Thursday, May 3, 2018

Nihon Minka-en. Traditional Japanese Folk Homes





Our first major trip for the 2018 travel period was to Nihon Minka-en in Kawasaki Japan




This is a typical Japanese Folk Home.  With a steep roof to preclude snow build up.




 All of the houses have a basic design.  a main area, a kitchen, facilities of some kind.  Most have Tatami mats which, depending on your status varied in the number.  Rooms are often designated by the number of mats (IE a 6 mat room or a 9 mat room)

An example of a cooking arrangement.

Look at how the beams are used  in the house design vice shaping them
Cooking facilities
Fancy, but typical arrangement 

Most have 2 sets of shoji screens, internal and externals with a walkway that usually goes (at least) partway around the house.  Sometimes the walkways go all the way around.


The roof is made of reeds, a special art.  Usually done every 20 years or so.


The cooking facilities.  interestingly enough, most of these homes do not have chimneys

Earthen walls

Reed screens and walls

See the thickness of the roofing material.

Looks like a 10 mat room.

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