Miyama is a mountain valley in Nantan City, north of central Kyoto, where Kayabuki no Sato — the thatched village — preserves around 38 farmhouses with kayabuki roofs of densely packed susuki grass, the highest concentration of intact thatched architecture in Japan. The village was named an Important Preservation District in 1993 and remains a working farming community. Twice a year, in May and December, a fire-prevention drill turns the entire village into a fountain of water as 62 hidden hydrants — concealed inside small thatched-roof shelters that match the houses — fire simultaneously to coat every roof. The drill draws crowds for the brief rainbow it throws over the houses. The Little Indigo Museum (Hiroyuki Shindo's private indigo collection in a 1796 thatched farmhouse) and Chii Hachiman Shrine, founded in 1071 and the main shrine of nine villages in the Chii District, round out the day. About ten of the thatched houses operate as overnight minshuku. From Kyoto Station, take JR to Hiyoshi Station, then Nantan City Bus to Kita — budget around 2 hours each way.
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