The Historic Village of Shirakawa-go is one of Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The site is located in the Shogawa river valley stretching across the border of Gifu and Toyama Prefectures in central Japan. The people living in this isolated mountain community have developed deep sense of community with interdependence- to each other and the nature. For instance, fetching a plant roof of an old house requires everyone's participation in the village. The Gassho-zukuri houses has been built well suited to region's climate with using simple materials such as woods, plants and river rocks which are readily available in the area. These houses blend perfectly with the nature for centuries.