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Video article 19:29
Japan's Skilled Thatchers Work Hard To Preserve the Traditional "Gassho-zukuri" Architecture of Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site in Gifu Prefecture. The Large Houses, Built by Highly Skilled Craftsmen, Use Techniques That Have Been Passed Down for Generations
Art & Architecture Traditional Culture- 516 plays
- YouTube
The Skilled Thatchers of Shirakawa-go? In this article we introduce the following video: "Door to Tomorrow by At Home Series '#019 Thatcher Eizaku Tanaka'" (明日への扉 by アットホームシリーズ「#019 茅葺職人 田中 栄作」). The video introduces 26 year-old thatcher Eizaku Tanaka from 2:55. The young thatcher was born and raised in Shirakawa-go, Gifu, in the Tokai region (東海地方) of Japan. Shirakawa-go, a registered World Heritage Site, is situated in an area that experiences heavy snowfall each year. The characteristic Gassho-zukuri-style houses are built to withstand the harsh weather conditions, however, constructing the thatched roofing is not only hard physically but also requires a vast amount of knowledge and skill. More About Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site in Gifu Prefecture Photo:Shirakawa-go in winter, Gifu Prefecture The unspoiled landscape of the Japanese villages Shirakawa-go in Gifu prefecture and Gokayama (五箇山) in Toyama prefecture (富山県, toyamaken) is hard to find anywhere else in Japan. Both of these historic villages were registered as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1995. As mentioned previously, Shirakawa-go is located in Gifu prefecture. This area receives some of the heaviest snowfall in Japan and around 100 gassho-zukuri houses of varying sizes have been built in this remote area of the country. You can see the snow-covered gassho-zukuri houses from 1:47 in the video. Gasshozukuri Minkaen (合掌造り民家園), an open-air museum located in Ogimachi (荻町) lies along the Sho river (庄川, shougawa) and was registered as an Important Cultural Asset in 1976. Shirakawa-go used to be rarely visited by outsiders, especially during the winter months, however, as the beauty of the landscape became well known through the media and internet, the number of tourists dramatically increased and Shirakawa-go is now one of the top sightseeing spots in Japan. The village is often lit up at night and the snow-covered gassho-zukuri houses look like something out of a fairytale. More About the Thatchers of Shirakawa-go Photo:A thatched roof The sericulture (silk farming) industry was very important to the Shirakawa-go region. You can see the attics where the silk worms were kept from 1:48 in the video. The typical shape of the thatched roofs is called "Kirizuma" (切妻) and the main materials used to make the roofs are Chinese silver grass (ススキ, Miscanthus sinensis) and Kariyasu (刈安, Miscanthus tinctorius), both of which are water-resistant and breathable. The roofs are generally replaced every 30-40 years, with small repairs being made along the way. The layout of the houses within the village and even the angle of the roofs have all been carefully designed taking into consideration the fact that they must be able to withstand the strong winds and heavy snowfall of that region. The smoke which rises from the sunken fireplace (irori, 囲炉裏) helps to prevent pests and degradation of the roof and improves the overall durability. The thatchers use techniques like these to ensure the roofs are strong enough to withstand the rain and wind. Reroofing the Houses of Shirakawa-go Photo:Re-thatching by a thatching craftsman Gassho-zukuri houses have been built in Japan since the Edo period (1603 AD-1868 AD). Built without the use of nails, the houses are split into two areas: the first floor living space and the attic space used for silk-farming. Windows can be built into the roof and the spacious design of the Kirizumazukuri (切妻造り) roofs create the ideal conditions for silk farming during the harsh winter months. The roofs are supported by pillars that are cut at a particular angle, lodged in place, and then tied securely. No nails are used to hold the pillars in place. In this way, the frame of the roof is strong yet flexible enough to withstand earthquakes. The above are all great examples of the high level of skill involved in Japanese engineering and construction. The design and functionality of the thatched roofing is one of the highlights of the houses in Shirakawa-go. The roofs are highly durable, however, being made from natural materials, they do require reroofing every 30-40 years. Reed screens called "sudare" are first laid down as a base, after which bundles of miscanthus reed, cut to around 80cm in length, are piled on making sure to leave no gaps. The most difficult part of the reroofing process is perfecting the edge of the roof, as this affects not only the final look of the roof but also the durability. Reroofing is a huge project which with the combined effort of the local thatchers takes on average 2 months to complete and costs approximately 20 million yen. You can take a look at the reroofing process from 6:52 in the video. Summary of the Thatchers of Shirakawa-go, a World Heritage Site in Gifu Prefecture Photo:Thatched roofs in Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture Shirakawa-go, a village nestled amongst the mountains of Gifu prefecture, is a popular sightseeing destination which attracts a large number of tourists year after year. Other popular tourist spots and events in the Shirakawa-go area include Hirase Onsen (平瀬温泉, hiraseonsen), the autumn foliage of the area, Myozenji Temple (明善寺) where you can collect Goshuin (御朱印) and see the Doboroku Festival (どぼろく祭, doborokumatsuri) as well as the lion dance called "Shishimai" (獅子舞) in Japanese. You can also take a look at Shirakawa-go online on the Shirakawa village office website, which incldues live camera footage taken from the observation deck. 【Official Website】Shirakawa-go Tourism Association https://shirakawa-go.gr.jp/ 【Tripadvisor】Shirakawa-go Gasshozukuri Village https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1119912-d1407426-Reviews-The_Historic_Villages_of_Shirakawa_go_Gassho_Style_Houses-Shirakawa_mura_Ono_gun.html -
Video article 7:26
Japan's Most Beautiful Snow-Covered Scenery and Popular Tourist Spots That'll Look Great on Your Instagram! The Country, Dyed in a Beautiful White, Shows a Different Face Than Most Are Used To
Travel- 208 plays
- YouTube
The Beautiful Snowscapes of Japan This video, titled "4K Beautiful snow scene in Japan 日本の雪景色 TOP14名所 winter scenery snowscapes snow light tourism trip," was produced by Discover Nippon. Japan is a country where you can enjoy the nature of all four seasons. The Japanese archipelago has a unique vertical topography, which means that in winter, the temperature in Hokkaido, located in the north of the country, can drop below 10 degrees Celsius, while in the subtropical region of Okinawa, it's possible to wear a t-shirt year round. In this article, we'll introduce you to some of the most beautiful snowscapes of winter in Japan alongside a beautiful 4K video! Sightseeing in Tokyo on a Snowy Day When people think of snow in Japan, they generally think of the snowy landscapes of Tohoku and Hokkaido; however, several times a year, snow falls in the capital city of Tokyo as well. The snow brings the city to a halt, making the Imperial Palace and Sensoji Temple, with its low traffic (both human and vehicle), a tasteful, hidden tourist destination. Tokyo's snowy scenery, which can only be seen once or twice a year, is a rare sight. However, transportation is tremendously impeded, so please be cautious when collecting information on traffic and weather forecasts. Places to See Japan's Representative Snowscapes If you're looking for beautiful snowscapes in Japan, then we've got just the list for you: ・Akita Prefecture:Igloos ・Gifu Prefecture:Shirakawa, The Northern Alps ・Hokkaido:Otaru Canal, Sapporo Snow Festival ・Yamagata Prefecture:Ginzan Onsen, The Ice Trees of Zao ・Ishikawa Prefecture:Kenroku-en covered in snow Even if you're not in the Tohoku region, you can still enjoy the spectacular snowscapes of the mountains, and even in the Tohoku region, there's not so much snow on the Pacific side. We recommend the hot springs in the mountains and onsen areas on the Sea of Japan side. Active Snowfall Scenery and Sights to Enjoy There are also plenty of places to enjoy winter sports in Japan. Japan is a popular destination for winter sports, having hosted two Winter Olympics to date. Many of the ski resorts where you can snowboard are located near hot spring resorts, so you can relax after a long day of skiing/snowboarding with delicious food and hot springs. If You're Traveling the Snowscapes of Japan, Hot Spring Tourism Is the Way to Go! Here's a list of hot spring resorts with snowy landscapes and winter sports: ・Nagano Prefecture has a great view of the Northern Alps and popular hot springs and ski resorts such as Hakuba. ・Niigata Prefecture is famous for its snow, hot springs and delicious seafood. ・Hokkaido is a paradise of hot springs, where many foreign tourists come to enjoy the large scale resort hotels with ski slopes. After skiing and snowboarding, you can replenish your stamina with Ghengis Khan (Jingisukan), a Japanese lamb dish. ・After skiing, you can enjoy playing in the snow in an igloo and relaxing in hot springs in Akita Prefecture. Kiritanpo hot pot is the specialty in this area! All of these are great places to visit, so find which one suits you best! Hokkaido and Nagano Prefecture are the host cities of the Winter Olympics, so it's safe to say that they're the Meccas of winter sports in Japan. Sightseeing at Temples and Shrines Where You Can Enjoy the Majestic Snowy Scenery Here are some temples and shrines we recommend checking out: ・Yamadera (Yamagata Prefecture): Yamadera, also known in children's songs, is a famous temple located in Yamagata Prefecture. ・Chuson-ji Temple (Iwate Prefecture): Chuson-ji is a World Heritage Site! The beauty of Konjikido with a snowy landscape is unbeatable. ・Iwakiyama Shrine (Aomori Prefecture): Iwakiyama Shrine, located on Mt. Iwaki, which is often mentioned in songs, is an Important Cultural Property of Japan and is the setting for Sansho the Bailiff. ・Towada Shrine (Aomori, Japan): A historical shrine with a lake with a beautiful emerald green surface. The contrast between the snowy winter landscape and the lake is like a beautiful painting. Summary of the Snowscapes of Japan Winters in snowy countries can be hard in terms of climate, but the beautiful, ink-painting-like world created by the snow that covers Japan's beautiful natural landscape is well worth seeing. Enjoy Japan's snowy landscape in the beautiful 4K video.