Historic villiage Shirakawa-go in winter’s deep snow

Shirakawa-go is probably the most beautiful in the winter, covered in deep snow.  Watch the above and below videos of Shirakawa-go in all of its winter splendor.  The forested mountains still occupy 96% of the land in the area and are home to some of the deepest snowfall in Japan.

The historic village of Shirakawa-go is one of Japan’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  Located in the Shogawa river valley in central Japan, it is located in the villiage of Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture.  Surrounded by rugged and high mountains of the Chubu region of central Japan, these villages were remote and isolated and access was difficult for a long period of time.  The village has existed since the 11th century.

The village is well known for houses that are constructed in an architectural style known as gassho-zukuri (prayer-hands construction) which is characterized by a thatched and steeply slanting roof the resembles two hands joined in prayer.  These houses in Shirakawa-go and also Gokayama are the only examples of their kind in Japan.  This design allows the houses to withstand the weight the heavy snowfalls in winter that occur in the region.

Shirakawa-go in Winter Snow

Image: By astrange – CC BY-SA 3.0

Myozenji Temple Shirakawa-go

Image: By tsuda – CC BY-SA 2.0

Map location of Shirakawa-go

Planning on visiting Shirakawa-go?  You might want to stay the night and experience a Japanese Minshuku.  The farmhouse inns in Shirakawa-go provide a traditional Japanese experience. The Japanese Guest Houses website provides some options for your consideration.