Wealthy Farmer's House

The countryside views around Wealthy Farmer’s House made me think of Miyazaki Hayao’s movies. We chose it because, after several trips to Japan, we wanted something different from what cities like Tokyo and Osaka offer. Staying here felt like getting a taste of authentic Japanese life, and we’d happily come back on another visit. The renovated interior was clean and tidy, with spacious tatami rooms and traditional decor. The bath was lovely, and the house had the appliances we needed, including air conditioning and kitchenware. There’s also a yard for barbecues, a hammock, and free bicycles we used to explore the area. The hosts were easy to contact. One catch is getting there. It’s surrounded by rice fields, about an hour’s drive from Hiroshima City, and pretty inconvenient without a rental car. The supermarket is around 10 minutes away by car, and a car is needed to see the area’s old ruins and facilities. Food isn’t provided, so you’ll need to pick up groceries yourself. The house can be a little hard to find. There’s a sign at the entrance to the grounds, but it’s hard to see after dark.

This is a rental of an entire renovated old Japanese house, a nice option if you want some time in the countryside away from the city. There are a few private homes nearby, so keep voices down and don’t have late night parties. The house is roomy, though it may feel like too much space for two people. It seems like better value with a larger group. We were given rice for the number of guests. There are two toilets, plenty of dishes, a fridge, a kitchen, and a large drum washing machine. No amenities or yukata are provided. The cypress and natural stone bathtub feels luxurious, and there’s also a Goemon bath. The Shinto altars and dolls may feel scary if you don’t like that sort of thing. We borrowed a barbecue set, and charcoal and fire starters were included, so it was ready to use. There’s a supermarket about a 10-minute drive away. The parking area fits four compact cars.

We slept together in the big tatami room, which felt oddly fun, like being on a school trip. The garden barbecue was easy to arrange, too: a large grill and charcoal were provided free, so we only had to bring food. We chose the open-air bath plan with friends, but it turned out to be a Goemon bath outdoors rather than the usual kind you find at a hot spring. I’d never tried one before, and following the room instructions to heat it became a fun little school-trip activity. It’s fired with wood, and I seemed to stay warm for a while after getting out. Looking up at the starry sky from the bath helped ease my everyday stress and tiredness. There’s also a large, luxurious indoor bath. Now that the state of emergency had finally been lifted, we were able to go together. We’ll definitely come back!

The quiet surroundings made it easy to relax, and I loved stretching out in the garden hammock. It felt wonderfully calming. We’d wanted to try a traditional Japanese house for ages, so when I went to Hiroshima with a group, we made sure to stay here. The huge tatami room felt like a historical drama set, and there were so many rooms that everyone could have one of their own. It was a luxurious Japanese-style space, like the kind I’d only experienced in high-end Tokyo restaurants. Though it’s an old farmhouse, the interior has been renovated beautifully, and the newer facilities and appliances made our stay comfortable. We heard Hiroshima is known for beef, so we drove about 15 minutes to a supermarket and splurged on locally produced A5 Jinseki Beef. Grilled on the barbecue, it was incredibly good, easily one of the three best meats I’ve eaten. The barbecue gear, charcoal, and various seasonings are provided, so you just need to bring your ingredients. I’d also recommend Kagura Monzen Hot Spring Village, around a 20-minute drive away. It has a retro feel like an Edo-period (?) hot spring town, with authentic Kagura, traditional Shinto dance, as well as hot springs. The facilities were clean, with lots of baths including a large public bath and an open-air one. There were several restaurants, and one served delicious game meat dishes at reasonable prices.