Stay at an Eco-Friendly Bed and Breakfast in Kochi

Traditional hospitality, time-honored crafts, and satoyama in Shikoku

Deep in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture, you'll find cozy Kamikoya. Run by a local family, it's also home to a traditional Japanese papermaking studio. The rooms are decorated with the paper made in their workshops, from the wallpaper to the lamps and sliding doors. 

Since it's up in the mountains, Kamikoya is comfortable and cool even in the sticky Japanese summer, with the rooms upstairs providing a lovely view of the valley below. There is a kitchenette and barbecue facilities on the deck with a great view, so guests can easily cook and enjoy barbecuing while in contact with the nature of the satoyama (woodland near the village). Even the soaps and shampoos they provide are eco-friendly to minimize the impact on the local area.

The washi (traditional Japanese paper) studio is owned and operated by Rogier Uitenboogaart, a Dutchman who has been crafting paper in Japan for almost 40 years. He’ll walk you through the process of preparing fibers, picking out debris, beating the fibers, forming sheets, pressing, and board drying. You'll do all of this by hand, without the use of modern chemicals or industrial machinery.

Whether you're visiting for just a few hours or staying the night, Kamikoya promises to offer you a unique taste of Japanese country life and tradition.

Access: From Tokyo Haneda Airport, fly to Kochi Ryoma Airport (about one hour 25 minutes), then take the Airport Limousine Bus to Kochi Station (about 35 minutes) and take the local train to Susaki Station (about one hour 15 minutes). It is possible to take two bus lines and then walk 25 minutes to Kamikoya (about three hours 30 minutes total), but travel by car will only take about one hour 10 minutes from Susaki Station (contact Kamikoya for transport information).

Washi Studio Kamikoya