Miyama’s Thatched Village Winter Lantern Festival

Located 80 minutes drive distance from central Kyoto, meeting authentic rural old Japan landscape at Kayabuki-no-sato in Kyoto Miyama.
“Kayabuki-no-sato,” or Miyama’s thatched village, is one of 57 hamlets in Miyama Town, Nantan City of Kyoto Prefecture. Miyama region lies between the Japan Sea of Fukui Prefecture and Kyoto City, the ancient capital. From Fukui coastline, prized mackerels packed in salt rushed down to Kyoto crossing the region surrounded by mountains. The paths through the hills, known as the mackerel highway or sabakaido, still exist in the village crossing from east to west.
The cluster of thatched-roof houses remain in this village, 39 houses out of 50 households have thatched-roofs, most of them are between150 and 220 old, built in the 19th century. Main buildings are built parallel to the river, window side facing south side. Their style is known as Kitayama style of farmhouse architecture that developed in the villages north of Kyoto. Kitayama houses are square with wooden walls and a slightly raised earthen-floored entrance area. Kayabuki-no-sato was designated a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings on 8th December 1993, in recognition of the highly valued degree of preservation of the historical landscape including a group of building using traditional architectural techniques.
Since then, the historic houses and traditional environment are maintained by Kayabuki-no-sato Preservation Association and Kayabuki-no-sato Co., Ltd. which have been organized by local residents of the village.