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Nagase House / Shirakawa-go

The Nagase House in Shirakawa-go is one of the traditional Gassho-zukuri style houses and a symbol of the history and culture of Shirakawa-go, playing an important role in conveying the life and history of the area to visitors. The history of the Nagase family dates back to the Edo period. The family originally prospered as a merchant family dealing in medicines and also played a role in supporting local medical care. The head of the Nagase family has been preparing and selling medicines for generations, protecting the health of the people of Shirakawa-go. The large gassho-zukuri roofs were designed to withstand the severe snowfall, a construction technique unique to snow country. Inside the building, tools and furniture that remind us of the lifestyle of the time remain, including a large earthen floor on the first floor, where daily life and business were conducted. A sunken hearth was an indispensable place to keep warm in winter. The Nagase family also had a large attic on the second and third floors, where sericulture was conducted. The gassho-zukuri style of Shirakawa-go is closely associated with sericulture, and the large attic space provided the perfect environment for raising silkworms. The Nagase House is still open to the public today, allowing tourists to tour the interior. Visitors can get a close-up look at the traditional architectural style and lifestyle of the time. Especially during the winter season, visitors can enjoy the beautiful sight of Gassho-zukuri covered with snow. The Nagase House is one of the most valuable architectural structures in Shirakawa-go, conveying the history and culture of the area to the present.


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