A Different Japan

Instead of jumping on the train with our JR rail pass we had to go by bus to Shirakawago, a world heritage site. When we arrived we felt like we were in another country. Most of the houses had been built about 200 years ago. They are called Gassho houses. They have thatched roofs up to a metre thick and are steeply pitched as they get a lot of snow in the winter. They are very large. There are about 60 gassho houses in the village.

The Wada House. We went in this house.

The fireplace inside the house.

In the village.

The gardens were lovely.

The view of the village. Quite a walk up here. Kathy and Keith - we were saying this was a little like the See alp see walk in Switzerland except not as long and not as steep. The weather was a bit drizzly up here. There were many rice fields in the village.

Penny took this picture of an insect near the view point.

We stayed in a Gassho house. It is very like a ryoken. We had a traditional dinner and breakfast. The other people staying there too were 3 Frenchmen and a Thai family. The food here was much more to Glenn and Penny's taste. A delightful meat dish and lovely vegetables. Only one seafood dish which was a whole fish. We did not sleep as well here as the pillows were filled with hard beans and the mats were thinner. Also we were woken up at 5:30 with ceremonial chanting.

   

Having our dinner.

The dinner. The meat dish was cooking in the pot.

In bed.

  

Trying out Japanese games at a shop.