Traditional thatched cottage Japanese homestay – soak in an open-air hot spring

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

In Japan’s rural areas, there are many traditional-style"kyominka"— homestays that preserve traditional features. Selected by Rakuten Travel, these kyominka offer travelers not only the option to stay in first-tier city accommodations but also the chance to stay in countryside cottages in second-tier cities, experiencing rural scenery and a relaxed way of life.

1. Yufuin Onsen Hoteiya (Yufuin Onsen Fukuroya)
Nestled in a pristine forest, Fukuroya is a charming traditional Japanese inn with 14 rooms, primarily designed in classic architectural style. It offers a variety of indoor and outdoor hot springs, a traditional irori (sunken hearth), and an open-air bath with views of Mt. Yufu. The common area includes a large communal hot spring bath and a private onsen with a relaxing rock bed.

▲ Yufuin Onsen Hoteiya (Photo / Courtesy of Rakuten)

2. Nihonnoyado Hida Takayama Wanosato (Japan's Inn Hida Takayama Wanosato)
With an exterior resembling the UNESCO-listed Shirakawa-go thatched villages, Wanosato is built using natural materials like thatch and wood, evoking a nostalgic Japanese ambiance. Exposed wooden beams and antique furnishings create an atmosphere rich with centuries of history. Outside, a waterwheel turns, and the inn offers rock baths and hinoki (cypress) wood baths. There are four separate buildings and eight suites, some with tatami flooring. Local specialties such as Hida beef can also be enjoyed here.

▲ Nihonnoyado Hida Takayama Wanosato (Photo / Courtesy of Rakuten)

3. Yunishigawa Onsen Heike no Sho (Heike’s Manor)
Established in 1718, this thatched-roof inn preserves a traditional Japanese sunken hearth. Tucked away in a secluded location, the property houses around 1,000 historically valuable folk tools. Some rooms feature earthen walls to enhance the nostalgic atmosphere, allowing guests to deeply immerse themselves in traditional Japanese culture. There are 20 different hot spring baths available.

▲ Yunishigawa Onsen Heike no Sho (Photo / Courtesy of Rakuten)

4. Sasayuri-Ann (Sasayuri Cottage)
Located in Muko, Nara—recognized as one of Japan’s Top 100 Villages—this inn is a renovated old house featuring a thatched roof. It accepts only one group of guests per day. Surrounded by rice fields, the homestay offers a peaceful natural and pastoral setting.

▲ Sasayuri-Ann (Photo / Courtesy of official fan page)

5. Chiiori (Chiiori Cottage)
Situated in Iya Valley, known as Japan’s “Tibet of the East” and listed as one of Japan’s Three Hidden Regions, Chiiori is a 300-year-old traditional inn that blends modern amenities with heritage architecture. Nestled in one of Japan’s steepest valleys, the area still preserves hundreds of old thatched cottages. Guests can cook their own meals in the rooms.

▲ Chiiori (Photo / Courtesy of official website)

Traditional Rural Homestay Information
Yufuin Onsen Hoteiya
Phone: 0977-84-2900
Address: 1414, Kawakami, Yufuin-Cho, Yufu City, Oita 879-5102, Japan

Nihonnoyado Hidatakayama Wanosato
Phone: 0577-53-2321
Address: 1682, Ichinomiya-cho, Takayama City, Gifu 509-3505, Japan

Yunishigawa Onsen Heike no Sho
Phone: 0288-98-0031
Address: 727-1, Yunishikawa, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture, 321-2601, Japan

Sasayuri-Ann
Phone: 0745-88-9402
Address: 656, Fukano, Muro, Uda City, Nara 632-0203, Japan

Chiiori
Phone: 0883-88-5290
Address: 209 Tsurui, Higashi-Iya, Tokushima, Yubinbango 778-0206