Attractions in the village of Nakagawa

** Town of Kitayama Cedars

Guide Map of attractions in Nakagawa

Just 30 minutes drive from the central part of Kyoto city. The village of Nakagawa offers full of attractions for your visit. The profundity of Kitayama Cedars and production of Polished logs of Kitayama developed in the history of 600 years. Enjoy the beauty of nature that represents four seasons, warm hospitality of locals etc. Please make the most of your visit as you stroll around in the slow passing of time in the village.

1. Forest of Daisugi ( Copious foundation cedar )

This woodcraft of foundation cedar was originally invented in the region of Kitayama for their nature of producing multiple offshoots from one large base trunk. First we make a foundation of cedar trunk with layers by scrupulous pruning. Once the foundation is made those layers start propagating into new trunks shooting upright. Later, these man-made trunks will be harvested as logs. Much of plantation works are reduced with this method for those offshoots are constantly produced on its base trunk. The graceful appearance in the shape of these curvaceous trunks makes “ Daisugi “ a popular feature of Japanese gardens.

2. Nakagawa Hachimangu Shrine

The shrine takes its origin from worship of mountain gods enshrined in this place as guardians in Kamakura period (12th century). Later, the clan of Genji settled in this location and found this Nakagawa Hachimangu Shrine. In its precincts there is a mother tree of White Cedar which represents the region of Kitayama. The tree is 600 years old and regarded as a sacred tree of this shrine.

3. Monument of Gyokei

This stone monument was built in 1966 to memorialize a visit of current emperor and empress in the village of Nakagawa. On its side is another monument built when Kitayama Cedar was designated as a natural asset of Kyoto prefecture.

4. Townscape of Nakagawa

The village of Nakagawa was affected twice by fire in the late Meiji period (1868-1912) . The houses in the village were restored by the hands of carpenters of Wakasa. There are many houses in the village involved in the works of the Polished logs of Kitayama. Those houses are attached with a hut where they can process and preserve their logs. The typical structure of houses in the village is characterized by the feature of small roof–like structure on the top of their main roof where the smoke is ventilated above the backside of a hearth constructed in the floor called Irori.

5．Sorenji Temple ( Not open to public )

It was at the end of Muromachi period (1333-1573) when Saint Enyoshi built a temple hall in this location. This is the beginning of Sorenji Temple. The temple is known for the exquisite beauty of flowers and trees that colorfully represent the nature of four seasons in this location. Especially for the one called Syuumei-giku ( Japanese anemone) gently decorate its landscape in light crimson color, the temple is also known as “ Flower Temple “.

6. House of Ueda’s

The house is the only remaining structure constructed with thatched roof. This type of house is called Kominka ( the term kominka refers to an old traditional Japanese folk house ) The house was constructed in the late 18th century and displays the feature of Japanese traditional architectural techniques. There is beautiful Daisugi forming a hedge along the approach to the house.

7. Yama-no-mendokoro ( Noodle house in the mountain )

This restaurant was converted from one of those kominka houses in the village. The operation of its business is limited to Sundays and national holidays from 11:00 to 16:00. The restaurant serves noodle dishes along with a plate of seasonal fresh vegetables to be grilled over the Irori heath to enjoy the atmospheric dining experience in the village. The hearty noodle is made from three different kinds of grain characterized in its quality of bouncy texture.

8. Group of wooden warehouses

This is a part of storage buildings for the logs in the process of preservation along with the development of forest industry of Kitayama. These buildings were constructed in early Showa period (1926-1989). They were once used for the purpose of processing and drying and storing logs. These buildings have unique appearance consist of 3 levels inside. There is an extra level called mid-third floor constructed between the second and the 3rd floor. Even though the buildings are no longer in use, the presence of these structure is still remaining to strike out in the view and continue to remind us of the past when villagers used to come in and out with logs on their shoulders.

9. Waterfall of Bodai

This is a waterfall located in the middle of Bodai stream. The stream is a tributary which flows into Kiyotaki River. The water drops the height of 10 meters into the basin below. In the past, those logs were polished in this basin with the sand collected around this place.

10. Daisugi aged 400 years

This is the biggest Daisugi considered to be 400 years old. The tree is still actively producing potential trunks for logs.