Visit Miyama Kyoto traditional thatched roof village, Kyoto’s best secret

Probably, you have heard a thousand times about Shirakawago traditional village but I bet you have rarely heard about Miyama traditional village in Kyoto. Explore the off-beaten part of Kyoto by embarking on a day trip to discover Kyoto’s best secret, Miyama traditional village.

Also, complete your one day Kyoto by the sea by visiting Miyama Kyoto traditional thatched roof village.

Miyama Kyoto Travel Guide(美山町)

Along the way, as we drive slowly to reach Miyama,  it was a stretch of captivating scenery that I can’t even peel my eyes off the window. It was a mountain retreat that I can’t experience in my daily life. 

Kyoto to Miyama 美山町

Miyama is a best-kept secret in Kyoto as compared to the famous Shirakawago traditional village. Miyama is situated in the northern part of Kyoto, approximately 80 minutes from Kyoto city by car. Discover other northern Kyoto popular attractions such as Amanohashidate and Ine fishing village that make your jaw drop!

Walk through my Kyoto vlog with me to uncover the hidden gems in Northern Kyoto with just 8 mins!

Getting Miyama local products and taste the famous Miyama milk gelato

Other than visiting Miyama traditional village, you can get souvenirs from the rest station. It seems like a rest station to me with a few shops and a tourist centre.

Furatto Miyama

To purchase local products from Miyama, you can get them at Furatto Miyama. Miyama local products sold include from fresh local grown vegetables to Miyama’s rice to their own sweets that come with different flavour that only can be found in Miyama.

Another highlight of Miyama is Miyama milk. The unique thing about Miyama milk is their milk production method. They are able to preserve the sweetness of the milk and its flavour by sterilizing it only at 85℃ for 15 minutes.

With a different production method from other milk company make Miyama milk stands out. Miyama milk has made into several products such as milk,  milk pudding, yoghurt & etc. Even until now, I could still remember the taste of the pudding. How smooth is the texture and rich in milk, I definitely wish to taste it again.

Before going, please take note of the business hours to avoid any disappointment.

Furatto Miyama

Address: Kita Miyama-cho Nantan-City Kyoto 601-0172

Operating hrs: 8:30am – 6:00pm (April – September) 8:30am – 5:00pm (October – March)

Miyama no Megumi Milk Studio 美山牛乳直營店

This is the Miyama milk shop which is just a stone away from Furatto Miyama. Get your favourite gelato or ice-cream made from Miyama milk here. There are also gelato with seasonal flavour if you are lucky.

Love how smooth and rich in milk is the gelato. The gelato definitely looks large in size that makes it more value in money. If you want to taste this exclusive gelato only at Miyama, you got to be early or on time as the shop closes straight at 4pm.

Miyama no Megumi Milk Studio

Address: 〒 601-0722 Kyōto Nantan Miyama Agakeshimo 23

Operating hours: 10:00am  – 4:00pm

After indulging the tasty gelato, it’s time to  visit Miyama traditional village.

The beauty of Miyama Kyoto, traditional thatched roof village (Kayabuki no Sato かやぶきの里)

Miyama is a traditional thatched roof village teeming with unspoilt luxuriant nature, nestled surrounding with lush mountains and mid-gushing Yura river by the side. Nothing out of the ordinary as though you are stepping back in time, back to nature.

Miyama traditional village has become a preservation district for Groups of Historic Buildings. There are approximately 40 farmhouses with a thatched roof in this village.

Drying miscanthus grass for next thatching

Thatched roof is mainly made of dried miscanthus and thatch. Thatched roof is the saviour to the local people because it helps them to protect against the strong wind from typhoon from ripping its roof completely. In summer, with a thatched roof it also makes the house cooling because it allows air to enter through the gaps.

Lucky us got to capture this beautiful sight where the locals are drying the miscanthus grass to prepare for the next thatching.

Things to do in Miyama Kyoto

Rejuvenates with fresh mountain air, it’s undoubtedly a place to visit in kyoto and suitable to spend a night at  Miyama traditional thatched roof guesthouse to experience an authentic stay in a traditional Japanese house with tatami floor, futon mattress (Tatami Bed) & open hearths (irori).

The perks of staying at Miyama is immersing yourself in the spectacular scenery of rich nature when a short escapade in needed from Kyoto city.

For a city dweller, getting a first-hand experience of Japan countryside stay and learning culture in the traditional village. Spending the day exploring the nearby nature attractions such as hiking in the mountains, cycling and river rafting in Miyama is simply priceless.

You could even buy a postcard and stamp at the post office in this village and send yourself a postcard and receive it back home. When I reached the village, the post office is closing, so I had to give it a miss.

For a day trip to Miyama village, you can stroll around this village and observe the local’s way of living quietly as most houses are still private homes. Occasionally, you can also spot them farming vegetables on their little farm.

There are some farmhouses that have transformed into cafes where you can dine in a traditional thatched roof house.  You can also visit the Kayabuki no Sato Folk Museum where it showcases traditional tools and daily household items from past decades.

A daytrip to Miyama traditional thatched village was a pleasant short mountain retreat experience. Enjoying this tranquil environment and nature in a less explored traditional village in Japan is literally extraordinary.