Discover Kyoto’s Otokuni Area: A Drive Through History, from Buddhist Statues to Stunning Architecture

Built in 1910, this is an old family home that is located on the historic site of Nagaoka-kyo, which is a former capital of Japan. The residence is preserved in the state it was built in over 100 years ago, which allows visitors to see what a traditional farmhouse looked like at the time. The building is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.

This is a restaurant that was renovated from the Nakano family residence, which is a registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Here, you can enjoy dishes that are made with special care in the "soup stock,” along with some liquor. The establishment is run by an organization that supports the workplaces of people with disabilities.

Hoshakuji Temple is located on the south side of Mt. Tenno (270m) near Oyamazaki Town on the border between Kyoto and Osaka Prefectures. The temple is beautiful year round with cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn. Every year on the third saturday in April, a large festival called "Oni Kusube" is held to smoke out bad demons and dispel disasters which culminates in the Fukumochi ceremony, which is said to grant health, wisdom, and wealth. According to temple records, Hoshakuji was built by the monk Gyoki who received the decree from Emperor Shomu in 724 (Jinki 1), and the "Uchide" and "Kozuchi" enshrined at the temple were given to Emperor Shomu by the dragon god in a dream. In Japanese folk tales, these mallet like items are is said to create anything you want when used, and are often seen as a symbol of wealth. By praying with them, the worshipers hope to have good luck, making the temple known as the "Treasure Temple." In addition, the temple hold many other treasures, such as the three-storied pagoda, which is said to have been built overnight by Toyotomi Hideyoshi during the Momoyama period, the eleven-faced Kannon Bodhisattva principal statue, and the Enma Daio sitting statue are powerful and overwhelming. This collection lead to the temple being designated as an “Important National Cultural Property.” The area has also been a major transportation and military hub since ancient times. In 1582 (Tensho 10), the mountain was the stage of the "Battle of Yamazaki" where Hideyoshi Hashiba (Toyotomi Hideyoshi) and Mitsuhide Akechi fought and it is said that Hideyoshi's headquarters was located at Hoshakuji Temple. At the side of the main hall, there is a stone called "Syuuse-ishi" or "Success Stone", which is said to have been used by Hideyoshi to sit down and think about the unification of the world. Because of its importance you need permission to actually sit down.

The Asahi Beer Oyamazaki Villa Museum of Art consists of the main building, which was built between the 1910s and early 1930s, and two annexes—the Underground Jewelry Box (South Wing) and the Dream Box (North Wing), designed by architect Tadao Ando. The main building contains ceramics by Kanjiro Kawai and Bernard Leach, as well as craftworks which were born from the Japanese Mingei (folk crafts) Movement. Works by Claude Monet, including the Water Lilies series, are on exhibit in the Underground Jewelry Box. This is a museum where visitors can enjoy invaluable architecture, an exquisite garden, and beautiful works on exhibit.