Myojo Soan

Myojo Soan: Step into a Taisho-Era Thatched Farmhouse

Tucked away in the mountains of Kihoku Town in Ehime Prefecture, Myojo Soan is a carefully restored thatched-roof farmhouse that offers visitors a rare window into the daily life of rural Shikoku during the Taisho period (1912–1926). Part of the Myojogaoka cultural complex in the Hiyoshi district, this charming heritage building invites you to slow down, sit on the engawa veranda, and listen to the delicate sounds of a suikinkutsu water chime while gazing out at the surrounding mountain landscape.

Kihoku Town is the only municipality in Japan whose name contains the kanji character for "oni" (demon), a reflection of the rich folklore woven into this region's identity. Within this setting, Myojo Soan stands as a quiet testament to the farming communities that shaped this mountainous corner of Shikoku for centuries.

What Is Myojo Soan?

Myojo Soan is a restored traditional minka (folk house) originally built during the Taisho era. The building features a distinctive kayabuki (thatched) roof crafted from locally sourced grasses, a construction technique that provided natural insulation against the region's humid summers and cold winters. The property is enclosed by dobei (earthen walls) and includes a tsuyomon (entrance gate) and a dokura (earthen storehouse), creating a self-contained homestead typical of prosperous farming families in the southern Shikoku highlands.

Today, the farmhouse functions as an open-air museum within the Myojogaoka complex, which is managed by Kihoku Town. Inside, visitors can explore the doma (earthen-floored work area), the irori (sunken hearth) that once served as the heart of household life, and spacious tatami rooms where families gathered. The house is furnished with authentic period items including farming tools, kitchen utensils, and everyday household goods, all carefully arranged to recreate the atmosphere of a working farmstead.

Cultural Significance

Myojo Soan holds considerable value as a preserved example of vernacular architecture from the mountain villages of southern Ehime. Thatched-roof farmhouses were once widespread across rural Japan, but their numbers have declined dramatically during the postwar era as modernization transformed the countryside. The restoration and preservation of Myojo Soan ensures that future generations can experience the building techniques, spatial design, and lifestyle patterns that characterized mountain farming communities in Shikoku.

The farmhouse also serves as an important repository of material culture. The farming implements and daily-use objects displayed within its walls document the ingenuity and resourcefulness of communities that thrived in a challenging mountainous environment, cultivating rice in terraced paddies, producing washi (handmade paper), and harvesting forest products including yuzu citrus, which remains one of Kihoku's signature crops today.

Highlights and What to See

The Myojogaoka Cultural Complex

Myojo Soan is part of the larger Myojogaoka cultural area, which brings together several facilities dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Hiyoshi district and greater Kihoku region. Within walking distance of the farmhouse, visitors can explore the following:

• Rekishi Minzoku Shiryokan (History and Folk Museum) — exhibits on local history, traditional customs, and folk artifacts of the Kihoku area.
• Buzaemon Ikki Kinenkan (Buzaemon Uprising Memorial Hall) — dedicated to the 1793 peasant uprising led by a local farmer named Buzaemon, who organized thousands of villagers to protest unjust taxation by the Yoshida Domain.
• Ono Sakutaro Chishitsukan (Ono Sakutaro Geological Museum) — honoring the achievements of geologist Ono Sakutaro, a native of the former Hiyoshi Village.
• Itani Family Residence — a historic house offering sweeping views over the Hiyoshi district townscape.

A single admission ticket covers all facilities within the Myojogaoka complex, making it easy to spend a leisurely half-day exploring the area's cultural offerings.

Surrounding Area and Nearby Attractions

Kihoku Town and the broader Nanyo region of Ehime Prefecture offer a wealth of experiences for travelers who venture beyond the beaten path. The town sits along the upper reaches of the Hiromi River, the largest tributary of the famous Shimanto River, one of Japan's last free-flowing waterways. Nearby destinations include the Narikawa Gorge within the Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park, where visitors can enjoy hiking among dramatic rock formations and pristine streams; the Michi no Eki Hiyoshi Yumesanchi roadside station, featuring local produce and the town's renowned kiji (pheasant) cuisine; and the remains of Ryozan Tomyoji temple, steeped in legends of oni (demons) that give the town its unique name.

For those interested in extending their journey, the nearby town of Matsuno offers the Nametoko Gorge, famous for its smooth granite river slides and waterfalls, as well as the atmospheric ruins of Kagomori Castle. The city of Uwajima, approximately 30 minutes away by car, is home to Uwajima Castle and the traditional togyu (bull-fighting) arena.