“This town is full of galvanized iron.”

Take a look at Fujiyoshida from Chureito Pagoda and you’ll see an assortment of colorful rooftops made of galvanized iron, different from the tiled roofs you might see in other parts of Japan.

The reason for using galvanized iron in Fujiyoshida is the sudden and drastic winter weather. When the temperature suddenly goes to the negative degrees, a normal roof tile would freeze and crack, while galvanized iron has a protective zinc layer that prevents weather-related degradation.

But it’s not only the roofs in Fujiyoshida which are made out of galvanized iron-- everything from shop signs to building decorations are also made of the same durable material. At first glance, it may look like roof tiles, bricks, or even wood, but if you pay attention you’ll notice the galvanized iron makes a distinct townscape for Fujiyoshida.

Many of the galvanized iron rooftops are colored red, but like most other trends, the origin of this tendency is unknown.

Here’s a bit of trivia for you-- Some of the buildings in Fujiyoshida build their walls from recycled 18-liter drums. You can tell by looking for the pattern of a small coin-like circle, which was from the bottom of the iron drum.

When the Daiboshi Furniture shop was reconstructed, they decided to use galvanized iron to build the walls
The folding method actually takes a lot of time and effort. Everything inherits a little bit of the galvanized iron DNA of the town, even if it isn't obvious.

Of course, the roof of Gekkoji and Shimoyoshida Station are also made of galvanized iron. How many houses with iron roofs can you find while walking around the town of Fujiyoshida?