For those who want to experience something you can't taste in the city.
Why don’t you spend a day in Ayabe Kyoto where you can feel warm heart of locals?
What are special things about “Ayabe” located in the northern part of Kyoto?
There are two expressways and the JR SANIN line, so you can come from Kyoto- city within one hour and from Osaka-city within two hours.
In the city center, it is an area where you can glimpse the history and culture that have flourished with Omoto religion, a kind of Japanese Shintoism and the sericultural industry by GUNZE, one of the most famous fiber product companies in Japan.
If you drive a little bit, you will find the SATOYAMA area, where the traditional lifestyle remains deeply.
In fact, there are many highlights, so it is too short to enjoy them on a day trip.
Actually Ayabe has the largest numbers of farm-stay accommodations in Kyoto prefecture, and you can enjoy a relaxing trip by staying at farm-stay accommodations and then experience a country-side life.
Three appeals of “Ayabe”
People who have been keeping their tradition and lifestyle in the village
～Learning values of the lifestyle in the countryside～
“Meeting people” is one of the real pleasures of traveling.
It could be life-changing experience by coming in touch with people's life and value deeply for a while.
Ayabe has been a trading and highway town since old times, so various people have been gathering.
There are people who keep the traditional lifestyle, such as making Rice cakes or Miso, people who hand down traditional techniques such as WASHI(Japanese paper), to the future, and people who moved from other cities and enjoy the lifestyle of Satoyama.
Nature remains in Japanese Satoyama and SUIGEN NO SATO village
～Feel the real nature you cannot find in the city～
Please come experience new sustainable tourism and nature conservation in depopulated areas.
In Ayabe City, you can enjoy trekking the forest of Japanese horse chestnut trees that are from a few hundreds to over 1000 years old, or visiting the village where “SHAGA”(wild fringed irises), “MITSUMATA(paper tree)” plants, daffodils bloom, and hiking the ancient trail.
“SUIGEN NO SATO” which literally means “the villages that have a source of river” are the villages depopulated and the most residents are senior generation. And some In those village, they held many different kinds of event with people from the city, or produce goods from local ingredient, and also accept volunteer activities. And the city support those activities with man-power and also finance.
The goal of this action are revitalize the depopulated village and having people come back or move from cities. This idea now widespread around Japan. Over 150 communities join in SUIGEN NO SATO villages.
Farm stay accommodations where you can experience food, lifestyle and culture
～Experiencing rural life just by staying～
There are many farm stay accommodations in Ayabe city where you can enjoy the life of Satoyama.
What is characteristic of farm stays in Ayabe is that most of them run by regional migrants who practice “Half-Agriculture and Half-X" lifestyle, which is famous theory recreated by Mr Naoki Shiomi.
You can take a relax forgetting about the hustle and bustle of the city, experience agriculture or food making workshop, and have local cuisine at a nostalgic accommodation with homely atmosphere.
You can also consult hosts about regional migration and visit vacant houses.
We’ll take care of you.
We are specialists about “Ayabe”
Mr. Kuchu who is an owner of travel agency, MATA TABI and guesthouse will arrange experience tours and accommodations.
Mr. Ida who is an owner of a Japanese restaurant, Yuzuki will introduce food experiences and rice farmers.
Mr. Harada, who is a president of a real estate company, Harada-shoten will support your regional migration.
Eat / Experience / Stay
Introducing examples of ond-day plan in "Ayabe"
SUSTAINABLE TOUR
LEARN NEW LIFE STYLE
Visiting the villages, and meeting locals who work for a revitalization of their village. Some make local products, other held an events. And also you can join in the volunteer work.
*The volunteer is depending on the season.
Visiting locals who revitalization or restoration of the forest, village.
And see how they make their place last long
In Ayabe, you will meet many “I Turn(people moved from city)”s.
Some make their life sustainable, other make it minimum.
Come to learn a new life style.
Learning a traditional technique in Ayabe which has history of 800 years
～All about Washi tour～
Kurotani Washi (Japanese traditional paper) is used for cultural assets like paper sliding doors in Nijo castle or Mansho-in temple etc, because it is so durable that we can preserve for a long time.
This technique was registered by Kyoto Prefecture as an intangible cultural asset.
Kurotani Washi is all hand-made from processing “Kozo”(a kind of mulberry) which is raw material of Washi.
You can learn about hand-made paper process and experience in making Washi.
Making “MOCHI”(rice cake) made of “Kozo” leaves which aren’t used for making Washi. You can pound MOCHI with traditional tools called “USU” and “KIINE”.Please enjoy eating “MOCHI” while talking with local women group.
Washi(Japanese traditional paper) / Sake brewing / MACCHA green tea
For those who would like to enjoy tradition and food in Ayabe.
You can see and experience making KUROTANI WASHI paper.
You can make your original Sake label by hand-made paper.
Why don’t you make your original SAKE by pasting your own WASHI label on a SAKE bottle at WAKAMIYA SAKE brewery?
You can take a look at the facility and lean how they make SAKE.
You can also taste KAISEKI cuisine. After lunch you can experience preparing green tea “MACCHA” by your self.
In addition, you can experience various "Ayabe"
Why don’t you spend a day in Ayabe Kyoto where you can feel human warm heart and hospitality?
You can make various reservations at the site of "eat," "experience," and "stay" in Ayabe.
Please check out the charms of SATOYAMA and rural areas that you cannot experience in urban areas.