Japan is a country with many famous landscapes and attractions that attract tourists. Among them the historical village of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama are among the prominent cultural landmarks. The historic old village of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama is one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. This is one of the world cultural heritages recognized by Unesco in Japan in 1995. Let’s explore the ancient villages that still contain these interesting old Japanese culture features. .

Travel to Japan to explore the ancient villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

About the historical village of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama

Shirakawa and Gokayama are two ancient villages that are very popular with tourists because they were built in a very special architectural style, Gassho-zukuri. Gassho-zukuri in Japanese means clasped hands in prayer, one of the unique architectural styles with the roof architecture built with thatched roofs like the hands of monks sitting in prayer. These are also the two places with the most snowfall in the world, so these houses are built in the Gassho-zukuri style to resist the harshness of the natural climate here.

The houses in these two ancient villages often have a structure of 3-4 floors designed for large families to live together. The first floor is used as a floor for family activities, the next floors are used for growing mulberry and raising silkworms. This design allows farmers to grow mulberries and raise silkworms even in the harshest winters.

Shirakawa-go Village – A village with houses with unique architecture

The village consists of more than one hundred old houses that still exist to this day. Specifically, there are a total of 114 roofs adjacent to each other at the foot of Haku-san mountain in Gifu Prefecture with the Shogawa river flowing across the village along with the rice fields of the people here. Shirakawa-go (meaning Bach Giang ancient district) coming here, visitors to Japan will feel a spirit of the old Japanese people still remaining in this village until now. Visiting Shirakawa-go village , tourists will admire the small roofs in this village called Gassho-zukuri, in the style of Gassho, a design that looks like two clasped hands. to pray, a way in the popular Japanese ritual invoking the Buddha. Shirakawa-go used to be a place of practice for many hermit monks before Buddhism was popularized in Japan combined with Tantric…

Shirakawa-go Village – A village with houses with unique architecture

The roofs of the old village of Shirakawa-go are covered with thatched grass, which is about 50cm thick. These roofs also simulate images of praying hands. The purpose of building those images is both religious and to cover up the fury of nature like blizzards. The houses in the village are built in the north or south direction to avoid the wind, in the winter, the houses become warm and cool in the summer. The roofs here are almost sloped so that rain and snow can fall directly to the ground, not to be deposited on the roof. Mountains and forests occupy up to 96% of the land in both the ancient villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, so the daily life of the people here is difficult and strenuous with only 4% of cultivated land. cultivation.

Gokayama Village – Discover the culture and life of the ancient Japanese

Not as crowded as Shirakawa-go Village , Gokayama Village is less developed and not as crowded as Shirakawa-go. The farmers’ villages in this region are smaller, more isolated, and there are very few modern houses in the area. Visitors to Gokayama village will have the opportunity to visit many small villages, of which Suganuma village and Ainokura village are said to be the most beautiful villages in Gokayama village.

Suganuma Village includes the likes of Suganuma Village and Gokayama Gassho no Sato. Many of the gassho-zukuri houses in Suganuma today have become small museums that can be visited by tourists on a tour of Japan . It displays images of the daily life of farmers, the washi paper industry and the gunpowder industry still being maintained here. At Gokayama Gassho no Sato, on the other side of the tunnel, there are still a number of traditional gassho-zukuri houses that have been re-planned as accommodation for groups of students, students of the schools can come and eat and spend time together. Experience the culture and life of the people of Gokayama.

Located deep in the valley, Ainokura is the most remote of the old villages in the Gokayama region. It is also the largest village in the region with nearly 20 gassho-zukuri houses.

Where to Stay in Shirakawa Go and Gokayama

For this tour of Japan to experience more depth and a peaceful pace of life in the two ancient villages of Shirakawa Go and Gokayama, you can spend the night in a charming rural setting at one of the The oldest village in Japan. In the early evenings and early mornings, you can almost feel like you are in your very own villages.
Many of the village’s old houses have been converted into simple minshuku, providing a truly tranquil and remote Japanese experience. Most minshuku are run by lovely local couples who love to showcase their culture and cuisine to intrepid travelers from around the world. tourism. Expect rooms with simple tatami mats, a shared toilet and bath, and modest (but delicious) light meals with local and seasonal ingredients.

An interesting travel experience in Japan when visiting the ancient villages of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama will be an interesting experience that you must have never experienced before. Coming here, visitors will discover the ancient culture of the Japanese people, being immersed in a peaceful and gentle life will help you have a pleasant feeling to be able to discover all the beauties of the place. This.

Posted Date: December 26, 2022