Nagase house

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama_2015

The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama.
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Located in a mountainous region that was cut off from the rest of the world for a long period of time, these villages with their Gassho-style houses subsisted on the cultivation of mulberry trees and the rearing of silkworms. The large houses with their steeply pitched thatched roofs are the only examples of their kind in Japan. Despite economic upheavals, the villages of Ogimachi, Ainokura and Suganuma are outstanding examples of a traditional way of life perfectly adapted to the environment and people's social and economic circumstances.


Houses built in the gassho style are defined as having a roof in the shape of a triangle, similar to hands folded in prayer. In the multilayer structure, the 3rd and 4th floors are particularly characteristic as they demonstrate the wisdom of the farmers who are able to raise silkworms even in the harsh winters. The area for the silkworms is up in the attic where the heat from the first floor, filled with people and activity, rises up. The roof has an impressive slope of 60° to allow the heavy snow (sometimes as much as 4 meters) to slide off more easily.

1ST stop_ Ainokura Village where 24 houses stand against a background of mountains.

2nd stop_Kaminashi where we viewed the 400 year old Murakami House. Bought the sasara instrument and a lion dance in spring.

Lastly Ogimachi__Visited Wada House, the largest house in this village.
Trudged uphill to the viewing area for a postcard shot of Shirakawa-go Ogimachi village where 59 houses are clustered. This upland vantage point is perfect for a panoramic view of the Gassho-style village in the verdure of spring.