Tucked away in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, Shirakawa-go transforms into a magical snow globe every February. The iconic thatched-roof houses, known as Gassho-zukuri, sit quietly under a thick blanket of snow, their steep roofs perfectly designed to withstand the heavy winter.
During my visit, the village felt like a scene from a fairy tale—snowflakes danced in the air, smoke curled from chimneys, and everything seemed to slow down. I wandered through narrow paths, capturing the charm of wooden homes, soft snowdrifts, and lanterns glowing at dusk.
Each photo I took was a quiet moment frozen in time—a glimpse of winter’s gentle hand shaping one of Japan’s most picturesque villages.
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