Open Air Museum of Old Japanese Farm Houses

The Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses is located within Hattori Ryokuchi Park. By public transport it is somewhat inconvenient: about 1 km from the West Exit of Ryokuchi-koen Station (Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway, connected to the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line), or about 2 km / roughly a 30-minute walk east from Hankyu Sone Station. However, using Hattori Ryokuchi’s parking makes visiting by car convenient. Opened in 1956 (Showa 31) as Japan’s first open-air museum, it features 11 relocated folk houses built from the 17th to 19th centuries, from Iwate Prefecture down to Amami Oshima in Kagoshima, all moved into Hattori Ryokuchi. The site is expansive (about 36,000 m²). Along with the houses, visitors can enjoy seasonal plants and trees such as plum and cherry blossoms, bamboo, persimmon, and many other flowers and greenery. Each house offers insight into regional climates and customs, letting visitors experience a cross-section of Japan’s traditional landscapes in one place. Seasonal events are also held, and some people visit specifically for those.