Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses in Osaka

Plum blossoms at Open-Air Museum of Japanese Farmhouses, Osaka

It’s plum-blossom time in Japan. My history-buff, Classics major son is visiting us for Spring break, so we wandered around to view some late blooming sites, including Osaka Castle Park.

Windmill from Sakai at Plum blossoms at Open-Air Museum of Japanese Farmhouses, Osaka

A big secret to view some gorgeous plum blossoms without the massive crowds is to head to the Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses in Hattori Rkyokuchi Park Tonoyaka City, Osaka. A link to a PDF with lots of info here.

Can we just all go back to living in harmony with nature like this?

Idyllic, thatch roof houses that were built during the Edo period (17th-19th century) have been brought in from all over Japan here.

Many of them are designated an important cultural property.

And there are no crowds! Unlike in Kyoto or at Osaka Castle Park.

The Gassho-zukuri style Farmhouse from Hida-Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture’s is particularly interesting. The farmhouse villages of Hida-Shirakawa were a unique society of large families. We were lucky we were there on a Tuesday, because the second floor of the farmhouse is only open then.

Fire pit at the Gassho-zukuri Hida Shirakawa Farmhouse from Hida Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture

An English-speaking guide led us up the rickety steps to the second floor to view the silk worm production that these large families engaged in. He said the family would hear the silkworms chewing at night! That would drive me insane! What intense lives these people had!

Playing the shakuhachi at the Gassho-zukuri Hida Shirakawa Farmhouse from Hida Shirakawa in Gifu Prefecture

Our guide then played the shakuhachi, Japanese flute made from bamboo, for us near the fire pit in the middle of the floor. The smoke of cedar wood had filled the entire room and I still had its scent on me on the subway home!

Enjoy more photos from this wonderful place! I hope you visit! Japan is just so wonderful!

Thatched roof.

Buddha statues

Folk art made from rice straw with a boar mask.

Boke, or Chaenomeles japonica, a species of flowering quince found on the grounds in addition to buttercups, a bamboo forest, vegetable garden and more!

 

Enjoy the beauty, history, silence and tranquility at the Open-Air Japanese Farm House Museum in Osaka!

 

 

 

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