Open-Air Museum Gassho-style Farmhouses

Overview

Shirakawa-go's Gassho-style Farmhouses Open-Air Museum is a living testament to the preservation of these precious structures. Many gassho-style houses were lost due to depopulation and abandonment in the 1950s and 60s. This museum relocated approximately 15 houses, including nine designated as Gifu Prefecture Important Cultural Properties, to recreate the atmosphere of the village as it once was. Here, you can truly immerse yourself in the traditional life and culture of Shirakawa Village. Gassho-style architecture is characterized by its steeply pitched roofs, a design born out of necessity to withstand the harsh winters of the snowy Shirakawa-go region. The steep angle allows for easy snow accumulation and ensures the roof can bear the weight. The beams supporting the roof are entirely wooden, with minimal use of nails. This is to prevent the nails from interfering with the expansion and contraction of the wood. The museum features not only farmhouses, but also a variety of structures used for different purposes, including board-and-plank storehouses (itakura), rice-pounding sheds (togyusugoya), stables, rice-drying sheds (inagawa-goya), shrines, and temples. Exploring these buildings allows you to vividly imagine the daily lives and work of the people of Shirakawa-go in the past. The museum also houses "Sobadoujo," a soba (buckwheat noodle) restaurant. You can savor handmade soba noodles made with locally sourced flour. Soba has been an integral part of Shirakawa-go's culinary tradition and daily life for generations. The simple yet profound flavor of the soba at Sobadoujo reflects the rich natural beauty of Shirakawa-go. Shirakawa-go's Gassho-style Farmhouses Open-Air Museum offers a precious opportunity to connect with the beautiful landscape and rich traditional culture of Shirakawa-go. Come and experience the history and culture for yourself!