See the village in the evening, once people have gone
After the tour buses leave, the hour when the thatched roofs become silhouettes against the setting sun. The village's true face.
GETAWAYS — Miyama / Kayabuki-no-Sato
When the thatched roofs turn to silhouettes
Just over an hour from central Kyoto, in Miyama, Nantan, is Kayabuki-no-Sato, where thatched farmhouses remain in a cluster. Chosen as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, this village is a quintessential Japanese landscape, held between the Yura River and the satoyama hills. Its real time begins in the evening, once the tour buses have gone.
What kind of place
In the northern hamlet of Kayabuki-no-Sato, some 40 thatched farmhouses are still used in daily life. Because it's a living village, visit with a quiet that won't intrude on residents' time.
By day it bustles with buses and cars, but as people leave in the evening, the thatched roofs become silhouettes against the sunset. The smell of smoke, the sound of insects, darkness falling on the satoyama. Not as a tourist site, but the village's own time returns.
Miyama has facilities set up for overnight vehicle stays, so you can pass the night a little apart from the village's bustle. Waking in the satoyama's morning mist is a quiet only those who stay know.
What you can do here
Spend time in the satoyama's dark and morning mist
A satoyama night with few streetlights, and morning mist rising along the river. A Miyama you meet only by staying.
Drive leisurely along the Yura River
Outside the village, cruise the satoyama road along the Yura River without deciding on a destination.
Spots to stop by
* See the scenery on the map. Tap a pin for anywhere that catches your eye.
かやぶきの里（北集落）
A village of thatched farmhouses. A place where people live.
道の駅 美山ふれあい広場
A base in Miyama. Local goods gathered here.
由良川（美山町)
A riverside road threading the satoyama.
Nearest RV park
車中泊Lab（美山）
A campsite in Miyama built specifically for overnight vehicle stays. Fully equipped with power, water, toilets, and showers. Open to any vehicle type.
※ Since the area around Kayabuki-no-Sato is where people live, base your overnight stay at a dedicated facility like this.
Trip tips
From the garage
About 1 to 1.5 hours from the garage in Nagaokakyo, Kyoto (via central Kyoto, as a rough guide).
Best seasons
Year-round. The thatched village under winter snow is exceptional (mind the cold and road conditions).
Notes on staying
Kayabuki-no-Sato is a village where people live. Park and stay overnight only at designated places, putting residents' lives first.
Head out to Miyama / Kayabuki-no-Sato with your companion.
It starts by choosing your dates and checking availability.