The original landscape of Japan and the spirit of "unity" of mutual help that still remains strong today [Shirakawa-go

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Source: Tourism Promotion Division, Shirakawa Village Office
The bonds of mutual support among villagers, known as "Yui," and the original Japanese landscape still remain strong in Shirakawa-go, reminding us of the symbiosis with nature and human connections that people have forgotten.

In 1976, the beautiful scenery of the Gassho-Zukuri Village was recognized and selected as a national Important Preservation Area for Groups of Traditional Buildings, and in 1995, together with Gokayama in Toyama Prefecture, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (cultural heritage) as the "Gassho-Zukuri Village of Shirakawa-go and Gokayama.
In spring, when the rice paddies are flooded, you can see the upside-down gassho-zukuri.
No matter what time of year you visit, you will be charmed by the four seasons, but Shirakawa-go is one of the most heavily snow-covered areas in Japan. In winter, Shirakawa-go is completely covered with snow, but it is also the season when the beauty of Shirakawa-go stands out. Every year around January and February, the village is lit up with lights, creating a fantastic sight of Gassho-zukuri houses floating vaguely in the snow.
Fantastic winter lights
Shirakawa-go, which retains many such gassho-zukuri buildings, is not only a tourist destination that attracts many visitors from Japan and abroad, but also a place where local people actually live. Life in Shirakawa-go has long been based on mutual help and cooperation between households. That is why the village values the spirit of "Yui". Yui" means mutual support. Blowing down the thatched roofs of the gassho-zukuri is also a joint effort by the entire village. In such a harsh natural environment, where the village can be snowbound for months at a time, living means helping each other.

By experiencing life in Shirakawa-go, one can rediscover the importance of "people helping each other" and "human connections" that modern people have almost forgotten.
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