Three Villages

Snowbound Villages Embraced by Mt. Hakusan

　Shirakawa-go and the Gokayama region lie in a deep mountainous area centered on Mt. Hakusan, which rises to an elevation of 2,702 meters. In addition, they are among the snowiest regions in Japan.
　At the heart of this region flows the Sho River, which originates in the mountains to the south and runs northward into the Sea of Japan, winding through ranges of around 1,500 meters and carving deep valleys as it goes.
　Because of the steep terrain, most villages in this area are built on the limited flatlands formed along the Sho River basin.
The three villages of Ogimachi, Ainokura, and Suganuma, which are registered as World Heritage sites, are such settlements.