If you can't score one of those coveted Shirakawa-go farmhouse stays (and let's be honest, they're super hard to get), Hirase turns out to be this perfect little backup plan. Just a quick bus ride from the famous UNESCO village, but it feels worlds away from the tourist crowds.

Staying here gives you this deep-in-the-countryside feeling that's getting harder to find in Japan. It's the kind of place where you really feel like you've ventured off the beaten path - proper inaka (rural Japan) vibes. Plus, being able to day-trip into Shirakawa-go but escape back to this quieter spot is actually kind of perfect.