Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture and Gokayama in Toyama Prefecture, the historic villages dotted with "gassho-zukuri" thatched-roof houses where people still follow traditional lifestyles, are marking their 15th anniversary this month since making UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1995.
The houses were built using a traditional construction method that binds wooden beams into steep but sturdy roofs often likened to two hands put together in prayer.
Each of the villages, however, is encountering different problems and looking for new ways to ensure their preservation.