Shirakawa-gô 白川郷

“White River Village”

The history of Shirakawa-gô (village of Shirakawa), which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995, dates back to the 12th century. Most of the 1,900 inhabitants still live in the old three-to four-storey farmhouses, which are particularly striking because of their low, steep thatched roofs. This architectural style is called “kiritsuma-gasshô-zukuri”. Shirakawa-gô is located 40 km northwest of Takayama City.