Within the Ogi-machi area of Shirakawa Village, the center of the heritage site, there are 117 kayabuki thatch-roofed houses built in the Gassho- style; “gassho” meaning hands held in an “A” form, as if in prayer.
By living in this particularly heavily snow-bound area, the people became very hardy. The villagers of each neighborhood also developed a special system of mutual co-operation called “Yui.” The Yui system continues to this day, and is most conspicuous when the thatchedroofs need replacing.

Location: Shirakawa Village, Ono County

Access: About 40 minutes from JR Takayama Station by car