Vintage lodge, private bathhouse & historic estate
Entire cottage in Shimada, Japan
- 4 guests
- 2 bedrooms
- 4 beds
- 1 bath
Hosted by Shelley
- Superhost
- 7 years hosting
Listing highlights
Top 5% of homes
This home is highly ranked based on ratings, reviews, and reliability.
Great check-in experience
Recent guests loved the smooth start to this stay.
Beautiful area
Guests love this home’s scenic location.
Experience one of Conde Nast's 10 most beautiful rural areas in Japan. Historic and cozy Kawasemi Cottage offers a glimpse of the past with the best of modern comforts. Be soothed by the river below while unwinding in the private nostalgic bathhouse and tranquil heirloom garden. We'll help arrange outdoor & cultural activities, deliver authentic bento boxes, or stock the kitchen and provide recipes to taste local flavors. Teahouse open Sat 10am-4pm. Access by train/bus. Discount for >2 nights.
The space
We are proud to offer you private use of Kawasemi Cottage, a charming, traditional 75-year-old lodge located on a large estate formerly belonging to one of the area's wealthiest families. The estate is set above the village of Awabara, looking down at the Sasama River, which you can hear as you relax on the cottage's veranda or drift off to sleep. The cottage consists of three rooms (two multi-purpose, separable tatami rooms (living/sleeping) and a modern kitchen) plus a shower, toilet, wash room, veranda and private entranceway.
Your booking also includes private use of "Awa-yu", a retro-inspired bathhouse with handmade ceramic tubs, art deco furnishings and a hidden deck for stargazing. Our teahouse "Chaya Hotaru" operates on Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:00 offering local teas, espresso and other select coffees, cream soda and baked goods to locals and visitors. Our vintage gallery--"Kaisoukan"--is open during teahouse operating hours and on request (free admission). There you can view old photos of local village life as well as a collection of antiques from the Showa and Taisho eras that were found on the property.
We have aimed to restore the estate to its former grandeur while finding the optimal balance of tradition and comfort. This allows you to experience the best of Japanese interior design and rugged mountain scenery plus all the luxuries of modern life. If you're a fan of traditional Japanese style (particularly from the SHOWA period) you'll surely appreciate our:
- TATAMI mat rooms (2 rooms, 8 mats each) with ZABUTON (traditional cushions)
- ENGAWA (fully enclosed veranda with sliding glass doors) at the front and back of the cottage
- SHOJI screens (made of translucent paper) that allow in light while offering privacy
- RANMA transoms (a traditional type of window above entrances)
- a HORI-KOTATSU (table with heater sunk into the floor that you dangle your legs over)
- artwork reflecting Japanese craftsmanship, e.g. oiled-paper umbrellas, textiles, paintings
- vintage dishware from the estate for decoration and use
But to ensure your comfort we also provide:
- wooden lounge chairs for those who prefer not to sit on the floor, as well as a kitchen table which can be used as a work desk
- four individual futons with extra padding, MUJI linens and buckwheat pillows
- winterized glass doors surrounding the bedroom/living rooms that can be shut to retain heat or air conditioning
- wall mounted heating/air conditioning units (we don't use kerosene stoves)
- high speed (fiber optic) wireless internet
- modernized washlet toilet, washstand and shower
- state-of-the-art kitchen with refrigerator, induction cooktop, rice cooker, electric teapot, microwave, Bialetti espresso maker and MATCHA set
- complimentary coffee, local green tea and MATCHA
While the village affords visitors an authentic taste of rural life, it is tiny and does not have restaurants or shops. If you arrive by car, we'll introduce you to the nearest restaurants and/or shops for buying groceries. Alternatively, we can arrange to have lunch and/or dinner bento boxes delivered from one of the local caterers. (Please note that it is very important to request meal deliveries well in advance. The providers are local women making individual bentos and not take-out establishments.) To help you experience the best of local cuisine we have also developed a recipe book from which you can select in advance and based on your choices we will stock the kitchen with all the necessary ingredients for you to prepare your own dishes in your own time.
We can arrange for you, or put you in touch with operators, to participate in a variety of local, curated outdoor and cultural activities (additional fees may apply). If you like being outside but still feeling relaxed we recommend hiking (several courses described and mapped in the cottage guidebook), river walking and dipping (when conditions are favorable), or an awesome forest bathing site (SHINRIN YOKU). For the more adventurous there is world class paragliding, kayaking, grass skiing and horseback riding nearby (in some cases operators will come to pick you up). To fully savor being in Japan we recommend a cooking class and/or tea farm experience in the village, or a kimono dressing experience or a chance to listen to or play the KOTO (the national instrument of Japan) right here on the estate. You can also experiment with local teas and teaware to find your own perfect SENCHA and MATCHA blends. We can also arrange to hold formal tea ceremonies with local masters on the property. Even if you're not necessarily a trainspotter, this area is famous for its historical trains (both steam and rack-and-pinion) with fabulous scenery especially in cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons. Or check out the old TOKAIDO road sites nearby as immortalized in UKIYO-E woodblock prints.
Guest access
Kawasemi Cottage is a self-contained unit extending across two historic buildings with its own separate entrance. Guests will be given keys and can come and go as they please. Guests can also explore the grounds of the estate. Host will be present on site throughout your stay to address any issues that arise but after check-in your complete privacy is also assured.
If you decide to use public transportation and are coming from Tokyo, your bullet train stop will be Shizuoka (60-90 min), or if coming from Kyoto you should alight at Kakegawa (also a 90 min trip). Then take a local train (Tokaido line) to Shimada or Kanaya depending on which of the inbound options you choose (see below). It is possible to take a taxi from Shimada or Kanaya but it can be expensive, so why not take your time and enjoy the view on public transport as follows:
Option A (retro train ride+bus): Alight the JR Tokaido line at JR Kanaya in time to transfer to the Ooigawa Kanaya station (just next door) and catch the 11:05 or 14:38 train for Ieyama. You will arrive Ieyama at 11:39 or 15:11 and just in front of the station is the bus stop for the community bus going towards Hikake. Take the bus at 11:50 or 16:12 and alight at Awabara-shita bus stop at 12:35 or 16:57.
Option B (2 buses): Alight the JR Tokaido line at JR Shimada in time to transfer to the Kawane Onsen Line bus bound for Ieyama at 15:15. You will arrive Ieyama station at 16:05 and can transfer to the community bus going towards Hikake which leaves at 16:12 and arrives at the Awabara-shita bus stop at 16:57.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss transport options or have other questions. The host will meet you at the Awabara-shita bus stop if you communicate in advance your time of arrival. If you need to be "rescued" at Ieyama because you miss a bus or train there will be a 3000 yen charge. Outbound schedules are similar (both by bus) leaving Kawasemi Cottage at 8:36 or 13:31 and reaching JR Shimada station at 10:18 or 15:08, respectively (details on request).
Other things to note
Guests should be aware that encounters with insects and other small animals are likely and part of the package of staying in an area surrounded by nature.
The village does not have restaurants or convenience stores. Please see "the space" section above for information on alternatives. If you plan to order catering, please contact us well in advance--it is possible that catering will not be available for all lunches and dinners, especially during long stays.
Flagstones and other rocks on the estate can be slippery when wet--please watch your step.
We comply fully with Japan's strict MINPAKU regulations for smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers and emergency flashlight. (Smoking is not permitted in the cottage or anywhere else on the estate. No BBQing or open flame cooking is allowed anywhere on the estate. )
Please be prepared to provide your identification documents (passport, Japanese residency card or other) for copying in accordance with Japan's MINPAKU regulations. Your understanding is appreciated.
Registration Details
M220022175
The space
We are proud to offer you private use of Kawasemi Cottage, a charming, traditional 75-year-old lodge located on a large estate formerly belonging to one of the area's wealthiest families. The estate is set above the village of Awabara, looking down at the Sasama River, which you can hear as you relax on the cottage's veranda or drift off to sleep. The cottage consists of three rooms (two multi-purpose, separable tatami rooms (living/sleeping) and a modern kitchen) plus a shower, toilet, wash room, veranda and private entranceway.
Your booking also includes private use of "Awa-yu", a retro-inspired bathhouse with handmade ceramic tubs, art deco furnishings and a hidden deck for stargazing. Our teahouse "Chaya Hotaru" operates on Saturdays from 10:00 to 16:00 offering local teas, espresso and other select coffees, cream soda and baked goods to locals and visitors. Our vintage gallery--"Kaisoukan"--is open during teahouse operating hours and on request (free admission). There you can view old photos of local village life as well as a collection of antiques from the Showa and Taisho eras that were found on the property.
We have aimed to restore the estate to its former grandeur while finding the optimal balance of tradition and comfort. This allows you to experience the best of Japanese interior design and rugged mountain scenery plus all the luxuries of modern life. If you're a fan of traditional Japanese style (particularly from the SHOWA period) you'll surely appreciate our:
- TATAMI mat rooms (2 rooms, 8 mats each) with ZABUTON (traditional cushions)
- ENGAWA (fully enclosed veranda with sliding glass doors) at the front and back of the cottage
- SHOJI screens (made of translucent paper) that allow in light while offering privacy
- RANMA transoms (a traditional type of window above entrances)
- a HORI-KOTATSU (table with heater sunk into the floor that you dangle your legs over)
- artwork reflecting Japanese craftsmanship, e.g. oiled-paper umbrellas, textiles, paintings
- vintage dishware from the estate for decoration and use
But to ensure your comfort we also provide:
- wooden lounge chairs for those who prefer not to sit on the floor, as well as a kitchen table which can be used as a work desk
- four individual futons with extra padding, MUJI linens and buckwheat pillows
- winterized glass doors surrounding the bedroom/living rooms that can be shut to retain heat or air conditioning
- wall mounted heating/air conditioning units (we don't use kerosene stoves)
- high speed (fiber optic) wireless internet
- modernized washlet toilet, washstand and shower
- state-of-the-art kitchen with refrigerator, induction cooktop, rice cooker, electric teapot, microwave, Bialetti espresso maker and MATCHA set
- complimentary coffee, local green tea and MATCHA
While the village affords visitors an authentic taste of rural life, it is tiny and does not have restaurants or shops. If you arrive by car, we'll introduce you to the nearest restaurants and/or shops for buying groceries. Alternatively, we can arrange to have lunch and/or dinner bento boxes delivered from one of the local caterers. (Please note that it is very important to request meal deliveries well in advance. The providers are local women making individual bentos and not take-out establishments.) To help you experience the best of local cuisine we have also developed a recipe book from which you can select in advance and based on your choices we will stock the kitchen with all the necessary ingredients for you to prepare your own dishes in your own time.
We can arrange for you, or put you in touch with operators, to participate in a variety of local, curated outdoor and cultural activities (additional fees may apply). If you like being outside but still feeling relaxed we recommend hiking (several courses described and mapped in the cottage guidebook), river walking and dipping (when conditions are favorable), or an awesome forest bathing site (SHINRIN YOKU). For the more adventurous there is world class paragliding, kayaking, grass skiing and horseback riding nearby (in some cases operators will come to pick you up). To fully savor being in Japan we recommend a cooking class and/or tea farm experience in the village, or a kimono dressing experience or a chance to listen to or play the KOTO (the national instrument of Japan) right here on the estate. You can also experiment with local teas and teaware to find your own perfect SENCHA and MATCHA blends. We can also arrange to hold formal tea ceremonies with local masters on the property. Even if you're not necessarily a trainspotter, this area is famous for its historical trains (both steam and rack-and-pinion) with fabulous scenery especially in cherry blossom and fall foliage seasons. Or check out the old TOKAIDO road sites nearby as immortalized in UKIYO-E woodblock prints.
Guest access
Kawasemi Cottage is a self-contained unit extending across two historic buildings with its own separate entrance. Guests will be given keys and can come and go as they please. Guests can also explore the grounds of the estate. Host will be present on site throughout your stay to address any issues that arise but after check-in your complete privacy is also assured.
If you decide to use public transportation and are coming from Tokyo, your bullet train stop will be Shizuoka (60-90 min), or if coming from Kyoto you should alight at Kakegawa (also a 90 min trip). Then take a local train (Tokaido line) to Shimada or Kanaya depending on which of the inbound options you choose (see below). It is possible to take a taxi from Shimada or Kanaya but it can be expensive, so why not take your time and enjoy the view on public transport as follows:
Option A (retro train ride+bus): Alight the JR Tokaido line at JR Kanaya in time to transfer to the Ooigawa Kanaya station (just next door) and catch the 11:05 or 14:38 train for Ieyama. You will arrive Ieyama at 11:39 or 15:11 and just in front of the station is the bus stop for the community bus going towards Hikake. Take the bus at 11:50 or 16:12 and alight at Awabara-shita bus stop at 12:35 or 16:57.
Option B (2 buses): Alight the JR Tokaido line at JR Shimada in time to transfer to the Kawane Onsen Line bus bound for Ieyama at 15:15. You will arrive Ieyama station at 16:05 and can transfer to the community bus going towards Hikake which leaves at 16:12 and arrives at the Awabara-shita bus stop at 16:57.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss transport options or have other questions. The host will meet you at the Awabara-shita bus stop if you communicate in advance your time of arrival. If you need to be "rescued" at Ieyama because you miss a bus or train there will be a 3000 yen charge. Outbound schedules are similar (both by bus) leaving Kawasemi Cottage at 8:36 or 13:31 and reaching JR Shimada station at 10:18 or 15:08, respectively (details on request).
Other things to note
Guests should be aware that encounters with insects and other small animals are likely and part of the package of staying in an area surrounded by nature.
The village does not have restaurants or convenience stores. Please see "the space" section above for information on alternatives. If you plan to order catering, please contact us well in advance--it is possible that catering will not be available for all lunches and dinners, especially during long stays.
Flagstones and other rocks on the estate can be slippery when wet--please watch your step.
We comply fully with Japan's strict MINPAKU regulations for smoke detectors, fire alarms, fire extinguishers and emergency flashlight. (Smoking is not permitted in the cottage or anywhere else on the estate. No BBQing or open flame cooking is allowed anywhere on the estate. )
Please be prepared to provide your identification documents (passport, Japanese residency card or other) for copying in accordance with Japan's MINPAKU regulations. Your understanding is appreciated.
Registration Details
M220022175
Where you’ll sleep
What this place offers
River view
Valley view
Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Unavailable: Carbon monoxide alarm
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Rated 4.96 out of 5 from 103 reviews.
Guest favorite
This home is in the top 5% of eligible listings based on ratings, reviews, and reliability
Overall rating
- 5 stars, 96% of reviews
- 4 stars, 4% of reviews
- 3 stars, 0% of reviews
- 2 stars, 0% of reviews
- 1 stars, 0% of reviews
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for accuracy
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for check-in
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for communication
Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars for location
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value
Guest reviews mention
Where you’ll be
Shimada, Shizuoka, Japan
The cottage is located in the village of Awabara, part of the Kawane region which is known as one of Japan's most famous tea-growing areas. Your stay offers a glimpse of authentic village life which few tourists have the chance to experience. But because of this there are also no facilities such as restaurants or shops. That's why we offer assistance with your transport plans and help you to source your meals through either catering or kitchen stocking. Please enquire for details.
Meet your host
My work: Fisheries Scientist
Favorite song in high school: Message in a bottle
I'm a 20+ year resident of this village and Japanese citizen and have operated Kawasemi Cottage and Chaya Hotaru (a teahouse on the estate) since 2019 (search for "SASU ICHI project" online for more info). Choosing to stay here provides employment for village residents, supports local businesses, and contributes to the upkeep of this historic property and garden. Co-host and cairn terrier Timo and I look forward to giving you a warm welcome!
Shelley is a Superhost
Host details
Response rate: 100%
Responds within a day
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