Oyacho Osugi is a historic mountain village in Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture, known for its distinctive traditional farmhouses built during the heyday of silkworm farming. The area was designated a Historic Landscape Formation District by Hyogo Prefecture in 2001 and selected as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 2017. Its village streetscape preserves the distinctive architecture and rural landscape that developed around Japan’s traditional silk industry.
Located in the Tajima region of northern Hyogo Prefecture, Oyacho Osugi is a mountain settlement along the Oya River. Sericulture, the raising of silkworms to produce silk, once played an important role in the local economy. From the late Meiji period through the early Showa period, many farmhouses were built with three wooden stories, with the upper floors used as silkworm-rearing rooms.
These houses have characteristic gabled roofs covered with ceramic tiles, raised roof structures known as koshiyane for ventilation, thick exterior walls finished in the traditional okabe-zukuri style, and tall windows extending close to the floor. Their design reflects the practical needs of silkworm farming, which required suitable spaces for raising silkworms and controlling airflow.
The village’s historical character is also shaped by its mountain setting. Streams, waterways, stone retaining walls, and the arrangement of houses along the valley form a cohesive landscape that reflects generations of rural life in Tajima.
The preservation district contains traditional main houses and storehouses dating from the late Edo period through the 1950s. The three-story sericulture farmhouses are particularly distinctive, with their tiled gabled roofs, ventilation structures known as nuki, solid exterior walls, and large windows.
There are 27 main houses in the Osugi district, including 12 three-story sericulture farmhouses. A survey conducted in fiscal year 2006 recorded 495 three-story sericulture farmhouses across Yabu City. This type of rural architecture is rare nationwide, making Osugi an especially valuable place to understand how the silk industry shaped traditional Japanese homes and communities.
Rather than preserving individual buildings in isolation, the district retains the relationship between the houses, surrounding terrain, waterways, and stone walls. Together, these features convey the appearance of a village during the prosperous years of sericulture.
Ninomiya Shrine is a historic Shinto shrine in Yabu City and one of the local religious sites associated with the area’s cultural heritage.
Daifukuji is a Buddhist temple in Yabu City that adds to the region’s traditional religious landscape.
This traditional three-story sericulture farmhouse has been adapted for overnight stays. It offers visitors an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of a historic rural home while exploring the surrounding village.
The Woodcarving Exhibition Hall occupies a former medical clinic that is approximately 120 years old. It showcases woodcarving and folk art and hosts the national open-call exhibition Woodcarving Folk Art Oya, which brings together artists and visitors interested in this distinctive art form.
The remains of Osugi Castle provide another glimpse into the area’s past. The historic site complements the village’s architectural heritage and offers an additional point of interest for visitors exploring the district.
Oya Art Village BIG LABO is an art and creative activity center established in 2012 in a former branch campus of Yoka High School that had closed. It connects local culture with contemporary art through hands-on activities, workshops, exhibitions, and opportunities for artists to work on their creations.
Hirameki Lab offers classes and workshops in a variety of creative fields, including woodcarving, woodworking, calligraphy, painting, ceramics, and textile arts. Visitors can explore traditional and modern techniques through practical activities.
Tokimeki Lab includes rental studios, a manga library, a children’s craft room, and an interactive gallery. The facility provides spaces for learning, making art, and enjoying creative activities in a relaxed setting.
Labo × Labo is an exhibition venue created by converting a former school gymnasium. Its open, informal atmosphere makes it suitable for displaying a wide range of artworks produced by artists and workshop participants.
The Silkworm Village Learning Center and the Morikuni Uegaki Sericulture Memorial Hall commemorate Morikuni Uegaki, a local figure who made significant contributions to Japan’s sericulture industry. The facilities recreate an early Showa-period sericulture farmhouse and introduce visitors to the daily lives and working practices of families who raised silkworms.
From around late May, visitors can observe silkworms being raised and learn about their development over a period of approximately one month. A Silkworm Festival is also held in June, featuring demonstrations and hands-on activities related to traditional techniques such as making silk wadding and drawing silk thread.
These facilities offer a closer understanding of how sericulture supported rural communities and influenced the design of homes throughout the region. They also provide an engaging way to discover the skills and knowledge passed down through generations of silk producers.
The area around Oyacho Osugi offers a variety of attractions combining history, nature, and art. Visitors can explore the Woodcarving Exhibition Hall, dispersed galleries housed in former sericulture farmhouses, and nearby destinations such as Tendaki Waterfall, the Silkworm Village facilities, Oya Art Village BIG LABO, and Ayu Park.
Whether you are interested in traditional Japanese architecture, the history of silk production, local crafts, or outdoor scenery, the Osugi area provides an opportunity to experience the cultural heritage of the Tajima region at a relaxed pace. Its preserved farmhouses and mountain setting offer a vivid reminder of a way of life shaped by agriculture, craftsmanship, and the natural environment.