“KAYABUKI NO SATO”
Miyama, a town located in the north of Kyoto, typically experiences heavy snow during the winter season. Tucked away from the hustles and bustles of the town, there lies a small, quiet village called Kayabuki no Sato which is also known as a thatched roof village. A special winter illumination event often referred to as Yukitouro, lights up the entire village surrounded by blankets of snow.
Unlike other traditional villages such as Shirakawago, Kayabuki no Sato receives fewer visitors annually. Thus, the villagers are able to preserve the thatched roof houses pretty well and still maintain the peaceful, tranquil atmosphere of what an actual village is supposed to be, making it seem as if you have been sent back to the previous eras in Japanese history.
“ENCHANTED, DREAMLIKE LANDSCAPE”
During the coldest months of the year, especially in February, Kayabuki no Sato is being lit up, illuminating the village completely. Both visitors and locals alike participate in ‘snow lantern making’ activities and line them up on vast plain fields in the village blanketed in snow. These snow lanterns are actually little snow sculptures with candles placed in them. When night falls, they light up the candles, creating what seems to be like an enchanted, dreamlike landscape coming from a fairy tale. It is especially remarkable and elegant if it snows during the event.
To witness the magic of Yukitouro, it is recommended to stay the night there. There are no public transportations available at night. To stay the night there, you have plenty of options available, ranging from affordable minshukus to luxurious ryokans situated around the vicinity of the village. Access to the village, however, can be a little tricky. It is either by car or by bus. If you plan to drive by yourself, please be careful, especially drivers who are not used to driving in snowy conditions. Therefore, going by bus is the best option available. You can ride on these buses from Sonobe or Hiyoshi station, and it will roughly take around an hour to reach Kita-village, which is the stop for Kayabuki no Sato.
Yukitouro Snow Lantern Festival
5th February 2017 - 28th February 2017
Location
Kayabuki no Sato
Kita-village, Miyama Town
Nantan City, Kyoto Prefecture
Access By Public Transportation
First, please take JR San-in Line and get off at Sonobe Station or Hiyoshi Station.
(From Kyoto station to Sonobe station, it takes 35 minutes if you use rapid train)
Next, please take Nantan City Bus to Kita-village (Kayabuki no Sato) bus stop.
(It takes about 1 hour from Sonobe (or Hiyoshi) bus stop to Kita-village bus stop)
Access By Car
Please take the Kyoto Longitudinal Expressway. Get off at Sonobe IC and take prefectural road Route 19. After passing Miyawaki and Hiraya, you will be on Route 38. You will arrive at Kayabuki-no-sato (Kita-village) in about 50 minutes from Sonobe IC.
You can also get on Route 162 in Kyoto. Drive North, pass Keihoku, and get on Route 38 to reach Kayabuki-no-sato (Kita-village). It takes about 90 minutes from Kyoto City.
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