Shirakawa, Mountain village in Ono District, Japan
Shirakawa is a mountain village in Ono District, Gifu Prefecture, spreading across the forested slopes of the Ryohaku Mountains. The settlement sits in a narrow valley between high peaks that disappear under thick snow layers in winter.
The settlement began in the 12th century as a remote refuge for a defeated warrior clan from the Taira family. The village received its official status in 1889 and evolved over centuries with minimal changes to its building methods.
The steep thatched roofs of the farmhouses once sheltered silkworms in the upper floors while families lived below. Residents maintained these roofs together and renewed them at regular intervals through communal work.
The approach follows highways from Takayama or Kanazawa, with buses reaching the village several times daily. A winter visit requires warm clothing and waterproof shoes because of deep snow on the paths.
Farmers built their houses without a single nail, connecting the wooden beams only through precise cuts and wedging. This technique allowed the buildings to be taken apart when needed and rebuilt in another location.
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