![]() It’s not just a relic of the past, but a fully functioning village, where locals continue to live just as their parents did and their parent’s parents before them.Įxploring the interior of one of the houses in Shirakawa-Go that’s open to the public, the architectural ingenuity of the building blows me away. While thousands of guests visit throughout the year, drawn by the houses, as I was, many are surprised to learn that Shirakawa-go isn’t just some outdoor, open-air museum. Essentially, if you put them together, the name is a reference to the houses’ steep roofs that resemble a Buddhist monk’s hands in prayer. ‘What does gassho-zukuri mean?’ You may wonder, well in Japanese, the term ‘gassho’ (合掌) translates to ‘praying hands,’ while ‘-zukuri’ (-造り) is a suffix taken from the verb ‘tsukuru’ (-造る) which means to build or manufacture. Cut off from the rest of the world for long periods, the people of Shirakawa-go managed to survive by cultivating mulberry trees and constructing the now iconic houses’ gassho-zukuri roofs, which served multiple economic purposes. ![]() While the exact origins of the gassho-zukuri are shrouded in a little mystery, historians estimate these thatched-roof homes were constructed around 250 to 300 years ago. Not long after, in 1897, Shirakawa-go was formed. While this land was once considered part of the Hida Province, following the post-Meiji restoration (1868), the area became part of Gifu’s Ōno District. Shirakawa-go people need to be resilient and resourceful but also active community members, team players with an innate understanding of their land, and a passion for educating others. The combination of isolation and harsh climate means it takes a certain type of person to call Shirakawa-go their home. This pocket of the nation is recognized as one of the snowiest places in Japan, each year an average of 10 meters of snowfall coat the village and it’s not uncommon for snowbanks to hit the two-meter mark. But it’s a life I’m soon to discover was made possible by a powerful philosophy which the locals call ‘yui’. Mountainous forests occupy almost 96% of the village’s area, and while it’s a stunning place to be, it’s easy to imagine that life here-especially generations ago-would be difficult. Also the roof tile accessories is available.Nestled in a remote valley and flanked by the mountains of Gifu, Shirakawa-go is the type of place where it’s very easy to forget the rest of the world exists. We supply various of roof tiles, JAPANESE ‘J’ ROOF TILE is one of the main products. JAPANESE ‘J’ ROOF TILE are non-combustible.Įnjoy more peace and quiet with JAPANESE ROOF TILE as their density helps reduce the external sound such as traffic, aircrafts and trains. Terracotta tiles are crafted from select natural clays that are kiln-fired to temperatures of 1100☌ for exceptional character and strength with high colour retention and low maintenance. Terracotta roofing substantially retains its appearance with age, maintaining the aesthetic appearance of your home over time. The thermal performance of a roof refers to how it affects the temperature within a house and relates to the energy used within the house to maintain the temperature at a comfortable level. Should a section of the roof ever be damaged or require modification (eg installing a skylight), only the affected tiles usually require replacem ent or removal. ![]() ![]() Once JAPANESE ‘J’ ROOF TILE installed they have negligible maintenance requirements for the life of the roof.
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