Shirakawa and Gokayama are two Japanese villages located in Gifu Prefecture and Toyama Prefecture respectively, and are known for their traditional gasshō-zukuri farmhouses, many of which are more than 250 years old.
This traditional architectural style survived for hundreds of years due to the region's secluded location in the upper reaches of the Shōgawa river—a region that attracted little attention since the 12th century when it was settled by the survivors from the Taira clan which was virtually wiped out in a brutal battle in 1185. The lifestyle and culture in the villages remained practically unchanged for many years even after the majority of the country was modernised. Many of the houses here easily surpass 300 years in age, and the oldest is said to have been built some 400 years ago.
The houses are large, typically with three to four storeys encompassed between the low eaves, and historically intended to house large extended families and a highly efficient space for a variety of industries. The upper storeys of the gasshō houses were usually set aside for sericulture, while the ground floor was used for the production of nitre—one of the raw materials needed for the production of gunpowder. The first floor held the living quarters. The heat from this floor rises up to heat the upper floors where silkworms are reared. This allowed the farmers to raise silkworms even in the harsh winters. The requirement of large enclosed spaces for silkworm beds and storage of mulberry leaves was an important factor in the development of the gassho -style house.
