By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network Editorial Team
Shirakawa-go, located north of Nagoya City in Gifu Prefecture in central Japan, is a region designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shirakawa-go has its own unique charm in every season. Aside from the dreamlike beauty of the surrounding nature, the main highlight of Shirakawa-go lies in its truly one-of-a-kind architectural design. Its uniquely slanted thatched roofs are designed to withstand the heavy snowfall of winter in this area, and this feature is known as the "gassho-zukuri" style — a distinctive and traditional architectural style typical of the region.
The golden hues of autumn in Shirakawa-go have captivated every visitor who comes here. (Image source / Toyota)
The village’s typical slanted roofs help locals endure the heavy snow of winter. (Image source / Kankou?Gifu)
The gassho-zukuri architectural design is unique to Shirakawa-go. (Image source / Wikipedia)
Shirakawa-go consists of over seventy traditional gassho-style houses, spread across three small villages: Ogimachi, Suganuma, and Shan-shirakawa. Among these, only Ogimachi boasts fifty-nine gassho-style buildings. It is truly deserving of its status as the most popular tourist destination.
Visitors here can admire the rare architecture of the area. (Image source / When On Earth)
Ogimachi is the main village of Shirakawa-go, home to fifty-nine gassho-style houses, several of which are open to visitors. (Image source / When On Earth)
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