Ochiai Village

Ochiai Village (落合集落) is a nationally designated Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Situated on a steep slope with a 390-meter elevation difference between the highest and lowest points, it is the steepest of Japan’s preservation areas. The village showcases houses built from the mid-Edo to early Showa periods (17th to early 20th century), stone walls meticulously crafted from piled stones, and fields that reflect the ingenuity of its design. The village's scenic beauty and historical significance offer a glimpse into the past.

One of the best views of Ochiai Village can be found from the Ochiai Settlement Viewing Point across the valley. The village’s fields, which bloom with buckwheat flowers in season, add a picturesque touch to the landscape. Rich in local folklore, Ochiai Village is connected to the legends of fallen Heike warriors and pioneers, making it a place of cultural and historical interest.