Miyama Kayabuki no Sato
Miyama, Nantan City in Kyoto Prefecture, is home to a gathering of rare thatched-roof houses. The northern settlement is especially known for its preserved 39 thatched-roof houses, designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, beloved to this day as a nostalgic landscape of Japan that melts against the backdrop of picture-perfect seasons.
A travel agency announced a special sale on a new tour, and what attracted me most was Miyama Kayabuki no Sato in the outskirts of Kyoto. It's 1.5 hours from downtown Kyoto, with few people around and none of the feel of a tourist area, so it's very comfortable for a stroll. At the entrance is an old-fashioned bright red mailbox. The village looks like something out of a fairy tale, with one adorable thatched-roof house after another. The roofs provide sound insulation, protection from wind and snow, warmth in winter, and coolness in summer. The layers of thatch are about 50–80 centimeters thick and need to be replaced every 20–30 years. Our early fall visit happened to coincide with the buckwheat flowers in full bloom. Residents grow buckwheat in fallow fields as a “landscape crop.” Every year, from around mid- to late September, the fields are covered with delicate little white flowers like fine snow. Set against the traditional thatched roofs in the background, they create a popular fall scene. Thank the Lord! We were so lucky to visit right when the flowers were blooming—an unexpected bonus.
The small “Saika” shop has Miyama milk soft-serve ice cream, and we really enjoyed it!