飛騨荘川の里, Folk museum in Shirakawa, Japan
Hida Shōkawa no Sato is an open-air museum in Gifu Prefecture's mountainous region that displays traditional Japanese farmhouses and household items used in daily rural life. The collection features authentic dwellings with their original furnishings that show how people lived and worked in this mountain area.
The museum was created to preserve traditional buildings from the former village of Shōkawa after they had to be relocated in the 1960s due to a dam construction project. This rescue through relocation allowed the knowledge of how people once lived in this mountain region to be saved and shared.
The site allows visitors to learn traditional crafts such as pottery, paper making, and wood carving directly from skilled local artisans working on-site. This hands-on approach connects visitors with knowledge that has been passed through generations of craftspeople in the Hida region.
The site is easily accessible with adequate parking and regular bus connections from Takayama Station available to visitors. Information panels in multiple languages help with navigation, and guided tours can be arranged for those who want more detailed explanations.
The museum operates functioning water wheels that demonstrate the traditional rice milling techniques once used throughout the Hida region and can be seen in action. These water-powered installations are still active and offer a direct view of how people once harnessed water for their work.
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