Heike Yashiki Museum of Folklore

The Heike Yashiki Museum of Folklore is a thatched farmhouse from 1867 that contains a traditional sunken hearth with a constantly burning wood fire at its center. The space is filled with everyday objects and tools that show how people lived in the mountainous Iya region.

The land where the museum stands was a refuge for Heike samurai who fled here 800 years ago after military defeats. The original house was the residence of descendants of Emperor Antoku's physician.

The name refers to the Heike samurai who settled in this region centuries ago, and their descendants who made it their home. The house reflects how people shaped daily life in remote mountain villages.

The house is easy to explore on foot since it contains only a few rooms and low doorways that require you to bend down to enter. Smoke from the firewood lingers in the air, so expect to encounter smoke and soot.

The property contains a rare storage building with wall paintings of water waves and jumping rabbits that have survived for generations. These artworks show how people decorated their buildings to bring hope and good fortune.