Gassho-Zukuri Minka-En image
audio

Gassho-Zukuri Minka-En / Shirakawa-go

Gassho-Zukuri Minka-En is an outdoor museum located in Shirakawa Village, Gifu Prefecture. In the 1930s, Shirakawa Village felt threatened by the loss of valuable gassho-zukuri minka due to relocation or leaving the village, and opened the park in 1971 to preserve these structures and culture. In the park, about 15 buildings, including nine designated as important cultural properties by Gifu Prefecture, have been relocated and preserved. These buildings are exhibited together with materials that convey the culture and traditions of Shirakawa Village. Photos of villages that disappeared as a result of mass exodus are also on display, allowing visitors to learn about the history of the region. The main buildings include the former Nakano Yoshimori Family Residence, the former Nakano Chojiro Family Residence, and the former Yamashita Yoro Family Residence. These are all wooden gabled gassho-zukuri houses with thatched roofs, and were built as the homes of village headmen. In addition to the minka, a gassho-style board house, a karawasu hut, a stable, and a rice-planting hut have also been preserved. Gassho-zukuri Minka-en is a valuable facility for passing on traditional architectural styles and lifestyle culture to future generations.


Nearby Audio Locations

Loading...