Yabu City Oya-cho Osugi: A Mountain Village Where Japan's Silk Heritage Lives On

Tucked away in the mountain valleys of northern Hyogo Prefecture, the small village of Osugi in Yabu City preserves one of Japan's most remarkable rural landscapes. Here, towering three-story wooden farmhouses — built specifically for silkworm cultivation — line a narrow valley along the Oya River, offering visitors an extraordinary glimpse into a way of life that once sustained entire communities in the Tajima region.

Designated as a nationally Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 2017, Osugi is a living testament to the ingenuity and resilience of rural Japan. For international visitors seeking authentic cultural experiences far from the tourist crowds, this quiet village offers something truly rare: an intact sericulture settlement where architecture, landscape, and history remain beautifully interwoven.

The History of Sericulture in Osugi

The origins of Osugi as a settlement date back to at least the mid-16th century. During the Edo period (1603–1868), villagers began raising silkworms as a supplementary occupation alongside farming. However, it was from the late Meiji era through the early Showa period (roughly the 1890s to 1930s) that sericulture transformed from a side business into the primary industry of the region.

The Tajima area of northern Hyogo, particularly the Oya River valley, became the most prolific sericulture region in the entire prefecture. The mountainous terrain and heavy snowfall made conventional agriculture difficult during winter months, so local farmers turned to silk production as their main source of income. This economic shift drove a remarkable architectural evolution: ordinary two-story farmhouses were expanded and rebuilt into distinctive three-story structures, with the upper floors dedicated entirely to silkworm rearing rooms.

By the Taisho era (around the 1910s–1920s), a distinctive architectural form had emerged in Osugi that was perfectly adapted to local sericulture needs. These unique buildings combined insulation for cold winters with excellent ventilation for maintaining the delicate temperature and humidity conditions required by silkworms. The sericulture industry eventually declined after World War II due to competition from synthetic fibers such as nylon, but the architectural legacy of this golden era remains remarkably well preserved in Osugi.

Why Osugi Was Designated a National Preservation District

On July 31, 2017, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology designated approximately 5.8 hectares of Osugi as a nationally Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. This made Osugi the 115th such district in Japan, and only the fourth in the country to receive the classification of "mountain village and sericulture settlement." Notably, it was the first such designation in all of western Japan.

The district was recognized because its traditional buildings and surrounding environment distinctively represent the regional character of the area. Within the preservation district, there are 27 main residential buildings, of which 12 are the rare three-story sericulture farmhouses. A 2006 survey across all of Yabu City identified 495 three-story sericulture farmhouses — an astonishing concentration that is unmatched anywhere else in Japan.

What makes Osugi especially valuable is not just the individual buildings but the completeness of the settlement landscape. The traditional farmhouses stand alongside storehouses, shrine buildings, stone walls, water channels, and communal washing places called "araito." Together, these elements create an integrated rural environment that vividly conveys the historical character of a Tajima mountain village.

Architectural Features of the Three-Story Sericulture Houses

The three-story sericulture farmhouses of Osugi are architecturally distinctive and immediately recognizable. Their key features include gabled tile roofs fitted with "nukiki" — small elevated ventilation structures on the ridge that allowed warm, moist air to escape from the silkworm rearing rooms. The exterior walls of the second and third floors are finished in a thick plaster style known as "okabe-zukuri," which provided excellent insulation against the harsh mountain winters.

Tall, vertically oriented sliding windows line the upper floors, allowing farmers to precisely control airflow and light for optimal silkworm cultivation conditions. The first floor served as the family's living quarters, while the entire second and third floors were devoted to silkworm rearing. Many of these houses were originally two-story structures that were expanded upward as the sericulture industry grew more profitable, reflecting the direct link between economic success and architectural ambition.

The uniformity of architectural style across the district — consistent roof forms, wall treatments, and window arrangements — creates a harmonious village landscape that is both aesthetically striking and historically significant. These buildings stand as physical records of a community that organized its entire built environment around a single industry.

Highlights and Things to See

Walking through the Osugi district is an immersive experience. The three-story farmhouses rise impressively above the narrow valley, their white plaster walls and orderly rows of windows creating a distinctive silhouette against the surrounding mountains. Stone walls along the pathways and water channels running through the village add to the timeless atmosphere.

One of the best ways to experience the village is to stay overnight at "Furusato Koryu no Ie Irori," a renovated three-story sericulture farmhouse that now operates as a guesthouse. Here, visitors can sleep in the same type of building that once sheltered thousands of silkworms, experiencing firsthand the scale and craftsmanship of these remarkable structures.

The Wood Carving Exhibition Hall (Mokucho Tenjikan) is another highlight within the district. Housed in a beautifully restored 120-year-old former clinic, this gallery permanently displays prize-winning works from the annual "Wood Carving Folk Art Oya" competition, a nationally recognized public exhibition that has been held since 1994. The combination of traditional architecture and contemporary folk art makes for a memorable visit.

Within the village stands the Ninomiya Shrine, where the Osugi Zanzako Dance is performed every August 16th. This dynamic folk dance, designated as a prefectural intangible folk cultural property, dates back to the mid-17th century and features dancers wearing red "shakuma" wigs and carrying large ornamental fans on their backs while drumming energetically. The dance is also known as the "Oni Odori" (Demon Dance) due to the fierce appearance of the performers.

Surrounding Attractions

Yabu City and the broader Tajima region offer numerous attractions that complement a visit to Osugi. The Kaiko no Sato (Silkworm Village) exchange facility in nearby Kuragaki offers hands-on experiences with live silkworms and silk-making workshops, providing deeper context for understanding the sericulture heritage of the region. Adjacent to it is the Uegaki Morikuni Memorial Hall, dedicated to the historical figure who helped establish the foundations of Japanese sericulture.

Nature lovers will find plenty to explore nearby. Mount Hyono (Hyonosen), the highest peak in Hyogo Prefecture at 1,510 meters, offers excellent hiking with stunning seasonal scenery. Tendaki Falls, selected as one of Japan's top 100 waterfalls, is another popular destination accessible from Yabu City. In spring, the Tarumi no Ozakura — a weeping cherry tree estimated to be over 1,000 years old and designated as a natural monument — draws visitors from across the region.

The historic Akenobe Mine, once Japan's largest tin mine and now part of a Japan Heritage route called "Gin no Bashamichi" (The Silver Carriage Road), offers guided tunnel tours between April and November. Yabu Shrine, one of the five major shrines of the Tajima region, is renowned for its spectacular autumn foliage display in early November.

For those wishing to extend their stay, the NIPPONIA Oya Osugi boutique hotel offers accommodation in beautifully restored sericulture farmhouses with gourmet meals featuring local ingredients. Another option is a renovated 150-year-old farmhouse inn in nearby Wakasugi that serves creative medicinal cuisine.