Shirakawa-Go Gassho-zukuri farmhouses Part III - Gifu

Gifu Shirakawa-Go Gassho-zukuri farmhouses Part III - 民家 : Shirakawa-Go would be just another pretty Japanese village if it was not for its world famous Gassho-zukuri farmhouses. True to their original design and nature, most Gassho-zukuri farmhouses in Shirakawa-Go are not more than 200 years old and are often renovated to make sure that their unique thatched roofs keep the farmhouse owners safe and dry during the winter and the rainy season. Most house comes with one basement and two more floors. The basement designed to accommodate guest rooms and a dining room equipped with an irori (fireplace) with a very rustic or spartan atmosphere. The two other floors are mainly designed for storage, as well as a “drying room” for rice or mushrooms for example. Finally the last floor will usually store straw for the cattle as well as improving the gassho-zukuri warmth and insulation.