When everyone's rushing to Shirakawa-go, they might be missing the real gem - Gokayama. It's like Shirakawa-go's quieter, more authentic little sibling. We're talking about those same incredible gassho-zukuri farmhouses with their massive prayer-hands roofs, but without the tourist buses and crowds.

The fact that it's more remote actually worked in its favor - these 300-year-old houses have stayed preserved partly because they're harder to get to. While Shirakawa-go gets all the Instagram fame, Gokayama keeps it real with a more authentic vibe, still holding onto that traditional lifestyle that earned it UNESCO status alongside its more famous neighbor.

Now, it might not be as easy to get to. If you have a car, great. We didn't, so we skipped it. Shirakawa-go was good enough for us.