Life in Japan has changed dramatically over the past 100 years. In the span of a few generations, millions of Japanese left the countryside and moved into urban and suburban sprawl. For city kids like mine, the connection to rural farm life is tenuous at best, but we feel that it's still important to keep that connection.

Luckily, Japan is full of opportunities to look into the past. One worth recommending is Osaka's Open-Air Museum of Old Japanese Farmhouses. Here you'll find over 35,000 square meters of walking paths surrounded by maple, cherry and other trees. Along these paths are 12 rebuilt, refurbished or restored structures from Japan's Edo Period (1603-1868). Some date from the 19th century, others from as early as the 17th.

This is Japan's first open air museum, and its exhibits are authentic buildings that you can enter and experience for yourself. There's something special about stepping into a museum exhibit instead of viewing things in photographs or from behind glass. Entering these former homes can be a transportive exercise, where kids can utilize their imagination and sense of the past.