Izumo Ori Noki Swan Village
For centuries, a plain in Yasugi has been the autumn home of migrating flocks of swans that come from Siberia to feed on the kernels of grain left in the rice fields after the harvest. A roofed viewing platform allows people to observe and photograph the swans without disturbing them. Nearby is a beautifully restored 100-year-old thatched farm house (kominka) that is typical of the traditional local residences where Izumo Ori woven textiles were made. Until the early twentieth century, weaving was a household industry, and a portion of each farmhouse was commonly devoted to looms and other textile-production materials. The kominka now serves as a community center where dyeing and weaving are taught, and several traditional looms and spinning wheels are set up in a large tatami-floored room. A traditional irori fire pit in the adjoining room provides a place for tea, conversation, and warmth. The center is open to the public.