An Alpine village in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Japan
A stunning village of houses and shrines
Shirakawa-Go is a mountain village in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. We took the train up through the mountains to Takayama, where we stayed. Next day we took a bus to Shirakawa-Go. It was already lightly snowing in late October. The leaves had been turning their fall colors, making for a stunning setting against the snowy mountains.
These houses are remarkable with their thatched roofs that measure several feet thick. The steep pitch keeps snow from accumulating, while their east-west orientation allows for exposure to the most winter sunlight. The architectural style is believed to be inspired by praying hands. Said to be around 300 years old, these structures are referred to as gassho-style. Made without nails, the attics are kept warm through the cold winters by using an open floor plan, leaving gaps in the wood planks to allow the heat from the hearth to rise. This keeps it warm enough for their silkworms to survive and produce.
While being a Unesco World Heritage Site, this remains an active village. Houses are separated by rice fields, gardens, and canals from the Sho River. A visitor can walk this small village quite easily.
What a charming place! I love such quiet, traditional sites.
Thanks for sharing. I have never been to Japan (and Asia in general). Yet ;)
You're welcome. I hope to go again next year, this time to the mountain towns north of Tokyo. My wife is from Japan, so it helps to have a tour guide! I've wanted to see all the fantastic temples and shrines, so that is what we have mostly visited so far.