Suganuma Village, Traditional mountain village in Gokayama, Japan.
Suganuma Village is a traditional mountain settlement in Gokayama featuring nine gassho-zukuri houses with steep thatched roofs built to handle heavy winter snow. The structures display multiple wooden stories with open roof spaces and small ventilation openings that define their distinctive appearance.
Most structures were built between 1830 and 1920, with a major fire in 1891 prompting reconstruction of much of the settlement. The surviving and rebuilt homes demonstrate how construction methods evolved to handle the harsh mountain conditions.
Families here practiced silkworm breeding and saltpeter production across generations, with the multi-story wooden interiors shaped by these traditional crafts. The layout and rooms still reflect how these activities once filled daily life.
Reach the site via mountain forest paths that require careful walking and sturdy footwear. Visiting outside winter months works best, as the trails become passable and buildings are easier to explore throughout the day.
The roof design employs specific construction methods that carpenters from Noto Peninsula developed to distribute heavy snow loads. This local craftsmanship tradition makes the architecture distinctive in how it adapted to extreme winter conditions.
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