The charm of the UNESCO World Heritage "Gassho" style—A fairytale in every season ~ Shirakawa-go

Upon disembarking the bus in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, one is immediately drawn to the thatched-roof wooden structures of the Gassho houses. Your gaze lingers on these crystallizations of human ingenuity. These centuries-old Gassho houses were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Maintenance is now managed by the Japanese government and the World Heritage organization, relieving residents of the burden of thatched roof repairs. Over half of the more than one hundred buildings function as tourist-oriented guesthouses, restaurants, and souvenir shops. It’s believed that the stunning Gassho-style settlement will remain preserved for a long time to come.

A Gassho house (Gassho-zukuri) refers to a uniquely Japanese style of residential architecture, characterized by its thatched, gabled roofs that resemble hands pressed together in prayer—hence the name. The structure is made entirely of wood, using no nails yet remaining extremely sturdy. The steeply pitched roof allows snow to slide off easily, preventing the heavy winter snowfall from collapsing the roof. Every three to four decades, the thatch must be replaced. Before its inscription as a World Heritage site, whenever a Gassho house needed rethatching, the entire village would climb onto the roof together to pass thatch and secure it in a cooperative effort—this practice is called “yui” (meaning “bond” or “mutual aid”).