Travel Back in Time to the Good Old Days

Experience a farmstay in a minka house

Minka are traditional Japanese houses, often found in Japan’s rural areas, that have withstood the tests of time and nature. Recently, some of these structures have been renovated into modern lodgings. One minka near Mt. Fuji is ready to welcome you to a farmstay experience.

Ichikawamisato-cho is a small town tucked into the foothills of Yamanashi Prefecture, to the northwest of Mt. Fuji. Experience the good old days of Japan as they were meant to be experienced by staying at Kuu House (Sky House) Chikahagi. This 180-year-old minka has been lovingly redecorated by the family that lives here. They also provide English explanations for all you need to know, so you will feel right at home.

Choose from several uniquely decorated bedrooms, which can accommodate individuals, couples, or small groups. Learn how to cook and prepare healthy, hearty country dishes made with produce grown by the family and their friends. Dietary restrictions will be accommodated, and vegan or vegetarian dishes are available. Dinner is served around an old-fashioned irori sunken hearth used in traditional Japanese houses for both heat and cooking. Here, plentiful food and drink may mingle with friendly conversation with the locals for a memorable evening.

After a good night’s rest in your tatami or western-style bedroom, wake up to a breakfast of home-grown vegetables, served out on the terrace when the weather permits. Enjoying a delicious, home-cooked meal as birds sing in the trees is sure to make even the sleepiest person rise and shine!

Lodging may be booked by the room or for the whole house. Meals are available for an extra charge, and dinner is available for parties of four or more. For an extra fee, KuuHouse also offers experiences in making udon noodles or manju, soft rice cakes filled with red bean paste. If you visit during harvest season, you may join in this activity, gathering a variety of fruits and vegetables grown in the Ichikawamisato-cho area. Creating washi Japanese paper postcards and personal seal stamps are other activities that can be enjoyed for a nominal fee at KuuHouse.

Access: From Tokyo Station, take the Chuo Line to Shinjuku Station (about 15 minutes), transfer to the JR Chuo Line Limited Express to Kofu Station (about two hours), then transfer to the JR Minobu Line to Ichikawa Daimon Station (about 40 minutes). A free shuttle service is available from the station.