{"id":75084,"date":"2021-02-03T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/?p=75084"},"modified":"2021-02-02T09:25:20","modified_gmt":"2021-02-02T00:25:20","slug":"kayabuki-no-sato-thatched-roof-kyoto-miyama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/voyapon.com\/kayabuki-no-sato-thatched-roof-kyoto-miyama\/","title":{"rendered":"Kayabuki: The Tradition of Thatched Roof Houses in Japan Near Kyoto"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Just outside the crowds of Kyoto city is a world of serene nature, vibrant culture, and deep history that you probably have never heard of before. Oita Prefecture, known mainly for its abundant onsen hot springs, is another area like Kyoto, rich in nature and history. We have carefully selected less crowded destinations in both of these fascinating areas of Japan and will cover them in a series of nine articles: “Travel like a Kyoto and Oita native to experience nature and traditional culture.”<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Heading north from Kyoto city, a serene landscape of small villages and peaceful mountains stand between the ancient capital and the rugged coastline along the Sea of Japan. One such area is called Miyama \u7f8e\u5c71, the beautiful mountains<\/strong>, a name which required little imagination to bestow on them. Time seems to move slower here, evident in the landscape of Kayabuki no Sato<\/strong>, a mountain village of Kyoto which maintains a centuries-old method for maintaining traditional thatched roof houses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kayabuki houses in Kayabuki no Sato village are designated as a Preservation District for Historic Buildings, where you can encounter the original landscape of Japan. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Many visitors to Japan are familiar with the gassho-zukuri <\/em>style farmhouses of UNESCO World Heritage site Shirakawa-go<\/a><\/strong> in Gifu Prefecture. Kayabuki houses are similar, with steep high roofs made from grass, but the shape differs slightly. Because Kayabuki no Sato is not recognized by UNESCO (although it is designated as a Preservation District for Historic Buildings<\/strong>), it is still not well known by overseas tourists despite the beauty of the landscape and the craftsmanship of the buildings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our guide Michel was a transplant from France who came to Miyama to start an organic farm. Though only a resident of the area for two years, Michel already knew well about the traditional methods for building and maintaining thatched roofs. In this area, it is a common expectation that community members pitch in to help neighbors when roofs need repair or replacement, so he already had first-hand experience. In learning the process, his neighbors also taught him much about the history of the kayabuki<\/em> (thatched roof) of Miyama and the people who lived under them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n