Gassho-Zukuri

Shirakawa-go; Wednesday, June 14, 2006: The Gassho-Zukuri style of architecture is unique to this area of Japan. The roofs of the houses, with their thick straw thatch, are designed to hold back the incredible amount of snow that falls during the winter. Every few years, the houses need to be re-roofed in a community-supported process.