Encounter The Traditional Face of Japan

Well, that's what you'd read in Shikoku Mura's pamphlet. 

Immediately upon entering the open-air museum, the first showcase is the vine bridge of Iya Valley.

One of these vine bridges is still in use in the Iya Valley and was named as an Important Ethnic Cultural Property. The bridge is rebuilt with fresh vines every three years; a practice that's been followed until now.

The one you see in Shikoku Mura is however installed with steel cables but it was designed and built by the vine bridge builders of Iya Valley to ensure that the bridge is as authentic as possible as the one that can be found in the Valley.

then it's the Shodoshima Farmers' Kabuki Theater.

The kabuki theater is from Obu Village on Shodoshima. Farmers' Kabuki Theater were common throughout Shikoku and during festivals villagers could take a break and watched kabuki performances.

The theater is reed thatched, hipped ridge roof (kayabuki yosemune) with a section of light tiles (sangawara) over the stage area. The stage is 39 feet wide in the front area and 26 feet in the back. The revolving stage is 15 feet in diameter. On the right stage-front area are over and under spaces for singers and musicians.

After that, we saw several homes. First one is the Yamashita family home.

The home is a typical farmer's dwelling in the eastern area of Sanuki region (modern-day Kagawa Prefecture) during Edo period (1600-1867). The interior space is divided equally into work-storage space area and living-sleeping area. This style of house was once so common that its rough dimension became its name and it's called a "gururi bachiken" or around 48 feet around.

You know I can be crazy about a few stuff when in Japan. They are trains, manhole covers and toilets (among others). So... wanna guess what that photo above might be? heh heh

By the way, I checked. No, its not in working condition. Bwahaha

p.s. What did people of yesteryears wipe their behinds with, before the advent of tissue papers? We, the jungle people solve it by just making a dump at the river. Free-flowing supply of water. Kakaka

Anyways, three exhibits down. 30 more to go! Well, actually I might not do all 33, but brace for more posts on the exhibits of Shikoku Mura. I'm long winded, me. ^^