Heike Yashiki Folk Museum
Heike Yashiki Folk Museum
平家屋敷民俗資料館
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Heike Yashiki Folk Museum is a fine example of a stately traditional home and a great place for those who are interested in learning about Iya's history as well as for those who love encountering architecture and antiques.
Built in 1867 at the end of Japan's Edo-era, the thatched-roof house sits on an ancient site which dates back to when the Heike Samurai
came to the Iya Valley over 800 years ago to escape. The house belongs to the descendants Naiki Horikawa, who traveled into Iya with the fugitive Heike, and it is said that he was the personal doctor of the young Emperor Antoku who was brought to Iya to hide.
The family changed their surname to Nishioka several hundred years ago, and currently the 20th generation of the Nishioka family manages the house.
The Heike Yashiki house sits in a lovely garden
with a variety of flowering trees, some of which are 800 years old and date back to when the Heike settled in the area. The views looking out into Oboke are wonderful.
Next to house is the family's kura
building, which is a type of fire-resistant storage warehouse that is typically only found on the properties of wealthy families in Japan, and is one of the few kuras
in the Iya Valley area.
Inside the main house there is a large collection of antiques and relics on display, most of which date back well over a century. There is also a traditional irori
floor hearth
which the owners light daily, and by sitting around this now-rare fire pit, it is certainly a fantastic way to experience what life was like for the Iya people in the past (the fire is only lit in the morning, and not maintained in the afternoon, so come before mid-day if wishing to see it alight).
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Local Points
The Heike Yashiki Folk Museum
is located on the side of a mountain about a 5-10 minute drive up from the Oboke Area
on the way to Central Nishi-Iya.
The house is situated at an elevation a couple hundred meters above the Yoshino River, and offers views that look out into the Oboke Gorge and the mountains beyond. In the early morning (usually before 9am) the location could be a good place to see the Sea of Clouds (unkai) fog formatins, particularly in the early spring and autumn.
The house is situated at an elevation a couple hundred meters above the Yoshino River, and offers views that look out into the Oboke Gorge and the mountains beyond. In the early morning (usually before 9am) the location could be a good place to see the Sea of Clouds (unkai) fog formatins, particularly in the early spring and autumn.
Access by Car
By car, Heike Yashiki Folk Museum
is pretty easy to access. The house is located on Rt 45
with signs and banner flags along the road, about a 5 to 10 minute drive up from the Oboke Area
and you would pass it on your way to Central Nishi-Iya.
You can park in the parking area along the road park (there are a few drink vending machins here too) and then walk a short distance up to the house, or you can drive up their driveway and park at a small lot up top.
You can park in the parking area along the road park (there are a few drink vending machins here too) and then walk a short distance up to the house, or you can drive up their driveway and park at a small lot up top.
Access by Bus & Foot
By bus, the appropriately named Heike Yashiki Mae Bus Stop
is located at the roadside parking area where there are also some drink vending machines, and from here it is a short walk up the driveway to the house. Buses from Oboke take about 10 minutes, and to/from central Nishi-Iya it is also about 10 minutes.
If looking to walk to/from JR Oboke Station it is about 3.5km, but it is uphill the whole way. Walking up to Heike Yashiki woud take about 1 hour, but walking down would be about 45 minutes. (Walking to/from Central Nishi-Iya is not recommended because you would need to walk through the 1km long Iya Tunnel.)
If looking to walk to/from JR Oboke Station it is about 3.5km, but it is uphill the whole way. Walking up to Heike Yashiki woud take about 1 hour, but walking down would be about 45 minutes. (Walking to/from Central Nishi-Iya is not recommended because you would need to walk through the 1km long Iya Tunnel.)