Kanda house, Museum in a traditional house in Shirakawa Village, Japan
Kanda House is a traditional Japanese dwelling in the gassho style, located in Shirakawa Village in Gifu Prefecture. Its most visible feature is the steeply pitched thatched roof, built to shed the heavy winter snow common in this mountain area.
The house was built around 1850, and handwritten notes from the carpenter can still be found on the roof frame, confirming the careful work of that period. After settling here, the Kanda family established a small brewery on the property, which became a central part of their livelihood.
The house takes its name from the Kanda family, who split from another local household, the Wadas, to settle here independently. Walking through the rooms, visitors can see how the interior was organized around everyday family life, with spaces for both living and small-scale production.
The house is in the Ogimachi area and can be reached on foot from the Shirakawago Bus Terminal in a few minutes. It is generally closed on Wednesdays, except when that day falls on a public holiday, so it is worth planning your visit accordingly.
Beneath the floor of the house, there was once a hidden space used for making gunpowder, pointing to an unexpected side of daily life for this family. QR codes placed on the walls also give instant explanations of the tools and building details inside, so visitors can explore at their own pace.
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