Step back in time to a unique historic property deep in the mountains. Bright, cozy and authentic Kawasemi Cottage celebrates retro style in a stunning natural setting. As the only guests, simply relax in the private cottage & bathhouse and enjoy the tranquility of the classic landscape garden & shrine. Or let us be your personal concierge to connect to curated outdoor & cultural activities. Discount for >2 nights. Lunch/dinner catering available. Teahouse opens Sat 10-4. Access by train/bus.
The space
We are proud to offer you private use of Kawasemi Cottage, a charming, traditional 75-year-old guesthouse 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. 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 (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)
- artwork reflecting Japanese craftsmanship, e.g. oiled-paper umbrellas
- vintage dishware from the estate
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 and sitting room that can be shut to retain heat or air conditioning
- wall mounted heating/air conditioning unit (we don't use kerosene stoves)
- high speed (fiber optic) wireless internet
- modernized washlet toilet, washstand and shower
- full-size kitchen with refrigerator, induction cooktop, rice cooker, water boiler, and microwave
- complimentary coffee and local green tea
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 delivered from one of the local caterers offering graded menus for various prices. (Please note that it is very important to request meal deliveries well in advance. The providers are local women making individual bentos/dinner sets and not take-out establishments.)
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 learning about koto music right here on the estate. 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 nearby 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 if needed 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 10:48 or 15:28 train for Ieyama. You will arrive Ieyama at 11:29 or 16:10 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. I will meet you at the Awabara-shita bus stop if you let me know what time you will be arriving. 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).
We can recommend several hiking courses in the area (from stroll to strenuous) or advise on the best tracks for onroad and offroad cycling or motorbiking. (A big welcome to cyclists: pumps and some tools available, with the possibility of rentals to experienced riders.) Kawane ONSEN is 20 minutes away by car or bus). The onsen offers hotspring bathing, massage and dining options. Sasama River running right through the middle of the village is great for a cooling, shallow dip and will lull you to sleep at night. Farther afield, but still within an hour by car are the Ooigawa steam locomotive line, the narrow-gauge rack-and-pinion Ikawa railway, Sumatakyo gorge, grass skiing, paragliding, and horseback riding. We are located just off the Tokai Nature Trail running from Tokyo to Osaka.
笹間地方にはさまざまなハイキングコースがあります。楽々コースから上級者コースまで揃っています。自転車やバイクで走るのに「持ってこい」のエキサイティングなコースもあります。 (自転車大歓迎です！ ロードレース経験者用のレンタルバイクもあります。ポンプや道具も若干ですが、用意しています。) 近くの 川根温泉で疲れを取ったり、粟原村の真ん中を流れる笹間川で軽く水浴びするのもいいでしょう。夜は寝付くまでカワセミコテージから川の音がさらさらと聞こえますよ。
笹間のお茶は大変有名です。お茶に興味のある方は、お茶の葉を用いた加工品、試飲、お茶の入れ方、もてなし方など、お茶に関するアクティビティーに参加いただけます。（有料。こちらで手配いたしますので、ご相談ください。）笹間だけでなく、近くにも見所いっぱいの観光地があります 。（例えば: 大井川鉄道、井川線のラック式鉄道、寸又峡温泉、大久保グラススキー場、大井川パラグライダー等々 。）東京から大阪まで続く「東海自然歩道」もすぐ近くを通っています。
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 a restaurant or convenience store. 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
