All Yours: Experience Exclusive Accommodations in Kansai’s Folk Houses
Satisfaction in a trip largely depends on the accommodations chosen. After a whole day of sightseeing, travelers just want to recharge in a place that boasts premium amenities in a clean and comfortable environment.
Those looking for privacy in their accommodations should consider staying in kominka, generations-old traditional Japanese houses usually found in rural areas. In recent years, these wooden folk houses have been transformed into cozy spaces for commercial use. In Kansai, in particular, some kominka have even become exclusive inns that only accept a limited number of visitors at a time.
While giving you a glimpse of slow countryside life, a kominka also offers unique experiences like no other. If you’re planning to visit Kansai, check out these exclusive inns for a memorable time in the Land of the Rising Sun.
1) Gion Kinpyo (Kyoto Prefecture)
Immerse yourself in two centuries of history when you stay in Gion Kinpyo. Once the main building of a sake brewery that was founded in 1810, this machiya or townhouse has been refurbished to preserve its original design. It can be rented to a small group per day, to ensure the exclusivity and privacy of their stay.
Gion Kinpyo boasts an authentic Japanese design lent by its lattice doors, mushikomado ventilation windows, and doma earthen flooring. The traditional house’s main room is large enough to fit about 12 tatami mats, while the bedroom features a view of the courtyard. Even the bathroom, made entirely of Japanese cypress wood, gives off a traditional vibe.
As it was once a sake brewery, remnants of its past still remain. You can explore its renovated sake cellar where old barrels and brewing tools are on display. On the first floor is a gallery that showcases and sells a variety of wares made by Kansai artists.
Gion Kinpyo can also take care of your meals as long as you reserve at least two days in advance. For breakfast, there is a Japanese set meal that includes rice, soup, and seven side dishes (¥2,300). Another option is a Continental set meal that includes bread, salad, fruits, and egg dishes (¥2,100).
Don’t miss out on:
The sake bath experience is amazing for warming and moisturizing your skin. Only one bath service is offered per stay and the spirit used is, of course, the sake of Kinpyo, which has been brewed for over 10 generations.
Facility Information
|
Name: Gion Kinpyo |
2) Kokoro no Sato: Kai (Hyogo Prefecture)
An inn located in Yabu-shi, Hyogo Prefecture, Kokoro no Sato: Kai has four rooms that can be reserved for the private use of up to six people. Two of its rooms fit six tatami, another fits seven and a half, and another fits four and a half. Large windows bring in natural air and light, as well as the sound of birds chirping. Come November, when maple leaves turn red and yellow, the view looks like a beautiful painting.
This traditional Japanese guest house is proudly particular about the meals it serves. For dinner, savor dishes created with medicinal herbs and organically grown local vegetables, free of artificial fertilizer and pesticide.
For breakfast, feast on freshly baked bread, which also utilizes herbs and other healthy ingredients like domestic wheat, sugar beet, seaweed salt, unsalted butter, and more. Depending on the type of bread, a natural yeast is used to make the dough rise. If you like the nutrient-filled baked goods so much, you can buy some to snack on before you return home.
Don’t miss out on:
To relax, try the old-fashioned iron Goemon bath made by a local craftsman from the Tajima area. Two kinds of medicinal herbs are added to the bath, allowing you to enjoy the scent of Hinoki and Sawara cypress trees. For the ultimate outdoor experience, learn traditional skills like chopping wood or heating a bath with firewood.
Facility Information
|
Name: Kokoro no Sato: Kai Website: Kokoro no Sato: Kai (Japanese) |
3) Yamatomune Kominka JINYA (Nara Prefecture)
Constructed around 200 years ago, Yamatomune Kominka JINYA is a traditional house in Uda-shi, Japan, and a National Tangible Registered Cultural Property. Though it’s a treasured site, travelers can reserve the approximately 1,500-square-meter compound for their private accommodations.
The traditional Japanese guest house is blessed with an abundance of lush greenery. With the nearby clear stream, the scenery from this kominka brings you back to ancient rural Japan. At night, a sky full of stars greets you, and so does the occasional wild deer that roams the area.
This kominka houses antique chests, warehouse locks, keys, and other items deemed culturally significant. Many of the objects found inside this folk house are preserved to retain their original condition from centuries past.
Fun fact: JINYA was once the residence of the lord of the Kishu Tokugawa family, a branch of the Tokugawa clan that ruled as shoguns. The traditional house follows the Shoin-zukuri Japanese architectural design that features a main meeting room, alcoves, staggered shelves built into the wall, and floors covered with tatami.
The main building still has fusuma or sliding doors and fittings from the Edo period (1603–1867). There is also a kamado, a traditional Japanese stove, and an irori, a Japanese sunken hearth on the earthen floor.
During your stay, visit the cafe in the rice granary, where you can drink coffee or sake while taking in the wondrous ancient interiors.
When done exploring the house, spend time in the great outdoors. Places to visit nearby include Murouji Temple (or Nyonin Kouya, koyasan for women), the spiritual Ryuketsu Shrine, and the Iga Ninja Village. What a comfort to know that you have a traditional house to come home to after an entire day of sightseeing!
Don’t miss out on:
JINYA offers a variety of dining experiences for you to enjoy. Dine by the hearth or have a traditional Shichirin table-top barbecue during your stay. The traditional Japanese guest house also serves shabu-shabu featuring organically raised local meat and produce.
For a fun and enriching day, you can also join a number of guided experiences. The old folk house experience teaches you to cook rice using an authentic kamado.
Facility Information
|
Name: Yamatomune Kominka JINYA |
Your Bucket List: Experience the finest of Japanese hospitality in these inns
Treat Yourself To a Stay in Kansai’s Top 2 Luxury Hotels
