Stepping Out of the Ordinary to Stay at 15 of the Best Folk Houses - Kansai Edition

Because you're so busy with work and housework, wouldn't you like to spend your free time surrounded by a gentle scenery? Spending time doing nothing in a cozy old house while enjoying the scenery of Satoyama... If you're looking for such a trip, we recommend the Kansai area, which includes Kyoto, Nara, and Wakayama. Enjoy a relaxing stay in an old Japanese-style house in the midst of the elegant old capital and rolling countryside.

Old Japanese houses in the Kansai region have an atmosphere that has been refined over a long history and integrated with the climate. Machiya in Kyoto city is a typical example. Most of the townhouses that can be seen in modern Kyoto have a history of 100 to 120 years. The living space is in the back, and the frontage is narrow, and the house extends to the back, so it is also called "Unagi no Nedoko".

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There are many Kitayama-style thatched houses remaining around Miyama-cho, Nantan City Kyoto. This is an old folk house with a style called ``irimoya-zukuri,'' which means it has an interior with a dirt floor, kitchen, hearth, and tatami room, giving it an atmosphere that looks like something out of a folktale. Additionally, the ``Yamatototsukawa Private House'' in Nara is characterized by a floor plan in which the rooms are lined up horizontally. Totsukawa Village faces a mountain slope in the back and a valley in the front, and is unusual in that there are no windows on the mountain side wall to prevent rocks from falling from the slope. This time, we will introduce recommended inns by prefecture from among these traditional Japanese-style inns.

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"Miyama Futon & Breakfast" is a privately-owned inn located in "Miyama-cho," a village of thatched farmers in Kyoto. You can use the entire precious thatched private house, which is designated as a tangible cultural property of Japan, so you can enjoy the relaxing feeling of living in Miyama-cho.

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Because it is an old-fashioned private house, the floor plan is spacious. This is an old folk house that was built about 150 years ago. With 99 square meters of space and an attic available, 8 people per group can easily stay overnight. We can accommodate accommodations for 8 or more people, so why not take a trip with a group of girls?

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Let's have plenty of Miyama specialties for breakfast! The breakfast prepared by the staff in the morning includes delicious local bread, homemade yogurt, additive-free homemade sausage, scrambled eggs made from Miyama eggs, and more. Breakfast time is 8:00, but you can change the time.

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"Show-an Machiya Inn" is a townhouse located in Nishijin, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. This is an old folk house built in the early Showa period, and is a townhouse with high cultural value that has been designated as a ``Kyoto City Landscape Important Building and Historical Scenic Building.'' The floor plan is typical of a Kyoto townhouse, extending long and long into the back, making it the perfect place for an eel to sleep. It's not open to the public, so stay overnight and take a closer look inside.

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Limited to one group per day, there are 6 rooms in the building. There is also a bedroom with two beds. The bath and toilet have been refurbished, and the air conditioning is perfect. Why don't you relax and enjoy the view of the courtyard from the tatami room?

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The kitchen has also been renovated to the latest model, and the kitchen is full of Kyoto-ness, with a valuable Mizuya chest of drawers.

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“Kyoto Kamogawa no Oyado Tamami” is located in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, overlooking the Kamogawa River. A prestigious Kyoto townhouse built in the Meiji era was renovated over half a year and reborn as a wonderful inn limited to one group per day. It is a convenient location for sightseeing such as "Kiyomizu Temple", "Yasaka Shrine" and "Gion".

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The building is a two-story building of 37 tsubo. There are two alcoves, and it is a luxurious structure with the taste of teahouse architecture. There is a living room and kitchen on the first floor, and a Japanese-style room and bedroom on the second floor. Please enjoy the slow flow of time while gazing at the Kamo River and Shoryumatsu from the living room.

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"Tamami" is proud of its "private floor". You can have the Kamogawa summer tradition "Nuryo-doko" all to yourself here. For cooking, you can use the catering service of a restaurant that represents Kyoto, the on-site service of an Italian restaurant, and catering. Cheers with beer while feeling the pleasant breeze that crosses the river!

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“Nazuna” is ryokan that utilizes traditional houses in Kyoto and Miyazaki, as well as lodgings that can be rented as whole buildings. Among them, this time we will introduce "Nazuna Kyoto Tsubaki St." which opened in April 2020. A 1,400m2 L-shaped alley lined with more than 110-year-old townhouses has been renovated into an inn. Twenty-three machiya townhouses built in the Meiji era have become guest rooms with semi-open-air baths.

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The guest rooms are divided into 5 categories under the theme of the natural beauty of Kyoto. This is "TAKE," which is decorated with bamboo-themed interiors. It is a luxurious room with a living room and a semi-open-air bath on the 1st floor, and a bedroom on the 2nd floor. The capacity is 2 people, but there are other rooms that can accommodate up to 3 people, so it's perfect for a girls' party with 3 good friends.

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Breakfast is the inn's specialty, "Dashi Chazuke". It is a Kyoto-style menu that combines the flavorful bonito soup stock with the silver sushi rice of the long-established Kyoto "Hachidaime Gihei". The obanzai, made with Kyoto pickles and seasonal ingredients, add color to the meal. The warm and gentle taste of dashi chazuke will slowly awaken your body.

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"Guest House Kominka Nagomi" is located in Izumisano, which is easily accessible from Kansai International Airport. This guest house is located in a corner of the downtown area where traditional houses are lined up. Since it was originally a kimono shop, there are gorgeous kimonos and obi obis on display inside the building, as well as vintage furniture scattered throughout, making you feel like you've traveled back in time.

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There are 4 guest rooms in total, but if you are traveling in a group, you can rent the entire building. This room is based on purple and has a calm atmosphere with Japanese furnishings and decorations. No matter where you cut it, it has a retro atmosphere, so it is also recommended to take pictures. Free Wi-Fi is also available, so you can use your computer or smartphone comfortably.

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There are tables in the common area for guests, where you can relax and chat. There is also a wide variety of DVD software available, so you can spend your time watching movies. There is also a kitchen equipped with a microwave and refrigerator, so you can buy ingredients from the local Izumisano Fisheries Cooperative Open Sky Market and cook your own meals.

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"Kominka Stajio Wagaya" is located in Higashi-Osaka City, which is convenient for sightseeing in Nara and Kyoto as well as Osaka City. Not only can you stay overnight, but it is also a popular old private house as a house studio where you can do retro photography and cosplay photography. Since the whole building is reserved, it is okay for a large number of people. You can relax and experience Japanese culture.

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There are various types of guest rooms, including lofts, rooms with swings, and rooms with bunk beds. In addition, there is a sunken hearth in the living room. Relax in the hammock on the porch covered with bamboo♪

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In the spacious garden, you can enjoy special experiences such as barbecue, nagashi somen noodles, and staying in a tent in the summer. In autumn, you can experience stone-roasted sweet potatoes and dried persimmons, and in winter, you can also make rice cakes. Please enjoy the feeling of being a child again, doing things that you can't usually do. On rainy days when you can't go out in the garden, we recommend watching movies in the theater room.

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``Takeda Castle Castle Town Hotel EN'' is an old Japanese-style inn located in the castle town of ``Castle in the Sky, Takeda Castle Ruins.'' You can choose your favorite house to stay in from 13 old folk houses in 6 buildings in the castle town. At the front of the hotel is a sake brewery with a history of about 400 years called "Old Kimura Sake Brewery." The renovated brewery includes accommodation, a cafe, and a French restaurant. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a castle town while staying in a comfortable old private house.

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One of the accommodation buildings is Fuji 301. Light enters from the skylight in the atrium, highlighting the soft appearance of the old folk house. The rooms can accommodate 1 to 4 people, so they can be used for a variety of styles of girls' trips.

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For breakfast, a Japanese set meal using carefully selected seasonal local ingredients is served at the French restaurant. This is a restaurant that has been renovated from a fermentation storehouse that was built more than 100 years ago, and has a traditional building with thick beams and wooden structures. You can also use it for dinner, and the French cuisine that uses plenty of local ingredients from Tajima and Tanba is excellent.

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"Village Maruyama" is an inn located in Hyogo, which is famous for "Botan Nabe". There are two accommodation buildings, both of which are stately old houses that were built about 150 years ago. A massive old folk house blends into the rural landscape. Capacity: 6 people per group with 1 building reserved. Perfect for a girls' night out.

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One of the accommodation buildings is ``Honoho'' (Saito family). There is a traditional ``Okudo-san'' (as it is called in Kyoto) and a ``Goemon bath'', giving it the feel of an old folk house.

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At this inn, meal made with ingredients from Sasayama are also popular. The breakfast that the villagers make with vegetables from the village is freshly made and brought to the lodging building. The deliciousness and thoughtfulness will warm your stomach and heart.

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Glaminka Kamikawa KAMIKAWA is a private old private house inn located in Kamikawa-cho, Kanzaki-gun, right in the middle of Hyogo. Boasting a perfect location overlooking the mountain range stretching from Tomine Highlands, this is a unique inn where you can enjoy both an old folk house experience where you can experience old culture and glamping where you can enjoy nature in an elegant way.

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The feeling that your room is connected to the outside world is a unique charm of this inn. During the day, listen to the rustle of trees and the voices of birds, and at night, toast under a star-filled sky. Enjoy your morning coffee in the clear air. You will begin to experience an exquisite time that you cannot experience in the city.

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meal can be enjoyed in the living dining room with a large hearth table, or on the outdoor terrace. Dinner is a hearth menu featuring locally sourced meat, fish, and vegetables. You are free to bring in food and drinks. There is also a kitchen, so you can enjoy cooking for yourself.

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``Senzan-an'' is an inn located in the ``Yuasa Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings'' in Wakayama, which flourished in the production of soy sauce. This is a renovated old folk house that was built about 130 to 150 years ago, and now has two accommodation buildings. During the renovation, the walls were repainted, but the large beams, pillars, and parts of the sooty walls remained, creating a great atmosphere! Feel the atmosphere of a historic old folk house

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The accommodation building "Kitamachi 102" is an accommodation building with an old-fashioned floor plan that is typical of townhouses in this area. It has a high atrium and a skylight, giving it a spacious impression. It is an old private house that is perfect for relaxing without doing anything.

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The accommodation building ``Kajiyamachi 301'' is an old folk house said to have been built in the early Meiji period. It was a merchant house that operated as ``Tochikame Kamabokoten'' until around 1975. You can feel the scent of a townhouse in Yuasa from the lattice windows, plaster walls, and dirt floor.

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I want to experience the good old Japanese culture as it is! If that's the case, we recommend Kominka Guesthouse Okage-san, an inn connected to Genpo Roshi. This is a 130-year-old building that was built by the father of Yamamoto Genpo Roshi, a prominent monk in the Showa era, when he retired. The entire building is rented to one group per day. There is also Watase onsen, famous for its large open-air bath, nearby, and the appeal is that you can enjoy both the old folk house and onsen.

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The room is a Japanese-style room with a feeling of openness. Enjoy the atmosphere unique to an old folk house by chatting and taking photos around the hearth. Please spend an extraordinary time while listening to the murmuring of the river flowing nearby.

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In the kitchen there is a ``Okudo-san'' (Kamado) that has been used for many years. It's fun just imagining what kind of food was made here. meal are not included, but a refrigerator, microwave, IH cooker, and tableware are provided and you can use them for free. You can also use Okage-san, a yakitori and oden restaurant run by the owner nearby.

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`` Hotel Tetora Asahikawa Ekimae'' is a rental inn located in Shigaraki-cho Tarao, Shiga. We have renovated an old private house that is approximately 150 years old and are renting it out to one group per day. Surrounded by bamboo groves and in a tranquil countryside where seasonal flowers bloom, you will feel a completely different way of time from your busy daily life.

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The spacious one-story house has 3 Japanese-style rooms and 1 wooden room, so a group of up to 10 people can stay comfortably. In the summer, you can rent a mosquito net to hang in your room, enjoy a drum bath in the garden, and experience the old-fashioned way of life.

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For breakfast, try the Hojicha tea porridge, which has been eaten in Tarao for a long time. Let's enjoy the tea porridge that has been slowly cooked the day before, along with exquisite pickles made by local grandmothers.

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`` Suzume no Oyado'' is an old private house inn located in the magnificent nature on the west side of Lake Biwa. This old folk house with a cute thatched roof was built about 120 years ago. As soon as you enter the room, there is a large dirt floor. Guests can rest their luggage on this dirt floor or have a barbecue in case of rain.

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Beyond the dirt floor is a wide wooden floor. Between the boards, there is a hearth, beams, and pillars, making the interior typical of an old folk house. This is a traditional old folk house with a high degree of freedom in how it can be used.

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Enjoying a barbecue is also fun. Barbecue stoves, seven wheels, charcoal, etc. can be provided for a fee, and all kitchen utensils are provided, so enjoy your time at your leisure.

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``Rice Rice Terrace Inn Sasayuri-an'' is a building located in ``Terrace Rice Village Fukano, Nara'', which was selected as one of ``Japan's Top 100 Villages'' in a commemorative project by Asahi Shimbun. This is a rental accommodation. We restored an old folk house with a thatched roof that was built about 200 years ago. Enjoy the combination of traditional architecture such as a hearth on the earthen floor and a comfortable stay.

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You can enjoy the scenery of terraced rice fields from the spacious "Irori no Ma". Depending on the weather, you may be able to see the sea of clouds from the hearth room. You can actually use the irori here, and if you ask in advance, you can cook it (charcoal costs separately).

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The loft is a popular spot in this inn. From the loft of about 8 tatami mats, you can look down on the hearth, and if you look up, you will see the attic with a thatched roof. You can have a valuable experience of seeing and touching the thatched roof from the back side.

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“Asuka Yuri no Sato Shinra Juku” is a building located at the foot of Ikazuchi no Oka in Asuka Village, a popular tourist spot in Nara. This is a rental accommodation. This is a quaint building that was built about 80 years ago and was originally a farmer's home. Let's relax by looking out at the idyllic countryside from the veranda of an old private house that doesn't even have a TV.

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Although it was built about 80 years ago, it has been renovated over the past year. The thick beams and pillars were kept as they were, and the garden and verandah were kept in good condition. The space is a comfortable combination of traditional Japanese houses and modern architectural technology. Spend a luxurious time lying on the tatami and listening to the sounds of birds and insects.

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The bath has a Shigaraki ware bathtub and a spacious washing area. As a girl, the water area has been completely repaired, so you can stay with peace of mind. It's a charter, so it's good to put in as much as you like at your favorite time. The simple and stylish powder room is always equipped with a hairdryer and amenities.

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There are many traditional houses in Kansai where you can take your time and look inside, such as Kyoto townhouses where you can enjoy an elegant atmosphere, thatched roofs with nostalgic scenery, and Moto-zukuri sake breweries. Why don't you feel the breath of the people of the past leisurely from the large pillars and beams?