Higo Minka Village, located in Tamana City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is an open-air museum where you can see, touch, and experience the lives of people in the past through relocated and restored folk houses from various regions. Seven houses stand side-by-side, including the Kyōkei family residence (a nationally designated Important Cultural Property) built in March 1830 (Bunsei 13), the Fuse family residence (a municipally designated Important Cultural Property) from Jōetsu City, Niigata Prefecture, built approximately 300 years ago, and a house with a stone roof from Tsushima Island. Each house offers unique insights into the lifestyles and architectural styles of the time. For example, the Kyōkei family residence, a spacious home of a wealthy farmer from the Edo period, boasts extravagant decorations. The Fuse family residence showcases the traditional architecture of the Jōetsu region of Niigata Prefecture, featuring a thatched roof and earthen walls. The stone-roofed house from Tsushima Island demonstrates the unique building techniques of a snowy region. In addition to these folk houses, Higo Minka Village also features a historical and folk materials museum displaying artifacts from the pre-Jomon to Kofun periods, allowing visitors to learn about the history and culture of the Higo region. A renovated folk house serves as an art museum, showcasing contemporary art and traditional crafts, blending modern and traditional aesthetics. Various workshops are offered (fee applies, reservations required), including woodworking, soba noodle making, and pottery, providing fun for all ages. Overnight stays are also available in the folk houses, perfect for those who wish to fully immerse themselves in the lifestyle of the past.
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