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Miyama Nature & Culture Village Kajikaso Inn – Main

The ancient village of Miyama in northern Kyoto is located in a woodland where humans coexist with nature against the idyllic Japanese-landscape backdrop. In Miyama, you get a sense of nostalgia that may make you feel as if you've been there before, even on your first visit. Located next to the clear water of the Yura-gawa River, Kajikasou is a log-cabin accommodation with simple Japanese-style guest rooms and a large indoor bath and open-air bath. Here you can escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and relax. Kajikasou prides itself on its cuisine showcasing locally grown produce, including Miyama wild deer (available with the wild game course) and Miyama chicken (kyoji-dori, available with the sukiyaki course). In addition, there are seasonal kaiseki (formally arranged course) meal options, which include wild vegetables from the mountain in spring, sweetfish caught in the clear Yura-gawa River in summer, or boar meat hot pot in the winter. About 2 kilometers away and perfect for taking a walk or cycle to visit, you'll find the popular thatched roof village, Kayabuki no Sato. Miyama is especially beautiful in the winter, and you can enjoy the winter scenery with the Miyama Snow Shoe Hike through the snow-covered mountains. In other parts of the year there is also the very popular Ashiu Forest Guided Nature Trek that takes you through the secluded, primeval Ashiu Forest, and close to the head of the clear Yura-gawa River—an experience so popular that people often come back for it.

Woodland Kyoto

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Casa Miyama

Casa Miyama is a 110 year-old thatched roof country home in a small hamlet in Miyama, Kyoto, recreated by a pair of photographers. Currently, the thatched roof is covered with tiling, but if you climb up to the attic, you can still see the building's wonderful thatching. While preserving the old home's original structure, the traditional fittings within have been restored by hand and reused. The veranda overlooking the garden, and Japanese-style rooms have also been preserved, but update to fit modern lifestyles. Visitors are invited to enjoy a Japanese interior that harmonizes perfectly with the accents of Spanish and Scandinavian furniture within.

Woodland Kyoto

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Keburikawa

Keburikawa is located deep within the Yunohana Onsen region, which is often referred to as "Kyo no Okuzashiki," meaning a getaway location close to the city of Kyoto. Legend has it that long ago in the Sengoku period (the "period of warring states," from 1467-1615), samurai warriors would come to these hot springs to heal their wounds.
Today, you can visit Kyoto-Keburikawa for day trips, and experience the traditional tatami flooring, natural hot springs, and open-air baths. For dining options, there are two restaurants: Ishigama Dining Hanari, where you can enjoy an ishigama course of stone oven cooking, or Satoyama Dining Daichi, with its formal kaiseki course meal that uses vegatables harvested fresh from the inn's own garden, and also offers a generous buffet lunch option. Inside the grounds of Kyoto-Keburikawa there is also a woodland garden with a foot bath, where you can relish the feeling of a slow-paced lifestyle. Kyoto-Keburikawa is also the perfect location to enjoy the nearby Sagano Romantic train and Hozugawa boat ride.

Woodland Kyoto

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Hanare Ninoumi

Hanare Ninoumi is made up of three buildings, "Okyo," "Baigan," and "Ryokai," renovated from a 100 year-old building. Even as the beauty and elegance of the original has been preserved, the building's plumbing has been completely updated to accomodate a comfortable modern lifestyle. Take your leisure as you enjoy taking in the traditions and history of Kameoka City as part of a modern-day lifestyle.

*Because the facility is exclusively used for overnight guests, Hanare Ninoumi is closed to visitors seeking tours. We ask for your understanding.

Woodland Kyoto

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Japanese Washi Paper Label-Making

Design your own original sake label and stick it on a bottle of "Ayakomachi" from Wakamiya Sake Brewery, the only brewery in Ayabe, with a history of 100 years. The finished sake bottle with its label is perfect as a gift or for yourself! You can also visit the production site of Kurotani washi (traditional Japanese paper) and Wakamiya Sake Brewery.

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Furuma-ya Cooking Class

Furuma-ya is a traditional thatched-roof home built in the Edo period (1603-1868), and has since been remade into a farmhouse inn.
There's a feeling of homemade warmth in the house, on which the owner worked hard to rennovate.
Perfect for those who want to step away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a more relaxing experience, here you can vegetarian food with local country vegetables and other ingredients, together with the charming owner of this popular inn.
Vegan options are also available, and Furuma-ya will also try to accomodate Halal requests.

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A Kyoto Field Trip For Grown-Ups! Make a Kyo-Kuksa Mug with Tanshu Wood & Forestry Tour

Enter the forests of Kyoto, and learn about the timber industry with a first-hand tour, from the felling of trees to their transformation into lumber at the sawmill.
Learn about Woodland Kyoto's unique forestry, enjoy lunch in the forest, and take in the relaxing surroundings.

"Tanshu timber" is the nickname given to cedar and cypress grown along the Yura River in the Chutan area. It s a high quality timber that has been traded at high prices since ages past.
The kuksa (guksi) mugs made here are a traditional handicraft of the Sami people indigenous to Finland, and it is said that the person who is gifted one of these mugs is sure to find happiness.

During this activity, participants will make their own Kyo-Kuksa mugs by filing down a mug that's about 80% finished.
By filing down the remaining 20%, you can make a mug that fits the shape of your own hand.

Experience for yourself the process by which a living tree in the forest is transformed into an object we use in our daily lives.


1. Meet up
2. Go to forest *It is preferable that you come dressed in clothes that you don't mind getting dirty, and bring work gloves.
3. See the felling of trees
4. Eat lunch on a tree stump *Please bring your own lunch.
5. Sawmill tour
6. Kuksa mug-making *You will be able to take your own kuksa mug home with you on the day of the activity.

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Hozugawa river boat ride

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Hozu-gawa River Boat Ride

Kyoto's premiere spot for scenic beauty, flowing 16km between the mountains leading to Arashiyama, the Hozugawa River was once an important waterway used for transporting lumber to the capital. Today, visitors can enjoy the Hozu-gawa River Boat Ride, a two-hour journey through nature. The Hozu-gawa River Boat Ride is guided by 3-5 skilled boatsmen who steer you through scenic landscapes, offering views of cherry blossoms in the spring, fresh green foliage in the summer, the colored leaves of autumn, and the massive boulders and fantastic rock formations along the way. Experience the deep pools, rapids, and all the thrills of an ever-changing mountain river.

Woodland Kyoto

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Masahiro Sword Smithing Experience

Learn about Japanese swords/katana from an active Japanese swordsmith, and use tamahagane, the same type of steel used to make Japanese swords, to make a hilt-less, small, sword-shaped blade (tousugata kogatana).

In this activity, you can step into the world of katana, and learn all about the culture of Japanese swords in a single day.
Stretch the steel with your own hands to create a 15 cm blade.

Woodland Kyoto

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Raku-ware Pottery Experience

At Shoraku Kiln, pottery-throwing activities are carried out on a reservation-only system. Experience making raku-ware pottery tea bowls in the same way as the raku-ware craftsmen.
After shaping the dough by hand, it is dried for about one hour, and then cut into the desired shape and weight to finish your very own piece.
Only raku-ware tea bowls can be made during this activity.

Woodland Kyoto

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Zen Meditation

There is a small zen temple at the end of a road that stretches through the rice fields.
In this entirely private environment, you can speak with a Buddhist monk, and after bringing your body into balance with some stretching, you can experience seated zen meditation.
Come have your own personal meditation experience.

Woodland Kyoto

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Kemari Experience

The traditional ball game kemari has a history in Japan stretching back over 1,400 years. Indispensible to the game is its deerskin ball. The only kemari master who produces these deerskin balls according to the traditional methods is in Kyotamba, Kyoto Prefecture. Yutatsu Ikeda has 45 years of experience as a kemari player, and in addition to a demonstration, he will also explain the essence of kemari to participants.

Woodland Kyoto

Another Kyoto Partners