Japanese traditional architecture, Kurazukuri fireproof house

The traditional Japanese house is built of wood, which makes it earthquake resistant but very dangerous when it comes to fire. Because of the fire threat, the valuables and the food reserves were kept in special warehouses called kura, designed to be fire-resistant.

Therefore, in some cities people decided to build their homes by the same principle as the warehouses, with walls and roofs made of plaster. This is the kurazukuri style and the best place to experience them is Kawagoe, Saitama just about 30-minutes by train Ikebukuro, Tokyo.

Interesting elements of this style are the fireproof windows and doors: as you can see from the photo, the plaster coat is extremely thick (about 18 centimeters), with multiple layers, designed to completely isolate and protect the interior.