House in Shiga

Full description

At the edge of a settlement overlooking Mt. Ibuki. Close to the Anego River with abundant water; irrigation channels run throughout the settlement. From the house you can gaze at the majestic Mt. Ibuki across the rice paddies, enjoying the seasonal beauty of the mountain landscape. We introduce this nostalgic thatched-roof house. / The charm of the traditional thatched-roof atmosphere. Even from a distance, the distinctive red triangular-roofed house stands out. This traditional thatched roof exudes character. Looking up at the gable below the ridge decoration, the kanji for "water" (水) is written there, said to be a protective charm against fire to safeguard the house from disaster. It is not uncommon to see such houses in the Kohoku region with "water" written on the gable or ridge beam. Inside the entryway is a spacious earthen floor, and looking up you can see brilliantly smoke-darkened bamboo beams. Beyond that a corridor earthen floor continues, with the traditional okudosan (old kitchen stove) still standing. The tiled sink is charming, and the bright kitchen with many windows has a clean, pleasant feel. The washroom, toilet, and bath are also tiled in a retro atmosphere, and the compatibility with the wooden glass fittings is excellent! The room layout is the traditional four-room arrangement of 8-mat rooms. High ceilings and spacious tatami parlors. A veranda facing the southern garden where the sunlight feels warm and cozy. "In summer, we would lift all the tatami to air them, and live on the wooden floor. The ventilation was excellent and felt so good. Wiping the floors was the children's job," the landlord recalled fondly. At year-end, wiping all the pillars, beams, and ceiling boards was the young people's major cleaning task. "We would heat the bath, and with many hands polish everything until it shined, finally able to greet the new year with a clean heart." The smoke-darkened, gleaming pillars and beams, the lattice ceiling, it is the habit of careful maintenance that preserves their magnificent appearance even today, decades later. / The landlord lived in this house with family until age 18, when he left for work in the Kanto region. "When snow piled up, everything, roads, rice fields, farms, became a white expanse you couldn't distinguish. On those days, I would walk straight across the white landscape to school," he said. Imagining the wonder and excitement a child would feel, the pastoral Kohoku winter scenery comes to mind. At that time they raised cattle and farmed rice paddies, with farm work starting before dawn as a family effort. Young as he was, the landlord would help with the work before heading to school each day. The household made silkworm cocoons, straw sandals, and woven mats; they made miso and koji too. The parlor was a place of family gathering, a workshop for handicrafts, and held countless memories with his family. / The area is near the Anego River with irrigation channels throughout the settlement. "There are probably fewer fish now, but in the old days we would catch them barehanded. There was a spot where fish would gather, and friends and I would wade into the small water channels, building dams with our hands, they came out of nowhere at our efforts," he said, recounting fondly the days when children played endlessly in nature. / Inside the earthen-floor entry, steep ladder stairs lead to the attic. A small window for light creates a naturally bright space. The smoke-darkened thatched-roof timber frame is forceful and striking! Inside lie countless old farming tools pulled by oxen, baskets used for sericulture, bundled grass and firewood for kindling, time-stopped tools sleeping quietly, each one explained carefully by the landlord. Perhaps not convenient, perhaps not wealthy, but the daily life of family members putting care and hands into living together is tangible, moving. / Composition: Main house, storage shed, external toilet / Garden: Garden on the south side of the main house. Pleasant to view across the veranda. / Features: [Thatched Roof] The thatched roof stands out distinctly in the settlement. Traditional charm is the attraction. [Stove] The traditional okudosan kitchen stove remains beyond the corridor earthen floor. The tiled sink and wooden fixtures create excellent atmosphere. [Sewer Not Connected] Not connected to sewer pipes; sewer work would enable more comfortable living. [Attic] Old farming tools, baskets from sericulture, bundled grass and firewood sleep here, a time-slip experience. [Lattice Doors] Wooden fittings remain in the house. Particularly the "lattice doors" in the entry earthen floor showcase the delicate craftsmanship characteristic of traditional Japanese homes.

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