliage and mountain vegetables of the season. Typically held on the Sunday closest to May 20.
Summer: Hakusan Festival: An ancient festival that celebrates the return of Taicho – the first monk to climb Mt. Hakusan. Enjoy mochi making, a parade of floats, local folk songs and dancing, and be blessed by the sacred water of Mt. Hakusan. Typically held on the weekend closest to July 20.
Autumn: Onsen Festival. Celebrate and enjoy the fruits of autumn with local foods and activities, among beautiful autumn colours. Discount prices for the Shiramine Hot Spring Soyu available during the event. Typically held on the first Sunday of November.
Winter: Snowman Festival. Thousands of snowmen are built throughout the village and lit up with candles. Enjoy local foods and stalls among a romantic candle-lit night. Typically held in early February.
Mt. Hakusan Hiking and Mountain Guide
Mt Hakusan is one of Japan’s three sacred mountains, and a popular hiking destination for people all across Japan. A variety of trails exist for different skill levels and interests. See here for more information.
A two-day (overnight stay in Murodo) guided tour is available from the Hakusan Shiramine Nature School, starting from 50,000 yen per group (up to 5 people). English interpretation available upon request; contact us for availability and pricing.
Hakusan Shiramine Nature School Guided Tours and Activities
The Hakusan Shiramine Nature School offers a number of activities and guided tours. Japanese tours are available most days, with English interpretation available upon request. Depending on the time of your visit, you can choose from a number of the following options.
E-bikes are available for travelling around the village for groups of up to 3 people (included in base rate). Otherwise, private vehicles can be used for groups of up to 5 people.
Base Rate (per person):
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Half-Day (Japanese only): From 8,000 yen
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Half-Day (English interpretation): From 16,000 yen
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Full-Day (Japanese only): From 15,000 yen
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Full-Day (English interpretation): From 30,000 yen
Each tour/activity price is decided case-by-case upon the contents. Accommodation and Tour packages available through YOSITAI. Discuss with us to suit your needs/budget.
1. Wasabi Farm Visit
Ishikawa Prefecture’s highest-elevation wasabi farm at the base of Mt Hakusan. Our guides will help you enjoy fresh wasabi among a natural setting by the Tedori River, inside the Hakusan National Park. You can opt to enjoy a picnic on the grounds, or even try nagashi-somen (somen noodles flowing down a bamboo pipe). The wasabi is grown in fresh spring water, which you can drink straight from the source, or use to brew delicious coffee.
Reservation required in advance. Not available in winter.
Sudden cancellation possible in the event of poor weather, etc.
2. Freshwater Fishing Experience
Freshwater fish such as iwana (char) and yamame (land-locked salmon) live in the beautiful clear streams of the Tedori River, and are replenished each year from stock. Enjoy a guided fishing trip near the village of Shiramine, or head deeper into the mountains and tributaries for a more adventurous experience.
Reservation required in advance. Available May to September.
Sudden cancellation possible in the event of poor weather, etc.
3. Camping in Ichinose
Rent camping gear and enjoy a night or two in the Ichinose Camp Grounds at the base of Mt. Hakusan. Enjoy cooking over a fire or BBQ while watching a sky full of stars. Various hiking and nature paths are available near the campground, making for a fun and relaxing stay. Rent whatever camping and cooking gear you require for your stay. Ingredients can also be purchased upon request. If coming by public transport from July to September, we recommend catching the Mt Hakusan Hiking Bus for easy access to Ichinose. See here for details.
Reservation required in advance. Available June to September.
Sudden cancellation possible in the event of poor weather, etc.
4. Traditional Snowshoe (Kanjiki) Hiking
In winter Shiramine can be covered in over 2m of snow. Traditionally, snowshoes were worn to travel between villages and hunt. Unlike most snowshoes found in the west and other parts of Japan, Shiramine snowshoes are curved for walking on steep snowy mountains. Experience how people of old travelled through the snow in this unique experience, available only in a few places throughout Japan. Hikes available from as short as 30 minutes, to as long as a half day.
Reservation required in advance. Available from January to March, however due to snow conditions may not be available at times.
Sudden cancellation possible in the event of poor weather, etc.
5. Shiramine Walking Tours
Learn about the deep history of Shiramine with a guided tour of the village, and gain a greater appreciation for the people who call Shiramine their home. Visit historical buildings and hear stories of old as you get taken to some well-known and also lesser-known sights.
Include this as part of a Hakusan Shiramine Nature School guided tour, or book a Japanese tour independently. Available daily with reservation here: まち歩きジオツアー 白峰編｜【公式】白山市観光・旅行情報サイト｜うらら白山人 (urara-hakusanbito.com).
Available year-round.
6. Slash-and-Burn Farming (Yakihata) Experience
Slash-and-burn farming is a farming technique that has been conducted in the mountains surrounding Shiramine for thousands of years. It involves rotational crop farming on mountain slopes, where vegetation is cut and burnt before each planting season. Very few people continue this practice, and it is at risk of being lost.
To help preserve this practice, we invite you to visit the various stages of farming throughout the year, helping to support the local farmers to continue this traditional practice.
You can join stages from slashing and drying vegetation, burning of the fields, tilling, planting, weeding/thinning, and harvesting, and experience a traditional mountain lifestyle. And of course, during the harvest time you can try cooking and eating fresh crops such as daikon radish from the mountains.
Reservation required in advance. Available on specific dates from June to November, depending on the planting schedule of the year. Contact us for any upcoming events you can participate in.
Sudden cancellation possible in the event of poor weather, etc.
7. Finger Millet (kamashi) Farming Experience
Shiramine doesn’t have a lot of flat land for growing crops such as rice. Instead, people in Shiramine grew grains and millets on mountain slopes using a slash-and-burn technique. Nowadays very few people continue the slash-and-burn practice, so some villagers have started growing finger millet in the village to preserve this ancient culture.
Finger millet is an aromatic millet, and is often grown in India where it is known as ragi. While in India it is often used in breads, here in Shiramine it is commonly eaten as a nutrient-rich sweet snack.
You can help join the farming experience of planting and harvesting the millet, or help to separate the millet from the husk after harvest. You can also simply try the local millet snack “kamashi-iriko” where powdered millet is mixed with hot water and sugar. Kamashi-iriko is served at Saisai and the Yukidaruma Café. You can also buy many cakes and crackers made using millet at Saisai.
8. Bhuddist Morning Prayer (Okyou)
Participate in a daily Bhuddist morning prayer session at the Shoutoku-ji Temple. Even if you don’t understand Japanese and aren’t Bhuddist, you can still find inner peace and comfort in this traditional Bhuddist practice and experience the local culture.
Reservation required in advance. Contact us for enquiries.
Many other activities and experiences can be arranged upon request. Contact us to consult options, ideas, and advice.