This month’s world heritage of Japan …The Gassho Zukuri village of Shirakawa-Go

The wisdom to coexist with nature

Shirakawago is located in a quiet village deep in the mountains of the Gifu Prefecture which is in the center of Japan.
The distinctive architectural feature of the traditional homes of Shirakawago is the steep roof that resembles two hands joined together for prayer. This shape is created by laying wood pieces on top of the crossbeam.
This Gassho Zukuri structure is made to suit Shirakawa’s natural conditions like the heavy snow that falls during the winter.
The buildings are built to face North/South in order to minimize the wind resistance. Building the homes this way also adjusts the amount of sunlight that hits the roof, keeping the interior cool during the summer and warmer during the winter.
These homes certainly show the wisdom of the predecessors and their strategy to survive the harsh environment of Shirakawa.