Fukiya Furusato Village is a beautiful historical townscape in Okayama Prefecture. The Japanese-style buildings were built by Japanese merchants in the late Edo period (1600-1867) to early Meiji period (1868-1912). What's special about the townscape is that the architectural style is unified. The usual pattern in 19th-century Japan was that every merchant built their own townhouse to show off their wealth without concern for the overall harmony of the townscape. In contrast, it is said that in Fukiya merchants consulted with each other in order to create a harmonious design concept. The town thrived due to copper mining in the region and is known for its Bengara pigments (oxidized iron). It is the trademark of the town and has been used for the red roofs of the townhouses and for ceramics. Many souvenirs you can buy in Fukiya and workshops that are offered, such as the Bengara Ceramics Museum, make use of this material.