Anime location
Ogimachi village, Shirakawa-go
The World Heritage village that is the model for Hinamizawa. Thatched farmhouses in a valley, and people live in them.
A valley village of steep thatched gassho-zukuri farmhouses, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Several houses are open as museums; the rest are private homes, farms and businesses. The layout, the shrine, the paddies and the suspension bridge over the Shogawa river all appear in the series.
Why it is worth it
It is one of the most striking villages in Japan and it looks like the work because the work looked like it. Winter, when the roofs are under snow, is the closest to the series.
When to go
Very busy in daytime, especially in autumn and during winter illuminations. Early morning and evening are quiet.
Good to know
The rules exist because of visitor behaviour: no drones, no parking on the verges after 17:00, and no entering private ground, gardens or farm plots. Do not photograph residents or through windows. Staying overnight in one of the farmhouse inns is the best way to see the village once the day visitors leave.
Higurashi: When They Cry
The model for Hinamizawa. A lived-in World Heritage village.
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