Aoyama History Village

Aoyama History Village is an open-air museum located in Tanba-Sasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture, preserving traditional thatched-roof farmhouses from the region's rural past. The village showcases kayabuki-style architecture, characterized by steep thatched roofs designed to withstand heavy snowfall, representing the agricultural lifestyle that dominated this mountainous area for centuries. These structures, some dating back to the Edo period, were relocated from surrounding districts to create a comprehensive display of regional folk architecture and rural culture.

The village functions as both a cultural heritage site and an educational center, offering visitors insight into traditional Japanese farming communities. The preserved buildings include former residences, storehouses, and workspaces that demonstrate historical construction techniques and daily life patterns. The site maintains several structures with their original interiors intact, displaying period tools, furniture, and household items that illustrate subsistence farming practices and seasonal traditions specific to the Tanba region.

Visitors can explore the various buildings at their own pace, with informational displays explaining architectural features and historical context. The village occasionally hosts demonstrations of traditional crafts such as straw weaving, indigo dyeing, and pottery making, allowing guests to observe or participate in cultural activities. The surrounding landscape includes cultivated fields and wooded areas that recreate the historical environment of these farmsteads, providing photographic opportunities throughout the seasons, particularly during autumn foliage and early summer green periods.

Aoyama History Village is accessible by car from Osaka or Kobe, approximately 90 minutes via the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway to the Tannan-Sasayama-guchi exit. Public transportation users can take the JR Fukuchiyama Line to Sasayamaguchi Station, then transfer to a local bus bound for Sasayama, which stops near the village entrance. The journey from central Osaka takes roughly two hours by train and bus.