In 1995, the Historic Villages of Shirakawa-Go and
Gokayama were inscribed in the World Heritage Centre
as a cultural site in Japan. Located in the mountainous
regions of the Gifu and Toyama prefectures, these
villages are recognized for their Gassho-styled
farmhouses. The best examples of these houses are in
Ogimachi, Ainokura, and Suganuma. Some of the
farmhouses that reside in these areas are over 250 years
old.
The Gassho architectural design refers to the way a
person puts their hands together with the palms facing
inward, also known as “prayer hands”. The thatched
roofs, made without nails, were meant to survive heavy
snowfall and provide enough space to work through the
winter. The abundant attic space allowed the villagers to
cultivate silkworms. The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-
Go and Gokayama are a representation of a traditional
way of life that has adapted to their area.
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-Go and Gokayama
illustrate the traditional ways of human settlement and
how these complex farmhouses attested to time. For this
reason, the villages were declared a World Heritage Site.
Since the drastic architectural changes from 1950, the
area around the Gassho-style farmhouses has made no
significant change to its roads, canals, and land use.
Today, visitors have the opportunity to stay overnight in
one of these traditional Gassho-styled farmhouses.
