Shirakawa-go is a little off the beaten track, but that is why this beautiful rural town has survived the twentieth century intact. The ancient thatched roof houses are still lived in, the fields are still planted every year. This means that this World Heritage Site is so much more than a museum or a tourist attraction. It is also a living, working community. I visited at Golden Week, and spring was in full force, although I just missed most of the cherry blossom.