{
  "id": "rokugo-district",
  "name": "Rokugo film-location district",
  "area": "Rokugo, southeast of central Furano",
  "status": "recommended",
  "priority": "optional",
  "tags": [
    "Culture",
    "Scenery",
    "Walking"
  ],
  "summary": "Three separately located, ticketed sites form one rewarding half-day district visit. Current Japanese official listings explicitly support 2026 operation at all three; summer 2027 access remains unconfirmed. [S1][S2][S3]",
  "why_go": "Goro's Stone House uses stones gathered from local fields and shares its grounds with the relocated First House. Picked-up House showcases imaginative construction from discarded materials. Rokugo Forest preserves the original-series log cabin and Goro's third house. My recommendation without TV knowledge: prioritize the two unusual architectural sites; add the Forest for atmosphere or stronger interest in the series. [S1][S2][S3]",
  "season": {
    "late_june": "Within the published 2026 summer operating season at all three. A good cultural outing without needing to time flowers. [S1][S2][S3]",
    "july": "The same core sights remain relevant. Recommend a weekday morning and extra driving buffer during Furano's summer tourism season rather than expecting an uncrowded district.",
    "early_august": "Still within the published summer operating pattern. The houses do not depend on lavender bloom; choose a comfortable morning and carry water. [S1][S2][S3]",
    "best_window": "Any dry morning across the requested window, subject to 2027 reopening and maintenance notices; no particular bloom date is necessary."
  },
  "visit_duration": "Planning estimate: 2-3 hours within the district for all three, or approximately 3-4.5 hours including the return drive from Furano. Allow longer for detailed photography or reading.",
  "drive_from_furano": "Planning estimate, not live routing: roughly 30-40 minutes each way from central Furano, plus a 10-20-minute peak-season buffer. Official station distances are approximately 16.5 km to Picked-up House, 18 km to the Forest and 21 km to Stone House. Budget 5-10 minutes driving between successive sites. [S1][S2][S3]",
  "best_time_of_day": "Aim for the confirmed opening time, currently 09:30. Start at Stone House and work back toward Rokugo village; do not enter grounds before opening. [S1][S2][S3]",
  "visit_plan": [
    "Drive directly to Stone House for opening. Allow 40-50 minutes for the Stone House and First House together, including an estimated 10-20 minutes walking within the visit. [S1]",
    "Drive to Rokugo Forest. Allow 30-45 minutes for the log cabin, third house and wooded setting, including an estimated 10-20 minutes walking. [S3]",
    "Drive to Picked-up House in Rokugo village. Allow 30-40 minutes examining the reused-material buildings, including short walks between displays. [S2]",
    "Return to Furano for food, or extend only if a district business has confirmed opening. These dwell and walking allowances are planning estimates, not measured trail timings."
  ],
  "practicalities": [
    {
      "label": "Hours and season",
      "text": "Published 2026: Stone House and Forest open April 12-November 29, daily; 09:30-17:00 through September 30, then 09:30-16:00. Picked-up House opens April 12-November 29, daily 09:30-18:00, last admission 17:30. Stone House and Forest close for winter; distant viewing is explicitly unavailable during closure. None of these dates confirms summer 2027. [S1][S2][S3]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Costs",
      "text": "Currently published on the 2026 listings: each site JPY 500 adult or JPY 300 elementary-school child. The three-site ticket costs JPY 1,200 adult or JPY 600 child. For adults, two individual tickets are cheaper than the pass; all three save JPY 300. Cash only. First House belongs to the Stone House site, not a fourth ticket. [S1][S2][S3]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Parking and access",
      "text": "Each site lists free parking for 100 cars and accommodation for large buses. Navigate separately to each entrance. Official 30-minute Forest and 40-minute Stone House walking figures start at the Rokugo bus terminus, not their car parks. [S1][S2][S3]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Facilities and accessibility",
      "text": "Current Japanese listings do not establish toilet locations, step-free routes or operating food outlets. Confirm these if important. An English listing describes interior viewing, but do not assume every room or upper floor remains accessible. [S1][S2][S3][S4]"
    },
    {
      "label": "Reservations",
      "text": "Tickets are sold directly at the three sites; the official instruction is to come in person. No advance-booking requirement is published for ordinary admission. [S1][S2][S3]"
    }
  ],
  "recommendations": [
    "Without TV familiarity, choose Stone House plus Picked-up House rather than buying the adult pass automatically.",
    "Bring cash before leaving town; all three official listings specify cash-only admission. [S1][S2][S3]",
    "Read a short series synopsis beforehand, but focus on construction ingenuity rather than needing to recognize scenes.",
    "Photograph Stone House from permitted grounds and inspect reused-material details at Picked-up House. [S1][S2]",
    "Wear shoes with grip and carry water; allow additional time if outdoor paths are wet.",
    "Keep the Forest optional if the first two sites satisfy your curiosity."
  ],
  "weather_plan": "Light rain may suit a shortened architectural visit, but do not treat this as a fully indoor attraction. For heavy rain, strong wind or thunder, postpone the outdoor circuit rather than relying on historic descriptions of cafes or galleries.",
  "safety_and_etiquette": [
    "Never enter neighboring fields for photographs: Furano Tourism explains that soil carried on footwear can spread crop diseases and pests. [S5]",
    "Follow current gates, room restrictions and staff instructions; preserved sets are not permission to explore every building.",
    "Use designated parking rather than blocking farm entrances. Check local wildlife and temporary-access notices before visiting wooded grounds."
  ],
  "pair_with": [
    "Furano Marche",
    "Torinuma Park"
  ],
  "skip_if": "You want dramatic natural scenery, extensive walking or substantial indoor exhibits and have little interest in vernacular architecture or Japanese television.",
  "recheck_for_2027": [
    "Summer operating dates, maintenance closures and access to individual houses.",
    "Japanese-language hours and last-entry times for each site.",
    "Admission prices, cash policy and combination-ticket validity.",
    "Toilets, accessible paths, interior restrictions and any current wildlife notices."
  ],
  "confidence_notes": [
    "The three detailed Japanese pages explicitly publish 2026 operations, providing stronger evidence than undated set descriptions.",
    "The English Stone House page gives an 18:00 summer closing, conflicting with the detailed Japanese page's 17:00. This dossier uses the earlier Japanese time. [S1][S4]",
    "All operational sources are from Furano Tourism Association, not independent inspections. Driving, walking and dwell times are estimates; 2027 operation is not guaranteed."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "S1",
      "title": "Goro's Stone House and First House",
      "publisher": "Furano Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.furanotourism.com/jp/spot/spot_D.php?id=401",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Buildings, explicit 2026 season and hours, prices, cash payment, parking, distance and winter access restrictions."
    },
    {
      "id": "S2",
      "title": "Picked-up House - Yagate Machi",
      "publisher": "Furano Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.furanotourism.com/jp/spot/spot_D.php?id=402",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Reused-material houses, 2026 summer hours, last admission, prices, cash payment, parking and location."
    },
    {
      "id": "S3",
      "title": "Rokugo Forest: Log Cabin and Goro's Third House",
      "publisher": "Furano Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.furanotourism.com/jp/spot/spot_D.php?id=404",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Preserved sets, 2026 season and hours, prices, cash payment, parking and bus-terminus walking distinction."
    },
    {
      "id": "S4",
      "title": "Goro's Stone House - English listing",
      "publisher": "Furano Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.furanotourism.com/en/spot/spot_D.php?id=401",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "General interior-viewing description and conflicting summer closing time."
    },
    {
      "id": "S5",
      "title": "Please do not enter agricultural fields",
      "publisher": "Furano Tourism Association",
      "url": "https://www.furanotourism.com/jp/spot/news_D.php?id=1027",
      "accessed": "2026-10-26",
      "supports": "Agricultural access etiquette and crop biosecurity reasons."
    }
  ]
}