Shirakawa-go is located in the northwest of Gifu Prefecture, near the center of Japan. "Shirakawa-go" is a traditional regional name that has been used since ancient times, and the current administrative unit uses the name "Shirakawa-mura". In addition, the wide traditional region including Shirakawa-go is called "Hida", and the collective name "Hida Shirakawa-go" is still used today.

Shirakawa-go is a typical mountain village surrounded by steep mountains. 96% of the village is forested, and farmland accounts for only 0.4%. There are Hakusan National Park, Tensei Prefectural Natural Park, etc. in the village, and there are many natural landscapes that have been preserved since ancient times. In the Hida area, villages are located in the steep areas of mountain folds, and the Sho River flows through the gaps of steep slopes like sewing folds, forming villages in the basin.

The biggest feature of Shirakawa-go's climate is that it is one of the most snowy areas in Japan. It snows from December to March every year, and the accumulated snow reaches 2 to 3 meters (the highest snow record is 4.5 meters). In the past, Shirakawa-go was also called "the isolated island of land" and "the secret place" because it is located in the mountains and the heavy snow in winter cuts off the communication with the surrounding areas.

The oldest human traces found in Shirakawa-go are believed to be relics from 7000 BC to 2300 BC. In addition, many earthenwares have been excavated, and from those earthenwares, traces unique to the Hida region and signs of communication with the surrounding areas can be found.

Then, a mirror estimated to be around 600 AD was unearthed, and a document around 700 AD was found that was believed to be related to Shirakawa-go, but it has not been confirmed.

The name Shirakawa-go clearly appeared in history in 1176. Since it was written in the diary of a noble living in Kyoto, it is believed that the name was already widely used at that time. After that, it has appeared many times in Japanese history, creating history one by one.

The Gassho-zukuri houses that are now the characteristic of Shirakawa-go originated around 1700 (Edo period) when silkworm breeding and gunpowder production were popular in the village, and became the current form around 1800.

The tourist area of ​​Shirakawa-go can be divided into two parts, the "World Heritage Area" centered on the Ogimachi Gassho-zukuri Village, which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the "Southern Natural Area" centered on Hirase Onsen Village.

In the "World Heritage Area", Gassho-zukuri houses left around 1800 (Edo period) are still preserved. There are still many residents living there, showing a unique and beautiful scenery.

On the other hand, the "Southern Natural Area" centered on Hirase Onsen Village is not only a hot spring area, but also an area full of wildness and nature. Hirase Onsen is a hot spring with a source of hot spring water drawn from the foot of Mt. Hakusan, one of the three famous mountains in Japan. It is a hot spring area especially loved by women for its skin-beautifying effect.