Shirakawa-go is an old village in central Japan, surrounded by mountains. It was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
In the past, reaching the village required multiple transfers. Today, convenient transportation makes it easily accessible to visitors from around the world.
The village is renowned for its well-preserved layout and its unique gassho-zukuri houses. These steep thatched roofs, supported entirely by wooden beams without a single nail, have withstood centuries of heavy snow.
The villagers work together to regularly rethatch the roofs, which is a tradition captured in many old photographs. This spirit of cooperation, known as “yui”, reflects a form of communal wisdom that has sustained the village through generations.
Planner: SHEN Zhengrong
On-Camera & Script: QIAN Yingying
