Kayabuki No Sato: Thatched-roof traditional village
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Kayabuki no Sato village is a picture-perfect ancient village located in the Kyoto Prefecture of Japan. Situated in Miyama-cho, Nantan City, this wooden village with unique roofs is now one of the most popular historical villages in the country.
With mountains protecting the village from one side, and the Yura River from the other, this is a stunning rural location that just highlights how beautiful the Japanese countryside is.
With 39 of the 50 properties in the village still home to thatched roofs, they clearly stand out and highlight the modest lifestyle the farmers of the past would have led.
Today, you can see how the current residents live their lives in these old-fashioned properties while maintaining a strong connection to the rich heritage in the area.
| Country: | Japan |
| Currency: | Japanese Yen / JPY |
| Do you need a visa to visit as tourists? | Check here |
Don’t forget to get travel insurance to cover you if something bad happens. One company I have personal experience with is Safety Wing. Not everyone needs the same coverage, so make sure you get a personalised quote that suits you and your trip plans.
How to get to Kayabuki no Sato Traditional Village
Location: Miyamachokita, Nantan, Kyoto 601-0712
Before you set off on your journey to this traditional village I’d recommend checking you have downloaded your eSIM as this is one of the best ways to stay connected online and navigate the Japanese countryside.
Arrive by public transport
If travelling from Kyoto using public transport, you can expect to take the train from “Kyoto Station” to “JR Hiyoshi Station” which takes up to 50 minutes. You can then take the bus from the station to the Kayabuki no Sato village which takes 55 minutes.
Most of the routes that travel via public transport go via Kyoto so if you can get to Kyoto station from your starting destination, you can then use the directions above. Luckily, Google Maps works really well in Japan and has accurate schedules and timetables to make it easy to get around.
Arrive by car
Don’t forget to bring your International Driving Permit (IDP) to Japan in order to drive here.
If you would prefer to travel by car, you can easily rent a car in Japan as long as you have your IDP, full driving license from your home country and a credit card in your name.
Two of my favourite car rental brands I’ve used throughout my time living in Japan are Rental Cars and Klook Rentals. You can arrange rentals with each of these companies ahead of your trip and you can usually collect the vehicles from airports or in major city centres which is convenient.
If driving to Kayabuki no Sato from the following places it will take:
- Kyoto – 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Osaka – 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Kobe – 2 hours and 10 minutes
Please be aware that many of the roads in this area are windy and narrow which can be dangerous if driving too fast. Use caution.
Parking at the village
To protect the local environment and afford to conserve the village for many years to come, the local authorities have a parking fee in place that goes toward the protection costs.
If you arrive in a standard passenger car it’ll cost 500 JPY (2.60 GBP) to park your vehicle and 200 JPY (1.05 GBP) to park a motorbike.
Opening Times & Admission fees
Many of the other traditional villages in Japan in our series are simply museums to educate visitors on Japan’s past.
This village is a little bit different because it is a fully functioning village with real families and residents, so it is technically open 24 hours and 7 days a week, however, it is not advised that visitors enter after 5 pm.
Since cars and vehicles are not allowed inside the village (other than those belonging to the residents) the only place you can park if you are driving there yourself, is in the official car park across the road from the village entrance.
The car park is open at different times depending on the season:
| Season | Opening Times |
|---|---|
| April to November (Summer) | 9 am – 5 pm |
| December to March (Winter) | 10 am – 4 pm |
Want to visit some other traditional Japanese villages? Check these out:
- Tsumago Juku: Japan’s best-preserved postal town from the Edo period
- Saiko Iyashi no Sato Nemba: Traditional Village in Japan
- Gero Onsen Gassho Village: A rural village from the past
- Hida no Sato: A mesmerising traditional village in Gifu Japan
- Shirakawa go
History of the Kayabuki no Sato Village
This village is famous mostly because of the wooden homes with tall thatched roofs standing in front of the mountain landscape.
Some of these wooden structures were built back in the Edo period which was between 1603 and 1868, and some were built during the Meiji period between 1868 and 1912. This means that the houses are between 150 – 250 years old!
With these houses standing where they were originally built it has now become a popular tourist attraction that brings thousands of people to learn about Japan’s rural history each year.
Over the years, the residents and local authorities decided to create a society to help preserve the landscape and residences which helps to protect the residents too, since many of their families have lived in this village for generations.
Guided Tours to Kayabuki no Sato
If travelling to Kayabuki no Sato independently seems overwhelming, you can’t rent a car or you’d rather travel in a group, then you could always visit the village as part of a guided group tour.
The great thing about tours is that you can enjoy the visit with other people, and all of the organisation and planning is figured out by the tour guide, allowing you more time to relax.
Take a look at these 3 tours below:
- Snow lantern festival at Kayabuki no Sato – departs from OSAKA (WINTER ONLY)
- Amanohashidate, Ine Funaya & Miyama Kayabuki no Sato – departing from OSAKA
Please note: Each tour departs from a different destination. Double check you know where they depart from before booking to make sure you can meet the guide.
What to expect while visiting Kayabuki no Sato
Since this is a real functioning village, you’ll find all the basic amenities you’d expect in any village.
Along with homes, you’ll find cafes, museums, restaurants, stores and more. Let’s take a look in more detail below so you’re prepared before your visit.
Food at Kayabuki no Sato
Restaurant Kitamura
Here you can enjoy some handmade soba from this restaurant that has been using the same recipe for over 30 years.
Opening times: 10 am – 3 pm (closed Wednesdays)
Cafe Gallery Akaya
This cafe is inside of a traditional thatched-roof house so you can get an inside look at this old-fashioned property. Here you can try some local sweets made from fruits, and even enjoy the art exhibit during your visit.
Opening hours: 11 am – 5 pm (closed on irregular holidays)
Mochi and dango Kibi Kobo
This is a small cafe and eatery where you can try speciality country dishes such as dumplings, Japanese mochi and ice cream.
Opening hours: irregular business hours
Cafe Biran
With a friendly and sociable owner, this cafe is an experience of countryside hospitality – even before trying the
Opening hours: Weekdays 10 am – 5 pm, weekends 9 am – 5 pm (closed Monday & Wednesday)
Stone Oven Pizza Cafe Sakaya
As the name suggests you can enjoy stone-cooked pizza in this thatched-roof cafe and if that’s not enough reason to go, the owners even have a small pet dog that greets all visitors warmly. My kind of place!
Opening hours: 11 am – 5 pm (closed on irregular holidays)
Yoshinosuke
If you enjoy fresh homemade bread, this is the right place for you. The owners of this house-turned-bakery make fresh bread every day from locally grown rice.
Opening hours: 10 am until all bread is sold
Chamomile
This is a small cafe that specialises in hot sandwiches which are perfect for a day out in the rural countryside.
Opening hours: 9 am – early evening (closed on irregular holidays)
Accommodation options near Kayabuki no Sato
If you’d like to stay inside the village, you’ll be pleased to know that two of the thatched-roof properties are being used as rentable accommodations.
Thatched Inn Matabe (Kayaguki no Yado MATABE)
This property costs 11,000 JPY (per adult, per night) and can either be rented out as individual rooms, or as the entire property. The house fits up to 14 people maximum, across 2 Japanese-stye (tatami) rooms. Dinner & breakfast are included in the cost of the stay.
Minshuku HISAYA
This property costs 15,000 JPY per adult (30,000 JPY per pair), has breakfast included and can be rented as the entire vacation property.
Please be aware that these two properties in the village book up very quickly, so it’s worth considering your other options below.
Kayabuki no Sato is in a rural area in Japan but there are some accommodation options in the small towns just a short drive away. The two closest towns are as follows:
Please note: Many of the accommodations in this region accept cash payment so it’s worthwhile having some cash on you.
When you need to transfer money or check exchange rates during your overseas trip, consider using Wise. They have competitive rates and make exchanging foreign funds easy. I’ve been using them since 2015.
Have you been to the Kayabuki no Sato traditional village? If so, what do you think?
Need help planning your trip?
Check out how to plan a trip abroad & see my travel resources for more.
Skyscanner – A comprehensive comparison website showing where to purchase flights.
HostelWorld – The biggest selection of hostels & sociable accommodations.
Booking.com – The largest collection of accommodations AND flights worldwide.
Safety Wing – A travel insurance brand for long-term travellers and nomads.
Airalo – An eSIM card company that lets you stay connected during your trip.
Wise – Perfect for transferring foreign currencies.
iVisa – For applying for tourist and visitor visas.
Viator – Great for finding tours and activities worldwide.
Get Your Guide – Another company for finding activities.
Klook – Have some of the best activity deals in Asia.
