Scenic road in central Japan

Scenic road in central Japan

Vehicles drive along the Hakusan Shirakawago White Road in Hakusan in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on June 12, 2026. The scenic road fully reopened to traffic the same day after a seven-month winter closure.

Scenic road in central Japan

Scenic road in central Japan

A car drives along the Hakusan Shirakawago White Road in Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on June 12, 2026. The scenic road fully reopened to traffic the same day after a seven-month winter closure.

Snow-covered World Heritage site in Japan

Snow-covered World Heritage site in Japan

SHIRAKAWA, Japan - A worker tries to remove snow in the Shirakawago area, a World Heritage site, in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 17, 2009. The area had 42 centimeters of snowfall as of 4 p.m., this season's heaviest, as cold air moved along the Sea of Japan coast.

Snow-covered World Heritage site in Japan

Snow-covered World Heritage site in Japan

SHIRAKAWA, Japan - Children trudge through the snow on their way home from school in the Shirakawago area, a World Heritage site, in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 17, 2009. The area had 42 centimeters of snowfall as of 4 p.m., this season's heaviest, as cold air moved along the Sea of Japan coast.

Snow-covered World Heritage site in Japan

Snow-covered World Heritage site in Japan

SHIRAKAWA, Japan - Children trudge through the snow on their way home from school in the Shirakawago area, a World Heritage site, in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 17, 2009. The area had 42 centimeters of snowfall as of 4 p.m., this season's heaviest, as cold air moved along the Sea of Japan coast. (Kyodo)

Snow-covered World Heritage site in Japan

Snow-covered World Heritage site in Japan

SHIRAKAWA, Japan - A worker tries to remove snow in the Shirakawago area, a World Heritage site, in Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 17, 2009. The area had 42 centimeters of snowfall as of 4 p.m., this season's heaviest, as cold air moved along the Sea of Japan coast. (Kyodo)