Grasshopper Zukuri Folk Village, Shirakawa or Gokayama?合掌屋，去白川鄉還是五箇山？

Gokayama 五箇山

This is a place featuring the traditional Japanese style housing located in Gokayama which is next to another famous place featuring the same housing style. The more famous village is called Shirakawa.

這裏是五箇山，它有著傳統日本的家居建築合掌屋。它位處於另一個最有名的合掌村白川鄉。

Shirakawa 白川鄉

Many people going for this traditional housing will go for Shirakawa instead of the Gokayama. Shirakawa has a bigger community and a more comprehensive village system. In the recent years many traveller has come to visit the famous village and eventually the village is becoming more commercial. The tourism generally turns this place away from its ancient taste and make it more or less like a resort in nature.

大部份旅者都會選擇白川鄉去觀賞合掌屋。白川鄉較五箇山更大更齊全，以社區規模來說白川鄉比五箇山更為完整。但在最近數年白川鄉為應付日益增加的遊客，旅遊業化的步伐變得越來越快， 商舖林立， 今時今日更似一個旅遊度假村。

In contrast, Gokayama is not developed well with a shop and a cafe in the village. It features an environment closed to what it was in the history. There are still residents living there and doing agriculture. Walking around in the village is kinda enjoyable.

相反，五箇山並沒有過度開發， 它仍然保留著原始的合掌村外觀及文化， 今時今日仍然有村民在裏面務農。 在村裏走動絕對是一件賞心樂事。

Walking inside Gokayama
五箇山閒逛

However, you should go for both if you are left with plenty of time. Both places have different style in their community. I went for both and see the difference there. Both village features different aspect and you shouldn't miss neither of them.
但對於我來說，如果有時間你應該到訪兩條村。 縱然其中一條村已商業化， 但既然一場來到為何不了解兩個村的分別？