A World Heritage Site that still is actively lived in by real people, this village is a must see regardless of which season you're visiting (unless there is a torrential downpour during spring or winter). Beautiful scenery regardless of season, a few houses open for tours, and a washi papermaking experience for a reasonable price available. We were lucky enough to visit during a period where they were replacing one of the thatched roofs, so we got to see some of that in action. Also, excellent viewpoints of the surrounding, breath-taking, scenery. A nice mix of stereotypically Japanese culture and a culture unique to the area itself. You will get to walk by an ancient housing building that happens to have an air conditioning filter sticking out of it. If you really want to, you can even stay at one of the houses that have been set up as a hotel. Overall, there is a parking lot available for a price, but parking further away available for free (depending on the season). The site is less crowded than similar sites so your tour can be at your own pace. The site is smaller, however, so do keep that in mind. The whole tour can take 1-2 hours at most, assuming you do not stop to eat or shop.