地域観光資源の 多言語解説文データベース

Kayabuki no Sato, the Village of Thatched-Roof Houses

Miyama has more than 200 buildings with traditional thatched roofs. The highest concentration of these buildings is in Kayabuki no Sato, a village where some 40 thatched-roof houses line a hillside overlooking farmland with forested mountains in the distance.

Footpaths winding between the houses lead to attractions such as the Miyama Folklore Museum, which occupies a reconstructed nineteenth-century farmhouse and is one of the few places where visitors can view the area’s traditional architecture from the inside. Another house open to the public is the Little Indigo Museum, in a residence from 1796 that is the oldest extant structure in Kayabuki no Sato. The village is the most visited place in Miyama and hosts events such as the annual Snow Lantern Festival. English-speaking guides provide tours that offer an in-depth overview of the village’s history and culture.

The historic houses and traditional environment are maintained by the residents, who work to protect the structures and the vibrancy of the community. Kayabuki no Sato was designated a Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1993, ensuring the village’s conservation by mandating the maintenance of its buildings in their original state. This upkeep includes periodically rethatching the roofs. The residents of Kayabuki no Sato cover the associated costs and provide employment opportunities for local youth by jointly funding a company that operates businesses such as restaurants and souvenir shops in the village.

Most thatched-roof houses in Kayabuki no Sato are between 150 and 200 years old. Each one is rethatched every few decades in a labor-intensive undertaking that starts with growing the miscanthus grass (susuki) used as thatch. Each household used to have its own grass field for this purpose, but residents now share a field across the Yura River from the village. The grass is harvested in late autumn, before the snowy season, and bundled for drying in the open in winter before being stored indoors from the following spring. The attics of the farmhouses traditionally doubled as grass storerooms, but nowadays a communal warehouse is used instead.

Thatching used to be a cooperative effort that involved the entire village but is now carried out by professionals using locally grown miscanthus grass. The work is usually done in spring or summer, and the grass from old roofs can be reused as fertilizer. Larger houses are often rethatched in sections, with work on one side typically carried out in one year and the other side the following year.

古村「茅葺之里」

美山町內現存200餘座傳統茅葺建築，其中最集中的地方便是「茅葺之里」。這個村莊裡有39座茅葺民宅排列在俯瞰農田的山坡上，遠處是森林覆蓋的群山。茅葺之里被譽為「日本的原風景」，可與岐阜縣的白川鄉媲美。

遊客可以穿過蜿蜒於房舍之間的小道，前往美山民俗資料館等各處景點。資料館位於一座修復的19世紀農舍，也是少數幾個能夠從內部參觀當地傳統建築的景點之一。另一座對外開放的建築是「小小藍美術館」，它原本是一座民宅，建於1796年，是茅葺之里現存最古老的建築。茅葺之里是美山町內遊客人數最多的地方，每年會舉辦各種節慶盛事，比如「雪燈廊」。這個冬日慶典還會燃放煙花，為夜空增添絢爛色彩。村莊同時提供英文導覽服務，讓遊客更深入了解村莊的歷史與文化。

古老的房屋與傳統的環境是當地居民共同維護的成果，他們盡心竭力，保護著社區的佈局風貌與活力。茅葺之里於1993年被指定為國家重要傳統建築群保護區以後，維持傳統建築成為了當地的義務，需要定期更換茅葺屋頂以及進行其他維修。為此，茅葺之里的居民共同出資創辦了一家公司，在當地經營餐廳、紀念品商店等業務，公司收益不僅能夠支付相關維修費用，同時還為當地年輕人提供了就業機會。

茅葺之里大部分茅葺房屋的歷史都介於150年至200年之間，每隔幾十年就要更換一次屋頂。這是一項費力又耗時的工作，第一步是種植鋪設屋頂所需的「芒草」。過去每家每戶都有自己的芒草地，而今，全村居民共用一片草場。這片大草場位於由良川岸邊，與村莊隔河相望。芒草於每年秋末雪季到來之前收割，捆紮成束後放在戶外晾上一冬，到來年春天收入室內儲藏。農舍的閣樓過去也用作儲藏乾草，不過，現在有一個社區倉庫可共同使用。一年一度的茅草採收以及鋪設房頂的茅葺技術已被列為聯合國教科文組織（UNESCO）的世界非物質文化遺產。

過去，茅葺作業需要全村協助，如今則由專業人員使用當地種植的芒草完成。這項工作多在春季或夏季進行，替換下來的老茅草可以作為肥料再次利用。大一些的房子有時需要分區完成茅葺工作，第一年更換一側屋頂，次年再換另一側。

古村“茅葺之里”

美山町内现存200余座传统茅葺建筑，其中最集中的地方，便是“茅葺之里”。这个村庄里有39座茅葺民宅，它们排列在俯瞰农田的山坡上，远处是森林覆盖的群山。茅葺之里被誉为“日本的原风景”，可与岐阜县的白川乡媲美。

来访者可以穿过蜿蜒于房舍之间的小道，前往美山民俗资料馆等各处景点。资料馆建筑是一座经修复的19世纪农舍，也是少数几处能够进入内部参观的本地传统建筑之一。另一座对外开放的建筑是“小小蓝美术馆”，这处建于1796年的民宅，是茅葺之里现存最古老的建筑。茅葺之里是美山町内游人到访最多之地，每年会举办各种节庆盛事，比如“雪灯廊”。这个冬日庆典还会燃放烟花，为夜空添上绚烂的色彩。村庄开设英文导览游项目，让来访者可更深入地了解村庄的历史与文化。

古老的房屋与传统的环境是本地居民齐力维护的成果，他们尽心竭力，保持着社区的布局风貌与活力。茅葺之里于1993年被指定为国家重要传统建筑群保护区之后，保护传统建筑成为当地的义务，需要定期更换茅葺屋顶以及进行一些其他修缮。为此，茅葺之里的居民共同出资创办了一家公司，在村内经营餐厅、纪念品商店等业务。公司收益不仅能够用于支付相关维修费用，同时还为本地年轻人提供了就业机会。

在茅葺之里，大部分茅葺房屋的历史都介于150～200年之间。所有房屋每隔几十年就要更换一次屋顶，这是一项费力又耗时的工作。更换过程的第一步就是种植用来铺设屋顶的“芒草”。过去每家每户都有自己的芒草地，而现今，全村居民共享一片草场。这片大草场位于由良川岸边，与村庄隔河相望。芒草于每年秋末雪季到来之前收割，捆扎成束后放在户外晾上一冬，到来年春天收入室内储藏。农舍的阁楼过去也用来储藏干草，不过，现在有一个社区仓库可供大家共同使用。一年一度的茅草采收以及铺设房顶的茅葺技术已被列为联合国教科文组织(UNESCO)的世界非物质文化遗产。

过去，茅葺作业需要发动全村协力，如今则由专业人员使用本地种植的芒草完成。这项工作多在春季或夏季进行，替换下来的旧茅草可以作为肥料再次利用。大一些的房子有时需要分区完成茅葺工作，头一年更换一侧屋顶，第二年再换另一半。