A Scenic Mountain Drive Surrounded by Majestic Nature
The Hakusan Shirakawago White Road is a scenic mountain toll road stretching about 33.3 km, connecting Hakusan City in Ishikawa Prefecture with Shirakawa Village in Gifu Prefecture, home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Shirakawago.
The route winds through mountainous terrain at elevations between 600-1,400 meters, offering sweeping views of Mount Hakusan, one of Japan’s Three Sacred Mountains (together with Mount Fuji and Mount Tateyama).
Along the way, travelers can enjoy diverse landscapes of steep valleys, rushing rivers, and cascading waterfalls.
One of the greatest attractions of the White Road is the many viewpoints and waterfall spots scattered along the route.
Among them, Ubagataki Waterfall is especially famous.
Selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls, it cascades down a broad rock face 76 meters high and 11 meters wide, creating a powerful curtain of water.
Near the waterfall, visitors can relax at a traditional ashiyu (foot bath), soaking their feet in warm spring water while listening to the sound of falling water and feeling the fresh mountain air.
The roadside scenery includes lush beech forests and clusters of delicate alpine flowers, which change their colors and appearance with the seasons.
In autumn, the mountainsides glow with brilliant shades of red and gold, making the road one of the region’s best-known spots for Japanese autumn foliage.
From the observation decks, you can gaze across the Northern Japan Alps, and on clear days even catch a distant view of the Sea of Japan.
These scenic viewpoints are also popular photography spots.
The road is open only from mid-June to early November each year and is closed during winter due to heavy snowfall.
For travelers, it is a much-loved route where you can experience the grandeur of Japan’s mountain landscapes in comfort while driving.
Photos courtesy of Hakusan City Tourism Association
