Taxi Sightseeing: A Deeper Look into Shirakawa City #1

There are lots of different ways to sightsee, but one method many people probably haven’t tried before is taxis. Taxi Sightseeing, offered by Shirakawa Kanko Kotsu Co., Ltd. in Shirakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture, is a service for just that―taxis designated specifically for sightseeing around the city and its surroundings.

Shirakawa City is located between Tokyo and Sendai, just 1.5 hours from Tokyo by bullet train. It is at the southern end of Fukushima Prefecture, bordering Tochigi Prefecture, and it is historically known as the “gateway to the Tohoku region.” While it has a number of sightseeing spots, cultural heritages, and National Historic Sites, there is a lack of accessible public transportation services such as trains or buses throughout the city. This is where Taxi Sightseeing comes in handy.

In early December, a coworker and I took a trip to Shirakawa City to try out this Taxi Sightseeing service. There were three courses to choose from: two hours, three hours, and six hours. I went on the two-hour course, while my coworker took part in the three-hour course. After arriving at Shin-Shirakawa Station, we convened with our respective taxi drivers and began our tours.

Inside the ticket gates at Shin-Shirakawa Station. Gateway to Tohoku: The Shirakawa Barrier Site The first stop on my tour was the Shirakawa Barrier Site, which is about a 20-minute drive from Shin-Shirakawa Station. En route, I chatted with the driver and learned that he is from Aizu, a popular tourist destination nearby. He told me about the differences between Aizu and Shirakawa, on topics ranging from history to weather. He also mentioned that the best times to visit both areas are spring and autumn, when the cherry blossoms and autumn foliage are in full vigor, respectively. Unfortunately, my visit didn’t coincide with either of these, so I didn’t get to see the full beauty of the nature, but even so the area is calm and quiet, and the air is fresh and clean.

The main entrance to the Shirakawa Barrier Site. The Shirakawa Barrier Site, my driver told me, is the remains of a checkpoint along the ancient Tosando Route, and it was used by travelers going from the Kanto region to Tohoku and vice versa. It also served as a holding point during battles and skirmishes, and the dry moats that were used to keep enemies at bay can still be seen there today.

One of the dry moats of the Shirakawa Barrier Site. Eventually, after losing its functionality as a border checkpoint, the Shirakawa Barrier became a cultural focal point, and cultural figures from urban areas often visited. It came to be known as a popular place for waka poetry, and even today there are still a number of stone slabs with inscriptions carved into them, though time has worn them down and made them difficult to read.

One of several stone inscriptions at the Shirakawa Barrier Site. The Shirakawa Barrier Site is also a designated National Historic Site, and there are several boards with English information placed around the grounds. In addition to explaining the significance of the monuments at the site, my driver also told me how the history of the site still impacts culture today. For example, locals in the area often use the phrase, “Shirakawa no seki wo koerarenakatta,” or “I couldn’t get past the Shirakawa Barrier,” meaning that they didn’t manage to succeed at a challenge they had undertaken.

There are a number of natural monuments at the Shirakawa Barrier Site as well, including a massive, 800-year-old cedar tree known as Ju-nii no sugi and a cherry tree across the road called the Shoji modoshi no sakura, which has a sad backstory and is accompanied by a monument for the dead.

Ju-nii no sugi, an 800-year-old cedar tree.

Shoji modoshi no sakura cherry tree and monument for the dead. Check out the link below to reserve a tour or get more information on Taxi Sightseeing in Shirakawa City.

https://taxi.wowu.jp/shirakawa/book

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