Sunday, May 24, 2015

Shirakawago, snow and a wooden bath


We caught a bus from Takayama to Shirakawa-go a small village in the mountainous area of Honshu.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage site preserving the Gassho style houses characterised by large steep thatched roofs - that resemble hands held in prayer.   In the lower level are the guest tatami mat rooms and an eating area with a fire pit.  Traditionally the attic area housed the silk worms that enjoyed the rising heat.  

Our hostess was a lovely old woman who couldn't speak English, worked really hard to cook our breakfast and dinner and was really small.  The communal bath was a wooden box with a wooden lid to keep the  heat in, you had to scrub first outside the bath and thoroughly rinse before hoping in.  Never had a wooden bath before! 

  



Our tatami mat room, with day table that was heated underneath thus the donnas to keep the heat in.


House robes


The dinning area


Our hostess



Shinto Shrine 




Koi kites for boys month


House boots and wooden shoes to borrow






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