We consider these old homes to be part of the local resources and work to revive them so that many people can use them. We originally worked in developing retail facilities in Tokyo but in 2018 we moved to Kumagawa-juku to put more effort towards these old buildings. We felt there was more value in protecting cultural buildings. We moved our company to Kumagawa-juku 5 years ago. Now, we’ve turned 5 old Japanese homes into a shared office, café, and lodging. We manage the lodgings under the name Yao-Kumagawa. There are three homes spread across the town. You rent an entire home so you can feel like you are part of the town. First, come to the check-in counter to hear the rules and get your house key. Once you get the key, the home becomes your personal holiday villa. This is a chance for a cultural experience, not only for foreigners, but for Japanese living in big cities.

This hotel was renovated from old private houses and storehouses that remain in the village of saba-kaidou. There are four types of rooms: "Hotaru," "Hibari," "Tsugumi," and "Yamane". The rooms are cozy and comfortable, carefully utilizing the warmth of wood and texture of materials with a sense of historical flavor. In addition, all rooms are equipped with full kitchen facilities, allowing you to stay as if you were living in the house. Of course, all of these facilities are private. For dinner, we offer Kumagawa Omotenashi-zen that is prepared by local mothers. We also offer a plan to deliver Wakasa ingredients and recipes so that you can cook in the kitchen of the inn. For breakfast, we offer “Okayu” as part of your meal. “Okayu” is local rice cooked with spring water. It is light and easy to eat, a perfect start to your day. For those interested, we have a workshop where you can cook Japanese food with Japanese tools. The workshop is called “Kamado” and you can learn to make rice and miso soup. It is in a separate building called “Kamado” and you start your workshop using firewood to start a fire.

Kumagawa-juku is a post town, a place for travelers to rest, north of Kyoto. Located about an hour away by car, it is a center for business because of access to the sea. This city was designated a historical site by the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Kumagawa-juku is in a valley, surrounded by mountains. In recent years, you can walk the mountain trails. I hope you can experience what a traveler felt, going from the sea to Kyoto. At Kumagawa-juku you can have many cultural experiences: staying in an old Japanese home, eating traditional Japanese food, and walking along beautiful mountain trails. Furthermore, we have a campsite in the mountains that you can stay in, near Kumagawa-juku.