Shirakawa-go Gassho Village: A UNESCO World Heritage Site

In 1995, the Ogimachi area of Shirakawa-go was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The fairytale-like scenery of the Gassho-style houses covered in thick snow during winter is truly breathtaking, making it one of Japan's most famous villages. The Gassho-style houses are also a symbol of Shirakawa-go's World Heritage status. Due to the building materials used, they are very difficult to preserve. Here, villagers voluntarily organize and conduct fire prevention equipment management and patrols three times a day to remind everyone to be mindful of fire safety. We hope that tourists visiting Shirakawa-go can also help local residents in protecting this heritage site.