Shirakawa-go
UNESCO statement: “In the 8th century this area was opened as a place for ascetic religious mountain worship. Today the historic villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are outstanding examples of traditional human settlements, perfectly adapted to their environment and their social and economic raison d'être."
Shirakawa-go is a serene sweet spot nestled in the heart of Japan. A hard but elegant way of life that is very close to nature can still be seen and experienced here.
Shita Goso area of Shirakawa-go, WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
farm storage house, in new planted rice paddies, Shirakawa-go WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
spring rice planting, Shirakawa-go, Unesco World Heritage site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
gassho-zukuri style houses with high-pitched, multi-storey straw roof, Shirakawa-go WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
farmhouse entrance, Shirakawa-go WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
spring mountain vegetables, Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Myozenji Buddhist temple, about 230 years old, Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Shirakawa Hachiman Shinto shrine, Shirakawa-go, World Heritage site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Shirakawa-go Hachiman Shrine, Shirakawa-go, World Heritage site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Gassho style house c.1800, Kamitaira, Toyama prefecture, JAPAN
Gassho style houses, living museum, Unesco World Heritage site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
geta sandals at a traditional house entrance, Kamitaira, Toyama prefecture, JAPAN
traditional farm storage shed, Shirakawa-go, Unesco World Heritage site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Shirakawa-go WH site, seen from Shiroyama veiwpoint, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Saganuma village, World Heritage site, Toyama Prefecture, JAPAN
gassho-zukuri style house with high-pitched, multi-storey straw roof, Shirakawa-go WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
detail of thatched roof, Saganuma village, World Heritage site, Toyama Prefecture, JAPAN
reeds used for thatching roofs drying under eave of a farm storehouse, Shirakawa-go WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Ainokura Village, within the Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama World Heritage site, Toyama Prefecture, JAPAN
Ainokura Village, within the Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama World Heritage site, Toyama Prefecture, JAPAN
rice seedlings prepared for planting, June 1, Ainokura Village, Gokayama,Toyama Prefecture, JAPAN
farmer, Ainokura Village, Gokayama,Toyama Prefecture, JAPAN
reflection of historic houses in new planted rice field, Shirakawa-go WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
square of rice seedlings ready to plant, Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan
Handa Keiko planting rice on June 1, Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan
Handa Keiko planting rice, Shirakawa-go, Gifu, Japan
scarecrow in a field in the "Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama World Heritage site", Toyama Prefecture, JAPAN
garden of Wada house, National cultural asset, Shirakawa-go, WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
upper floor of Wada house showing lashed beam construction, National cultural asset, Shirakawa-go, WH site, Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Wada house, National cultural asset, Shirakawa-go, in the "Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama World Heritage site", Toyama Prefecture, JAPAN