Iyashi no Sato is located along the shores of Lake Sai, one of the Fuji Five Lakes. The original thatched roof village was destroyed by a landslide during a typhoon in 1966. Forty years later efforts were made to reconstruct the village, which were converted into an open air museum and traditional craft village. The village consists of 20 thatched roof houses that were converted into shops, restaurants, museums, and galleries. The workshops available for visitors to try include soba noodles, charcoal, washi paper, pottery, incense, and weaving. The Watanabe House has displays that exhibit the daily life of the farmers who once resided in the area. There is also a portrait studio where visitors can try on kimonos or samurai armor and take photos for a fee. Another structure to take note of is the Erosion and Sediment Control Museum, which has information on what caused the landslide that destroyed the village and techniques to prevent future disasters.
