A guide to hidden rural gems in Kyoto, with location links
Just a short distance from Kyoto's bustling tourist centers lies a completely different world. Let's explore the simple, warm charm of rural Kyoto, far removed from the famous Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu temples.
## Miyama's Thatched-Roof Village
🗺 [Google Maps Location](https://goo.gl/maps/RT8bs8NzH7mHJyky9)
In Miyama-cho, Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture, a village of thatched-roof houses stands as if frozen in time. This living museum preserves the image of traditional Japanese farming villages. However, this is not merely a tourist attraction. People still live here, working their fields and carefully preserving seasonal traditions.
On winter mornings, cooking smoke rises from the thatched roofs. Daikon radishes and red peppers dry under the eaves. Cats bask in the sun on the wooden porches. These everyday scenes bring peace to the soul.
## The Mountain Village of Keihoku
🗺 [Google Maps Location](https://goo.gl/maps/6x8vX4BGd4FtQNNg6)
In the Keihoku region of Kyoto's Ukyo Ward, the art of charcoal-making still lives on in quiet mountain communities. Craftsmen carefully transform wood harvested from the mountains into charcoal. Though the work is demanding, pride shines in the artisans' eyes.
Spring brings wild mountain vegetable gathering, while autumn is the season for matsutake mushroom hunting. The local cuisine, made from mountain ingredients, exemplifies Kyoto's food culture by maximizing the natural flavors of each ingredient.
## The Satoyama of Ohara
🗺 [Google Maps Location](https://goo.gl/maps/UGqsQq8EDn6Qp8ju5)
In Ohara, Sakyo Ward—a landscape beloved by novelist Yasunari Kawabata—time seems to stand still. Around Jikko-in Temple, which dates back to the Heian period, terraced rice paddies and fields stretch into the distance. Local farmers preserve traditional agricultural methods while embracing new challenges.
The evening sun reflecting off the rice paddies creates breathtaking scenes. In firefly season, these gentle lights dance in the darkness, offering glimpses of nature's fleeting beauty.
## Life in Ikawa
🗺 [Google Maps Location](https://goo.gl/maps/wLJKQbWxpEmFGa9N6)
Ikawa in Hiyoshi-cho, Nantan City, is a quiet settlement near the headwaters of the Yura River. Here, local residents work together to protect the mountains and rivers through community initiatives.
Spring brings mountain vegetables, summer yields sweetfish, autumn offers chestnuts, and winter provides wild boar meat. The wisdom of using nature's seasonal bounty without waste continues to thrive here.
## The Tea Fields of Wazuka
🗺 [Google Maps Location](https://goo.gl/maps/NLQR7LBM8tzcKNkc6)
Wazuka-cho in Soraku District is known as one of Japan's premier gyokuro green tea producing regions. The tea fields spreading across gentle hills soothe viewers' hearts.
Tea farmers maintain their ancestral fields while experimenting with new varieties and cultivation methods. This balance of preserving tradition while embracing innovation might be called the wisdom of Kyoto.
## Conclusion
Rural Kyoto preserves precious elements often lost in urban areas: the connections between people, coexistence with nature, the spirit of preserving traditions, and the flexibility to accept new things.
Visit quietly, immerse yourself in local life. Such a journey will surely leave lasting impressions in your heart.