My Trip To Mae Kampong, A Japanese Edo Period Vibe Village in Northern Thailand

Herewith, I would like to share my travel experience to a village located in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, which gives you a Japanese Edo-period vibe, but surely with its own style and soul.

To begin with, this trip took place in 2023 when I did my solo travel to Thailand. After spending three days in Bangkok, I moved to a more chilled destination, Chiang Mai. I had already planned my itinerary for the town, and one of my top priorities was to visit a village called Mae Kampong.

Located about 50 km from Chiang Mai city center, there are several options to travel to this place. You can join a group tour or go on your own by taxi, rental car, or motorbike. As I was traveling solo, I chose to rent a motorbike since it was a great and affordable option for getting around.

I rented the motorbike for 120 Baht per day (around 3.5 USD). It was a Honda Zoomer, a compact automatic scooter, but powerful enough for the long trip to Mae Kampong.

I departed at 9:30 a.m., and the weather was quite nice at that time. It was sunny yet slightly cloudy — perfect conditions for a long motorbike journey. I had checked the weather forecast the night before, and it predicted mostly cloudy skies in the region, with some mild rain expected in the late afternoon.

So, I took the journey for about an hour. For most of the trip, I drove along the highway, which was just a plain road with not much to see. However, once I started entering the mountain road, the journey became more exciting as there was so much to see along the roadside — from beautiful natural scenery, village houses to aesthetic coffee shops. The one-hour ride was definitely not plain or boring.

The excitement increased when I finally entered the Mae Kampong area. Suddenly, I began to see more and more traditional, aesthetic buildings along the road. I felt like I was slowly entering a different universe, as if there were a surprise waiting ahead.

Yes, it was definitely a great surprise! Once I entered the village, I was amazed by the architecture, the vibe, and the atmosphere. Even though I had already seen it online, seeing it with my own eyes still gave me chills! If I had to describe it, the feeling was kind of like entering a Japanese Edo-period village such as Narai-juku or Sannenzaka, with a bit of a Ghibli, Spirited Away vibe. Tell me, was I overreacting? 😆

Once I arrived, I had lunch first before exploring further at one of the restaurants there. I ordered a local curry noodle soup. When it comes to culinary matters, one thing you should be aware of is that Thailand has legalized the used of marijuana in certain purposes including its use as an ingredient in food and beverages. As a result, you may find many restaurants offering marijuana-infused dishes and drinks. If you are not into these kind of things, it’s better to double-check the menu first. The restaurant where I had lunch also offered these kinds of menu items, but they clearly stated which ones did and did not contain it. The curry noodles I ordered didn’t contain any of that.

During my lunch, it started drizzling, but only for a short time, which made the vibe of the village even more relaxing. However, since I rode a motorbike, I had to be more cautious afterward because the road became wet and could be slippery in some parts. Most of the roads are uphill, and in certain sections they are quite steep with sharp corners.

After finishing my lunch, I explored the village. Besides sightseeing, the village has many facilities similar to other tourist destinations, such as hostels, souvenir shops, aesthetic cafés, and more. When I arrived, there were plenty of tourists, but it was not crowded or overpopulated. Most of the tourists were locals, and I was one of the few foreigners there. I guess this place is more popular among local visitors.

After exploring the village, I headed further up to a café called Baan Ing Dao Coffee, which, according to the information I found, offers a stunning skyline view of the village. The road to the café was quite steep, and there was a section with a very sharp corner. I would recommend that if you ride a motorbike and the road is wet, it might be better to park your bike in the village and walk, as the road can be slippery and risky. The distance is not far — it only takes around 10 minutes to walk.

Upon arriving at the café, I was instantly mesmerized by the breathtaking view of the village from above. The lush greenery, the humid air, and a cup of warm coffee made the atmosphere feel even more perfect and relaxing. Once again, from my perspective, the vibe and scenery really gave me the feeling of a Japanese Edo-period-style village — though you might have a different opinion. Below is a picture of the village skyline view; let me know what you think in the comments!

After enjoying my coffee and the beautiful view of Mae Kampong from above, I continued my trip to another aesthetic café called Claai Cafe. It is a small but nicely decorated café located by the riverside. However, I was quite unlucky because the café was closed when I arrived. I didn’t realize that they close every Tuesday, which happened to be the day of my visit. Well, it was a bit disappointing, but it is what it is. It was also a good reminder that whenever you research a place, make sure to check its operating hours as well. On the other hand, it gives me a reason to come back again in the future!

Actually, there are still plenty of things to see and do in Mae Kampong, such as visiting cool cafés and restaurants like The Giant Tree and Chomnok Chommai, exploring natural attractions like Mae Kampong Waterfall and Kew Fin Viewpoint, or discovering cultural sites such as Wat Khantha Pruksa Temple and local community projects. However, since I only had half a day to visit, I didn’t manage to explore those places. At least now I have a good reason to return again in the future!

Even though I only had a short visit, I already had a lot of fun and discovered many interesting things. Of course, if you want the full experience of this place, I would say you should spend at least one night here. I’m sure it would be a great experience, and I’m actually thinking of doing that on my second visit in the future. On my way back to Chiang Mai, I also came across several cool-looking cafés and homestays that looked wonderful to visit. That definitely strengthened my desire to return and explore more.

So, that’s a short story about my visit to Mae Kampong, which I truly feel is a hidden gem and an underrated attraction. Thailand is more than just shopping in Bangkok, beaches in Pattaya, or islands in Phuket — it also offers a beautiful and exotic mountainous village like this in Chiang Mai. For those of you who love mountains, nature, and a calm atmosphere, I strongly recommend visiting this place!