Shirakawa-Go Town, Japan

Shirakawa-go is one of the few Japanese towns, which for hundreds of years has been maintaining its historic charm. This place is home to about 1 600 people; its area is ​​356 square km. The main feature of the town is its unique architecture. You can see small houses of local residents even today. Buildings are exactly the same as 200 years ago.

Shirakawa-go is one of the snowiest places in the country. The town is surrounded by mountains, so it is not easy to get there in the cold season. A significant portion of the local population throughout the history is engaged in agriculture. In summer, you can enjoy the extensive rice fields. In recent years, the old town is visited by many tourists, which has led to the development of tourism infrastructure. In total, the town embraces about 60 houses. A few years ago, the place was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

The first mentions of a small village in the area belong to the 12th century. For many years, it has remained in complete isolation due to the lack of roads. Largely due to this, Shirakawa-Go has preserved its specific character. The main symbols of the town are its unique houses that the locals build using improvised materials, hazel twigs and hemp ropes. These constructions have very unusual roofs; the tilt angle can reach 60 degrees. Such a form is chosen not by chance; there are frequent snowfalls in winter. Other roof structure may simply not withstand the weight of snow. Next - Cemoro Lawang Town