Shirakawa-go is a quiet village located in the northwestern part of Gifu Prefecture, Japan, at the foot of Mount Hakusan. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Legend has it that in 1185 AD, the two major Japanese forces, the Genji clan and the Hira clan, fought a final decisive battle in Tanpu, and the defeated Hei clan was forced to flee to the desolate and cold mountains, and thus established Shirakawa Township here.
Located deep in the mountains, it is cold and snowy, and the whole village is often trapped in heavy wind and snow.
Although the environmental conditions are harsh, the long years of life have also made them gradually adapt to the climate here. They created a unique house structure according to the local environmental conditions - the Apsara House.
The Aikiboya, as the name suggests, is a house that looks like the tips of two palms together. Such houses are often very steep on tops, which reduces the weight of the snow.
Its biggest feature is that it does not use a single nail in the construction, and the unique technique makes it very strong enough to withstand the attack of wind and snow, even if it encounters earthquakes or heavy wind and rain, it can remain intact.
Shirakawa Township has developed from the Edo period to the present day, and has become a very beautiful small village.
The roof thatch had to be replaced every thirty to forty years. The replacement of thatch is difficult to complete in any case, so the villagers often help each other and complete it together, which is also a unique bond of Shirakawa villagers.