Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
Shirakawago is widely known as one of the most scenic places in Japan. It is surrounded by pine tree covered mountains, and it is located along the picturesque Shokawa River. Besides the beautiful scenery, the unique Japanese thatched-roof farmhouses are the center of attraction. There are approximately 180 thatched farmhouses, sheds, and barns, and most of them were built about 200-300 years ago. The most popular village for visitors is Ogimachi which in 1995 was declared World Cultural and Heritage Site. Although it is off the beaten track, Shirakawago is well worth the visit.
This quaint little village dotted with Gassho-zukuri houses nestled in the Japanese Alps has charmed many tourists with the way it has preserved most of its traditional way of life, these villages 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.
If you want a deeper understanding of life in this land, it's best to stay overnight in such a house. Through the evening meals prepared on the hearth, the attic that becomes the bedroom, the earthen flooring, and the old-fashioned bathroom and kitchen areas, you encounter firsthand how the Japanese lived in older times. Shirakawa may be refreshing in summer, but the snow-covered winter season has its charms too. The frosty chill outside highlights the warmth in the house, and you gain an appreciation for the rustic yet rich lifestyle of this village.
This quaint little village dotted with Gassho-zukuri houses nestled in the Japanese Alps has charmed many tourists with the way it has preserved most of its traditional way of life, these villages 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.
If you want a deeper understanding of life in this land, it's best to stay overnight in such a house. Through the evening meals prepared on the hearth, the attic that becomes the bedroom, the earthen flooring, and the old-fashioned bathroom and kitchen areas, you encounter firsthand how the Japanese lived in older times. Shirakawa may be refreshing in summer, but the snow-covered winter season has its charms too. The frosty chill outside highlights the warmth in the house, and you gain an appreciation for the rustic yet rich lifestyle of this village.