Situated in the western part of Kyoto Prefecture, Kayabuki no Sato is one of Japan's two most renowned ancient villages, alongside Shirakawa-go in Gifu Prefecture.
Unlike Shirakawa-go, Kayabuki no Sato is very accessible. You can easily reach it by train and bus. Please follow the directions below.
From Kyoto Station, go to platform 32 and take the train to Sonobe Station.
(Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CcKhFx6CELLfBrtm8 )
Then go to Hiyoshi Station from Sonobe Station.
(Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1CeioMgs1BunNiEv7 )
Then, you can walk out of the station, wait for the Miyama Sonobe (美山園部線) bus, and take it to the ancient village for just 600 yen.
The bus ride takes about 1 hour, with nearly 40 stops, and the route is quite winding, so those who are prone to motion sickness should pay attention to this. In addition, from September 16 to December 1 , there is a Keihan bus that goes from Sonobe Station to the old village with only 2 stops, but the fare is also higher than the regular bus (about 1,500 yen).
Coming from Osaka, the trip took nearly 3 hours, and I arrived around noon. So, I decided to have a meal first before heading out to take photos and explore the ancient village.
In the ancient village, there are a few delicious restaurants, all run by local aunts and uncles. These eateries are famous for their soba noodles, udon, and various rice dishes. The prices are also quite reasonable, ranging from 600 to 1000 yen.
After eating, the motion sickness stops 😀 Let's explore the ancient village with us!
This is the entrance to the ancient village of Kayabuki no Sato, a highly popular photography spot that often appears on advertising posters.
Photography corners are everywhere 😀
Most of the houses here are private homes, so visiting them is nearly impossible. However, you can explore the interior of a traditional house in detail at the Miyama Folk Museum, located in the village area.
Miyama Museum Address: https://maps.app.goo.gl/d1h6hNReDqXUqWMH9
The ticket to visit the museum costs 300 yen and comes with a pamphlet that introduces the different areas of a house in the ancient village.
First is the living room:
Room:
Bathroom:
A room for storing farming tools used by ancient people:
And this is the cow barn 😀
2nd floor of the house:
Since the houses here are mostly made of wood with thatched roofs, which are highly susceptible to fire, the government has installed fire-proof sprinklers around the village. This water spray display takes place twice a year, in May and December, and is even called the Water Spray Festival, drawing many visitors to watch during these events.
After visiting the museum, I decided to stop by a nearby café, which is famous for its egg Caramel dish.
The shop also has very chill garden seating.
Let’s continue exploring and capturing more photos around the village!
And here is my favorite photo:
Met a "friend" who also went to see flowers here 😀
Colorful flower gardens in front of houses:
Here, it feels like every time you lift your camera to take a shot, you end up with a beautiful photo every time~~
The best time to visit Kayabuki no Sato is during November, December, and January each year, when the village is at its most picturesque.
November and early December are the peak season for yellow and red leaves, creating a stunning autumn landscape.
Late December and early January mark the snowfall season, adding a beautiful winter charm to the village.
And finally, I returned to the bus stop and headed home. Thank you for reading until the end of the article :D.
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