๐๏ธ Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama
Three preserved gassho-zukuri farmhouse villages in Gifu and Toyama Prefectures, Japan
๐ Fast Facts
- Location: Gifu and Toyama Prefectures, Japan
- Villages: Ogimachi (Shirakawa-gล), Ainokura and Suganuma (Gokayama)
- Architecture: Gassho-zukuri farmhouses with steeply pitched thatched roofs
- UNESCO inscription: 1995
The Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are three preserved settlements in the mountainous regions of Gifu and Toyama Prefectures, Japan, that retain traditional gassho-zukuri farmhouse architecture developed during the 18th century. The villages were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 in recognition of their exceptional preservation of a way of life adapted to a harsh mountain environment with heavy snowfall and challenging terrain. As of 2026, all three villages ...