Park the Nihon minka-EN, located in the district Ikuta, gives an idea of how the house looked ordinary Japanese people, who lived in the Edo period (1603 to 1867). The Park is administered by the city of Kawasaki and is a Museum of traditional Japanese architecture under the open sky. It's gathered from all over the country more than 25 buildings, most of which has the status of national monument of culture.

In this Museum you can still see the building of the ancient temple and a water mill, and also to see a performance of Kabuki theatre. In the exhibition hall Park Museum presents the tools that were used for the construction of these houses, and the traditional implements of the Japanese farmer. During the year the Park held special exhibitions – for example, devoted to crafts.

The word "minka", which lies at the basis of the name of the Park, previously denoted humble home of the Japanese. Home-minka was built almost to the end of the nineteenth century. From this collection you can learn about what architectural traditions in different regions of Japan have differences in the construction of houses and in the use of the materials for their construction, as well as different houses of urban residents (artisans and merchants) and peasants. The houses of the citizens was called "Matija", the villagers – "NOC". In addition, the features are fishermen's houses "Huck".

Most of the houses in the Nihon minka-EN is high thatched roof, which was to be found in mountainous areas with heavy snowfalls. Under the high roof of the inside of the home flock the smoke from the fireplace, so in these houses did not suit the chimneys. And on the roof, the angle of which was 60 degrees, not accumulated snow and moisture, so the straw is long rotted. For the acute angle of the roofs of such houses called gassho-zukuri" or "folded in prayer hands", with time became known as a school of architecture.

Home-minka built, usually from inexpensive materials that are available to ordinary people – from wood, bamboo, clay and straw. Sometimes for foundations of applied stone. Many houses were spaces to practice various crafts and warehouses, while Matija – and even for shopping.