there are two small villages in gokayama (五箇山) named ainokura (相倉) and suganuma (菅沼).  both villages are UNESCO world heritage sites for the same reasons as shirakawa-go (白川郷), the houses’ unique architecture called gassho zukuri.  there are 20 such houses in ainokura and only nine in the tiny village of suganuma, the oldest of which dates back 1830.

this architectural style is called gassho zukuri (合掌造り) and serves the purpose of shedding and supporting the immense weight caused by the over 4 meters (13 feet) of snowfall averaged in this area of japan.  seeking to preserve its unique architecture called gassho zukuri (合掌造り), the villages of ogimachi (荻町) in shirakawa-go, and ainokura (相倉) and suganuma (菅沼) in gokayama (五箇山) were inscribed into the UNESCO world heritage list in 1995.

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i really liked these houses from the minute i set foot in the village of ogimachi (荻町) in shirakawa-go (白川郷).  set in the shogawa (庄川) river valley in gifu prefecture (岐阜県) north of nagoya (名古屋), shirakawa-go is a village where houses with a unique style of architecture can be found.  this architectural style is called gassho zukuri (合掌造り) and serves the purpose of shedding and supporting the immense weight caused by the over 4 meters (13 feet) of snowfall averaged in this area of japan.  seeking to preserve its unique architecture called gassho zukuri (合掌造り), the villages of ogimachi (荻町) in shirakawa-go, and ainokura (相倉) and suganuma (菅沼) in gokayama (五箇山) were inscribed into the UNESCO world heritage list in 1995.

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i decided to take a stroll in the less visited part of town with a friend of mine.  he didn’t want to go alone for safety reasons, but i figured it shouldn’t be a problem in japan.  ;)

i hope their fortune is a good one.

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this world famous zen garden at ryoan-ji temple (龍安寺) is thought to be the epitome of zen art.  the garden consists of 15 rocks and white gravel arranged in such a way that all 15 moss-covered rocks cannot be seen at the same time.  only through enlightenment could such a feat be achieved.  the garden’s minimalist approach creates a wide set of interpretations depending on the viewer.  however a popular one is tora-no-ko watashi (虎の子渡し), meaning tiger cub passage.  whatever your interpretation of the garden at this UNESCO world heritage site in kyoto, you will be instantly impacted by its beauty and serenity.

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founded in 888, ninna-ji temple (仁和寺) serves as the head temple of the omuro school of shinto buddhism.  because ninna-ji temple’s head priest is a member of the imperial family, this world heritage site is also called omuro gosho (御室御所).  located in the northwestern part of kyoto, it is best to visit ninna-ji during the fall or spring.

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