We all know about ‘God’s own country’, which is known for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. But did you know there is a Kerala-style ‘veedu’ in Japan? Well, it may be a surprise that such a one exists, but it is no surprise that it has represented India.

No further delays. Let’s begin to learn more about this traditional Kerala house in Japan near Nayoga town.

Inuyama-City Little World Museum of Man

Located in central Japan, Inuyama City is known for its traditional and ancient castles. To add more beauty, the city first built an anthropological museum in the 1970s. Later, to reminisce about the castles and houses of different countries, in the 1980s, it built different houses representing each country. They call it “The Little World Museum of Man” and have transformed it into an amusement park encompassing more buildings from around twenty countries, including Micronesia, Germany (Munich Oktoberfest festival) , India, Italy, Indonesia, France, Peru, the United States, Turkey, Thailand, etc.

Tourist visitors can pay the entry fee of one thousand and five hundred yen to explore all the traditional-style houses or buildings. The interesting fact is that it is the first open-air museum in the world.

The Kerala village in Japan

In Kerala-style homes and buildings that represent India in this museum, you can see several things adapted perfectly from Kerala and India. The details are damn perfect for the fact that even the laterite bricks are used to construct these houses. Notably, the name of the Kerala house in Japan is ‘Chanakathu Veedu’.

You can consider it a “Mini Kerala in Japan” as everything here got exported from India, from reclining chairs to kitchen utensils, cut-stones to terracotta roofs, a wide verandah model to tulsi madams, every aspect of the house and the buildings align with Indian-styles and transitions. Besides these, you can also see tea or chai shops like in Kerala, enjoy local Kerala or Indian-cuisine foods, and witness cultural programs emphasizing each country’s culture and heritage.

What else can you see in this Kerala house in Japan?

The private swimming pool in this house represents the kulams or house ponds in Kerala.
There are a lot of old photo frames with pictures of Indian people from the previous one or two centuries.
The museum also has some village signboards written in Malayalam (the regional language of Kerala). These details never fail to give the feeling that you’re standing in Kerala, India, and not in Inuyama, Japan.
The post office building in this ‘Japan Museum’ is another reflection of the villages in Kerala, India.
The large courtyards and verandahs remind us of the joint families and large gatherings for family functions and events.

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Conclusion

Kudos to the Japanese government for making such extensive efforts to recollect and reminisce about the traditions and cultures of other countries without deviating from their originalities—communities and lifestyles. Also, thanks to the YouTuber Jasim Moula Kiryat, who brought this to our attention through his live video in recent years.

To explore more such hidden places in Japan and get a customized Japan tour itinerary, reach out to the leading tour operators or travel experts.