CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN THE GATEWAYTOWN OF KUDOYAMA

Abstract

Managing historic environment and cultural heritage are important not only from the
conservation of cultural assets and local environment but it is also necessary to consider the perspectives from
the community. This paper aims to examine a case study focusing on houses and local resources in the center
of Kudoyama, known as the gateway town to the World Heritage Site, Koyasan in Wakayama, Japan. Study
methods used are field observations and literature reviews. From the results, characteristics of the town center
of Kudoyama became clear as follows; about half of all houses have been built with single or semi-second
story houses to form relatively reduced height of skylines. Thus, it creates viewpoints to surrounding
mountains within the town center on undulating landform. In terms of local resources, a variety of natural and
historic elements have been found to create a historic environment in town center of Kudoyama. In addition,
some traditional design of houses is representing the similarities with surrounding areas of the World Heritage
Sites of Yoshino and Koyasan. In future, managing cultural landscape may be necessary to balance the needs
of the community and tourism.