local inhabitants turning their homes into hostels, gift shops and parking lots, which in turn has endangered its World Heritage status. There is also a fear growing that the change to catering to tourists will harm the charm of the area's simplicity and fundamental Japanese scenery. Education Shirakawa has one combined public elementary/junior high school operated by the village government. The town village does not have a high school. Transportation Railway Shirakawa village does not have any passenger railway service. Highway Tōkai-Hokuriku Expressway Sister city relations - Alberobello, Apulia, Italy, since March 3, 2005. Local attractions The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-gō and Gokayama are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites Wadake Home—the largest gasshō-zukuri in the area Shirakawa-gō Hirase Onsen (designated as a "national recuperation onsen") Miboro dam, Lake Miboro Hida Tunnel Hakusan Rindō (hiking path) , famous for its fall colors; 30 minutes away by foot is the Kōsō wetlands, also famous Shirakawa Hachiman Shrine, where every October 14–15, the Doburoku Festival, famous for its Nigorizake, is held Gallery In popular culture The village of Hinamizawa in , a popular Japanese murder mystery dōjin soft visual novel series, is heavily based on Shirakawa, with many local landmarks clearly recognizable. In Gosho Aoyama's Detective Conan, Onizawa village from episodes 348-349, is modeled from real life Shirakawa. The final issue of Uncanny X-Force Vol. 1 opens with Wolverine visiting Shirakawa. The village of Minasato in the kemono visual novel Morenatsu (summer vacation) is based heavily off of Shirakawa. Access Kaetsunō Bus Shirakawa-go Bus Terminal World Heritage Site Bus is run by this company from Takaoka Station (Toyama) via Shin-Takaoka Station. See also Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama Gokayama References External links Shirakawa official website (some English content) UNESCO entry on Shirakawa-go and Gokayama Information related to Shirakawa-go on the official Gifu tourism website shirakawa-go.gr World Heritage Sites in Japan Villages in Gifu Prefecture