Kotorian

The owners and their chickens make this a special stay. The owner and his wife are wonderful, and you can collect eggs for breakfast. The well kept Edo period home is beautiful, with plenty of room to spread out. It sits in a quiet neighborhood with privacy, though you’ll want groceries before heading up. The road has a very sharp curve, and some taxis won’t go down it. They leave a list of local shops and restaurants in their books, which is useful for planning the next day. Definitely consider it for a unique stay after time in the city.

This is a peaceful place where you need to slow down and explore. The house was rebuilt ten years ago with painstaking detail, and Ogawa San generously lets guests share the joy of living there. It sits on a small uphill area and works well for a couple or four people. Small children may find it challenging, since many details need extra care. The spacious kitchen, Japanese style bath, koi pond garden, and large backyard are lovely places to relax. The bedroom is in the attic, up a few steep stairs, with a TV area.

The garden and the view are a 10 out of 10, and the house has everything you need. The owner said it’s 100 years old; it was lovely, and the bath keeps the water hot electronically. The older owners were very friendly and helpful when we arrived, and they speak English, though most people nearby speak only Japanese. Getting there is difficult because the roads are so narrow. There are two bicycles at the house. A supermarket is close, about five minutes by car or 15 minutes on foot, though I wouldn’t recommend walking; you can get dinner there. It’s expensive, I paid 50k yen for one night for our family of three. I wouldn’t bring children under three, since the stairs and charcoal could be annoying and potentially dangerous for them.

Kotorian is a beautiful traditional house, ornate and cozy, and it made a great base for exploring ancient Asukamura. The owners, an older man and woman, went out of their way to keep my family comfortable and fed. They helped us cook and made sure everything was arranged properly. The ofukuro was piping hot and cozy. I wouldn’t recommend staying here if you have no Japanese at all, since communication will be difficult, or if you’re on a budget. We paid 10,000 yen per head.