Some of the most beautiful architecture in the world is in Japan – from the most modern steel and glass skyscrapers to traditional wooden homes. One of the most amazing homes you will see are the traditional minka style homes in northern Japan.
These homes were built in an area of Japan that gets enormous amounts of snow in the winter. For this reason the roofs have a very steep incline to them, forcing snowfall to run off the side of the house. These thatched roofs give the impression of hands locked in prayer.
As the intense snow in the winter generally locks the people living in these homes to stay inside, the spaces provide different utility than might be found in different style houses. One example of this were the several stories of space directly beneath the roof. This space could be used for silkworm cultivation in place of rice cultivation. The people living in these homes developed these skills as a means of providing some income while they were trapped indoors.
Another interesting aspect of these houses is the wide open spaces that can be found. These spaces are created from the large wooden beams that span long distances with in the living space. Curved trees were found on river banks and harvested to provide the necessary strength for these long spans. The most amazing part of this construction is that the homes were built without nails or screws. Instead, they utilized special joinery techniques that locked the beams into place.
The interior of these homes can be as beautiful as the exterior with the traditional furnishings that some still have. From tatami rooms to simple scroll designs hanging in the tokonoma area of the home, walking into a minka home can be like taking a step back into a more traditional era of Japan.
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