The UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Gassho-zukuri house villages are situated in the areas of Ainokura and Suganuma in Gokayama and Ogimachi in Shirakawa-go. This method of roof construction is specific to the region. In the past, there were approximately 1850 Gassho-zukuri houses; however, their number has fallen significantly since the wars in line with economic development and the modernisation of the lives of Japanese people. Fewer than 200 examples of this precious architecture can now be found in the three areas, which provide a glimpse of the landscape of Japan in the olden days.
 
Gokayama Gokayama
The unique look of the houses was derived from the culture and knowledge of the people who lived in the harsh environment of the snowy region. While thatched-roof houses can also be seen in other regions of Japan, the steepness of their roofs makes the houses here unique. Snow falls easily off the steeply pitched roofs and they also provide additional space to create attic rooms for sericulture, which was formerly the main source of income for the villagers who were unable to grow rice due to the lack of flat ground in the region. The thatching used for the roofs is rich in oil, making it durable against rain, and the thick piles of thatch help to keep the heat out, maintaining a pleasant environment inside the houses during the summer and winter respectively. The villages offer a precious opportunity to see in person such well-designed architecture full of the knowledge and skills of Japanese people from the past.
 
Shirakawa-go Shirakawa-go