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If you’ve ever wanted to ditch the big hotels and live like the locals in Japan, you’ll definitely want to look into staying at old traditional houses known as kominka.
These old residences have the power to whisk you away to the Japan of centuries ago, with loads of traditional architectural features and old-world charm. However, they’re not always easy to find, as preserving old houses for guests to stay in can be a costly endeavor.
That’s where Yamanashi-based company Loof has been stepping in, with their mission to renovate and open up kominka to guests proving to be so successful they’re now welcoming visitors to their fourth kominka, and this one is called Sei no Ie.
Sei no Ie is a 150-year-old house located in a quiet forest in Wada Town, Minaboso City, at the southernmost tip of the Boso Peninsula in Tokyo’s neighboring Chiba Prefecture.
With a 100-year-old history of flower production, this area is known as the “city of flowers”, and while the forest environment is rich in nature, it’s also close to the coast, with Wadaura Beach just a 10-minute drive away.
Surrounded by trees and rice fields, the only sound guests hear at this residence is the chirping of birds, the swaying of the treetops… and the sizzling of the sauna, which comes with an impressive view.
The sauna, which can accommodate four adults at a time, is equipped with a Misa sauna heater manufactured in Finland.
▼ A beautiful site for a sauna session
You’ll also be able to enjoy the crackle of the fire outside in the expansive garden area, which is an ideal spot for summer fireworks.
When it comes to mealtimes, you’ll be totally spoiled with two hearths inside.
▼ Traditional living with modern perks
This is where you can enjoy cooking seasonal vegetables, fresh seafood, and meat from Minamiboso. Depending on the season, wild boar might appear on the menu as well.
There are two bedrooms — one upstairs and one downstairs — and both have been beautifully designed so guests can enjoy some of the traditional features of the house up close.
Another highlight of a stay at Sei no Ie is the freedom to soak your troubles away at any time of the day or night, with unlimited use of the rotenburo bath outside.
Whether you’re chilling on the porch, relaxing in the sauna, or feasting around the hearth, this old Japanese house will provide you with a peaceful getaway and memories to last a lifetime.
Check-in is from 3 p.m. and check-out is by 11 a.m., both of which can be done completely online, using the iPad inside the building. Sei no Ie accommodates up to 10 people, and is priced at 18,000 yen per person per night, plus a service charge which varies according to season.
Kominka Yado Loof Sei no Ie / 古民家宿 るうふ 清之家
Address: Chiba-ken, Minaboso-shi, Wada-cho, Ogawa 1135-1
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Same price as a cheap ryokan.
Rent a Winnebago,you experience in the cheap
A travel trailer is less than a 100 dollar a day,they sleep 4 ,take a trip to see Fuji san and enjoy the last day of summer in style Google Tokyo RV Rental
you obviously have never experienced the joys of living or staying in a traditional Japanese house. We owned such a house and lived there for decades. We moved and now live in a western-style house.
There are hundreds of thousands of ryokans across the country with onsens. But the cost of staying can be very high. $500 per person per night. 10 people $5000/night.
This one 10 people for $1300/night.
Renting a RV would be good for a group of women,from Tokyo rolling over the open road and experience nature,they have showers and toilet and you will have wifi,if you hear something in the wood,do not go outside and investigate,put the RV in drive and get to stepping
Wallace,I have lived in house,in a wooded area,not having people around you is not a confromting experience
This house is a short distance from Tokyo. About a one-hour drive.
The experience is similar to staying in a Hawaiian house or Hale.
When the borders are open again you can take a flight to Narita and then hire a car for a 2-hour drive.
Tom san ,you and guy friend rent one ,play poker all day and night,and do thing you want to do ,while you away from the wife
There are no American size RV's here in Japan. They are just small campers for a couple and maybe a couple of small kids. Many do not even have toilets. You have to park overnight on legal campgrounds.
Tom san ,you and guy friend rent one ,play poker all day and night,and do thing you want to do ,while you away from the wife
You forgot to mention a case of beer and a bottle of nice bourbon.
Tom san ,I not advocating drinking and driving,that a great escape for a family,to get of the city and enjoy Japan,
Wallace,most Americans tow their camper ,with their trucks , usually a F 250 they usually sit in the yard and the neighbors complain
If you stay there, you'd better get some centipede repellent or you'll be in for a nasty surprise.
Tom san ,I not advocating drinking and driving,that a great escape for a family,to get of the city and enjoy Japan,
I hear you loud and clearly.
shots are nice and ad is nice as well but price is not catchy at all.
just look around you and you will find many better deals in this no-foreign tourist-situation...
Its at the bottom of Boso, so 120 km away from say Setagaya. Its in the middle of nowhere, so you'll be driving. It could easily take the same time as Minakami or Karuizawa, neither of which is just outside Tokyo.
I like kominka. I prefer them with chairs to sitting on the floor, hori-kotatsu included. For relaxing, that is more important to me than a sauna or whether I am allowed to play in the garden with fireworks.
you obviously have never experienced the joys of living or staying in a traditional Japanese house. We owned such a house and lived there for decades.
Was it near a volcano, in range of tsunami, or in an earthquake prone area?
Was it near a volcano,
88 km from the nearest active volcano.
or in an earthquake prone area?
All of Japan is earthquake prone.
Was it near a volcano,
88 km from the nearest active volcano.
or in an earthquake prone area?
All of Japan is earthquake prone.
You seem like an overcautious type. Are there black or brown bears in the vicinity?
Rent a Winnebago,you experience in the cheap
Is this Winnebago also a traditional Japanese house?
What you describe sounds like the cheapest way to ruin a holiday.
If you’ve ever wanted to ditch the big hotels and live like the locals in Japan......
Live like the locals? Then forget isolated houses in the countryside, you'll have to squeeze yourself and your family into an over-priced city apartment with walls thin enough to hear it every time your neighbours fart and cigarette smoke constantly drifting in from the old man next door. That's real Japan for most people.
Ah,a Winnebago is term used for mobile travel vehicle,in which people live in while traveling on the road
Winnebago is the name of a RV manufacturer. I'm not even American and I know that much.
Redstorm,we have slang name for thing in America,why do you not rent a travel van and venture around Japan
Actually, what is not mentioned in the article is that Wada is famous for whaling.
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