Fukiya Furusato Village
Fukiya is a town that sits quietly atop a 500-meter high plateau. It once flourished as a mining town known for copper and its red ocher, beloved by the elders who built the streetscapes in an eclectic red ocher wash during the years between the end of Edo and Meiji Periods. The elaborately decorated luxe merchant homes and estates were already a remarkable site, but the town’s use of a hired palace carpenter to design a unified look and feel for the entire area is considered especially avant garde for the times.
I really like small towns like this without too many tourists. Fukiya Furusato Village is tucked away on a mountain plateau in Takahashi, Okayama. The entire old street features warm reddish-brown tones, with red exterior walls paired with traditional Sekishu roof tiles, giving it a distinctive rustic charm even from a distance.
This was once a prosperous mining town known for copper and bengara (red iron oxide). The wealthy merchants of that era left behind many grand and beautifully detailed historic homes. Walking along the street, you can still feel traces of its former prosperity.
Compared with bustling touristy old streets, I actually prefer Fukiya's quiet atmosphere. There are no crowds, and you only occasionally come across a few travelers. It's especially relaxing to stroll and take photos at an unhurried pace.
If you like old streets, historic homes, and a sense of history but don't enjoy crowded attractions, I highly recommend spending half a day here. There's no need to rush—just taking a leisurely walk around is very enjoyable.







