Compass change along with the addition of the shrine.

You'll notice the lack of the classic Japanese ribbed-roof architecture. The snow in the mountains is extremely heavy, resulting in a meter or more of accumulated snow on the roof. The traditional construction is not only far too gentle in slope, it feature a flare at the corners also known as "a snow catcher".

The mountain people compensate by using a very steep pitch of about 55 degrees, a style familiar familiar to those living in snowy northern regions as the "A-frame". Not only does this style discourage snow from gathering beyond a certain depth, but it also vastly increases the load-bearing capacity of the roof joists.

The other characteristic that was common in medieval construction was thatch. The roofs were constructed from a massive amount, a meter in thickness, which not only give strength, but also is an excellent insulator. With so much of the surface of the structure covered with thatch, it made for a very cozy place indeed. Also, a correctly constructed thatch roof would last forty years before it had to be replaced. Felt and shingle roofs like those on most homes in the US last around twenty.

Thatch roofs are vulnerable to fire, but warfare in medieval Japan generally avoided civilians and civilian structures. The walls around the Lord's home were meant to protect the warriors, not the peasantry. In a fantasy world, things might well be different with raiding hobgoblins delighting in torching thatch-roofed houses for the fun of it.

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