This facility is located in the Ochiai settlement of Higashi-Iya.Generally, settlements are formed at the base of mountains with fields spreading outwards, representing the so-called 'satoyama landscape of Japan.' However, the settlements in Iya are formed by cutting into the mountain slopes.The Ochiai settlement here spans a height difference of approximately 390 meters, and old houses built from the mid to late Edo period still cling to the cliffs, scattered throughout the area. These old houses feature structures and layouts unique to mountain village settlements, and coupled with the winding rural paths, surrounding stone walls, and cultivated land, they create a distinctive landscape.In 2005, the rarity of this historical landscape was recognized, and the entire settlement was designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. https://www.tougenkyo-iya.jp/