tree 창문 겨울 world House Architecture traditional_architecture Japan 식물 나무 traditional_lifestyle plant winter sky snow tints_and_shades freezing 건축 mountains 세상 window cottage 빌딩 하늘 Building thatched_roof farmhouse 눈

gassho-zukuri farmhouse steeped in snow

Steep, V-shaped thatched-roof cottage known as gassho-zukuri, found only in the mountainous Hida region of Gifu prefecture and in Gokayama in neighbouring Toyama prefecture. Many of the larger farmhouses appear to have 3 floors, but only the first floor is living space. The upper spacious area is like a huge attic, used to raise silkworms in earlier centuries. The windows are made of washi (resilient Japanese paper) and are opened to ventilate the upper area (other than in winter).