A bridge made of vines at Shikoku Mura (Photo: Laura MacLean)
Shikoku Mura is located 6 kilometres east of the JR Takamatsu Station at 91 Yashima-Nakamichi in Takamatsu, Kagawa. The entrance fee is 800 yen for adults and there are student and group discounts available. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
Atop the park's hill is a lighthouse and sturdy lighthouse keepers' stone bungalows from islands in the Inland Sea. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
Various features of the homes such as these lamps above a lighthouse keeper's front door add human reality to the exhibits. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
The lighthouse keepers' stone homes must have protected more against wind and salty sea mists than against earthquakes. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
Homes dating from as far back as the Meiji Era are on display and are open for visitors to enter. (Photo: Laura MacLain)
Information on Shikoku Mura is available on-line at http://www.shikokumura.or.jp/ in Japanese. English language pamphlets are provided at the ticket counter on site. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
The park has many pleasant water features including the Somegataki Waterfall. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
The grounds of Shikoku Mura are wooded and guarantee to provide shade and shelter from the sunshine. The welcome greenery gives the transplanted buildings an authentic and comforting feel. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
Whatever the season, the flower gardens will make for a worthwhile and colourful experience. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
In addition to a kabuki theatre, a sugar cane press hut, warehouses, storehouses, and farm homes, there is a fisherman's house with two boats in front and fishing equipment in an open shed that contained nets, floats, and ceramic octopus pots large and sm (Photo: Laura MacLean)
The mundane of daily life appears with the exceptional at Shikoku Mura: For an additional fee, you can gain entry to the art gallery designed by Tadao Ando. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
Commercial ceramic containers, labels, and glass bottles add interest to the soy sauce warehouse. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
The soy sauce warehouse and malthouse impressively display mid-19th century wooden vats. (Photo: Laura MacLean)
Shikoku Mura will appeal to those interested in history, architecture and design, Japanese artistic sensibilities, gardening, hiking, and photography. Some udon and tempura from the thatched roof Waraya Udon Restaurant adjacent to the parking lot will cer (Photo: Laura MacLean)