Historical Village of Shirakawa-go

Our road trip continues to the UNESCO World Heritage Site and nearby village of Shirakawa-go.

 

It looks amazing and peaceful from a distance, so let's go see it close up.

Everyone must cross this long rope bridge to get there.  I'm guessing there is another way because I saw cars inside the village, but this seems to be the most popular entrance route.

Mari, Kerri, & Shimizu on the bridge.

All of the house are built with "gassho-zukuri"-styled roofs, which means "prayer hands construction". 

The roofs are thatched, steeply slanted, and look like 2 hands in prayer.  Since this one of the snowiest places in Japan, the design is effective for withstanding heavy snowfall.

Thatched roof made with only wood, straw, and roof. 

The village was really peaceful and beautiful. 

The atmosphere reminded me of Mackinaw Island, because it's this cute town just stuck in a simpler time. 

4 ladies enjoying the historical village.

  

Rice being harvested. 

I'm told this is the old-fashioned way where it is hung to dry. 

Today, usually machines are used to dry out the rice.

  

Many of the homes, including this one, are still lived in today.

We are ready to enter the largest house (now a museum of sorts) in the village. 

It's 5 stories and is called the "Nagase House".  We find this humorous because (our co-worker) Tag's last name is Nagase, so perhaps his ancestors used to live here!

The Nagase House was built in 1890, but in 2001 the roof had to be re-thatched. 

Look at all of the volunteers to re-do the roof!

Traditional Japanese house. 

The sliding glass doors on the left look outside, and the sliding partitions on the right are interior living rooms.  In the winter, hallways like this would (of course) have no heat, but the interior rooms would be heated by stove or fire, which is why the sliding partions are important.

1st floor was living quarters and all of the doorways are 5'8".

2nd floor was servants rooms, and the ceiling height was below my shoulder. 

The sign says that the ceiling is low, which forces the servants to constantly stoop and remember that they are "lower" than their masters.

3rd floor was much more spacious and was originally used for raising silkworms.

Remember I said only wood, straw, and rope were used to build these roofs? 

I found that to be impossible and completely puzzling, but I discovered the loophole.  They did use nails in the construction, but they were wooden nails!! 

 

Thatched roof from the inside.

4th floor is getting a little more scary.  This one is not solid, and doesn't even look safe to walk on.

In fact, they laid wooden walkways, so visitors to this historic house wouldn't crash through the floor.

5th floor was traditionally used for medicinal herbs, but it's unsafe these days and public access is denied.

 

Even the scarecrows in Japan like to give the peace sign!

We asked a random group of 6 older men to take this photo, and then one creeper of the group started taking pics of us with his own camera.  Geez...

Traditional mochi snacks on a stick. 

Chewy pressed rice flavored with soy sauce. 

Not really my favorite, so I let my co-workers enjoy them without me.

 

I do, however, love the Japanese straw hats. 

They are so fragile, but I would love to find a way to pack one in my suitcase without destroying!

KG with Sarubobo.

He is a traditional "monkey baby" and famous in Japan.  The red version is the original, but now they come in all colors and are very popular toys or trinkets or good luck charms.