Gassho Gouses

The Noto Peninsula on Japan's West coast is home to villages in the Shirakawa district with an unusual style of housing: Gasssho Houses with large thick thatched roofs. They are highly picturesque - both the houses and their interiors and the villages themselves. Indeed , the villages shown here are world-heritage listed - and rightfully so. Have a look for yourselves!

We went in the house below and talked to the owner via an interpreter. The slides also show some of the beautiful rooms decorated in traditional Japanese style.

It was a beautiful day, weather-wise, and the following slide shows the attractive mountain scenery enveloping the villages.

And here's a house with its roof being re-thatched. I hope none of the men fell off!

AS