Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2025 shows Gassho-zukuri houses covered in snow in Shirakawa-go, Japan. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
SHIRAKAWA-GO, Japan, March 2 (Xinhua) -- When snow covers the village, the quietest and most relaxing time of the year comes to Shirakawa-go in Japan's Ono District of Gifu Prefecture, attracting global travelers to explore this beautiful traditional place.
Shirakawa-go is surrounded by towering mountains, where heavy snowfall of more than 1 meter thick in winter often causes traffic interruptions.
The harsh climate there has given birth to its unique architectural style known as "Gassho-zukuri," characterized by its steeply pitched, thatched roofs resembling a pair of hands pressed together in prayer.
A tourist has fun at an open-air museum for Gassho-zukuri in Shirakawa-go, Japan, Feb. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)
Tourists visit a Gassho-zukuri house in Shirakawa-go, Japan, Feb. 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Jia Haocheng)