白川郷‐合掌造り村

白川郷‐合掌造り村 Shirakawa-go is located in village of Shirakawa, Gifu Prefecture,Japan. This Historic Villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are one of Japan`s UNESCO World Heritage Sides.Another side,The Gokayama (五箇山, "Five Mountains") area is divided between the former villages of Kamitaira and Taira in Nanto, Toyama Prefecture.


These villages are well known for their houses constructed in architectural style known as gassho-zukuri (合掌造り). The Gassho-zukuri, "prayer-hands construction" style is characterized by a thatched and steeply slanting roof resembling two hands joined in prayer. The design is exceptionally strong and, in combination with the unique properties of the thatching, allow the houses to withstand and shed the weight of the region's heavy snowfalls in winter.