Pure White Village

This photo was taken in Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site, in the inner part of the mountains in Gifu Prefecture. This village still retains the original scenery of Japan, which reminds us of the bonds of mutual help between villagers, coexistence with nature, and connections with people that modern people have forgotten. Shirakawa-go is beautiful in every season, changing its expression in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, but it is especially beautiful in winter when it is covered with pure white snow and the warm glow from the windows of houses illuminates the snow at night.