Hualien Minimalist Japanese Zen-style Homestay – Enjoy a Digital Detox Day Bathed in Sunshine

Text & Photos /MIKA’s Food & Travel Log

As someone who frequently visits Hualien, I’ve stayed at quite a few unique homestays, but… this one, Ruoshui Humanities Space, is the most literary and artsy homestay I’ve ever experienced. Strictly speaking, it’s also the homestay that feels the least like a homestay—very non-commercial, with owner hosts who have a scholarly vibe. They’re not particularly warm or overly enthusiastic, but they greet you in a relaxed, friendly way, like old friends, making you feel completely at ease. My favorite part is the elegant reading space in the featured photo—the apple green sofa set against the lush greenery of the backyard, with great natural lighting and a vast collection of books. It really feels like a high-end library, making you want to spend the whole afternoon reading here and not wanting to leave~

That evening, we drove from Yilan to Ji’an, Hualien, and found Ruoshui Humanities Space tucked away in a small alley. The building’s exterior looks sturdy yet distinctive, and the lighting and nighttime illumination give off a warm and comforting vibe. Subtle and understated, yet it makes you feel like someone has left the lights on waiting for your arrival.

As soon as we arrived at the homestay, the owner didn’t say much, just gave us a brief rundown before handing us the keys and showing us to our room. The first impression was very good because the owner, considering we were tired from traveling, gave a simple explanation and then went about their own business.

We stayed in the Zen-style four-person room, which costs 3000 NTD on weekdays, 4000 NTD on Saturdays, and 3500 NTD on Fridays and Sundays. I think this is a very thoughtful and considerate pricing approach.

As soon as I entered the room, I was impressed by how spacious it was. With this layout and space, most homestays could probably divide it into two rooms, right? I asked the owner why they designed it this way—was it cost-effective? The owner smiled and said it’s okay, fewer rooms mean less profit, but at least the quality can be maintained. They don’t ask for much—just being able to pay the mortgage while still maintaining a certain quality of life is enough for them.

The room style is minimalist Japanese Zen. Because the room is large, you need to use two air conditioners to really feel the effect. I think everything about this room is great, except the beds are a bit too thin and feel a little hard. Guess I’m just not cut out for futons, haha!!!

Did you notice what’s missing here?? Ruoshui Humanities Space doesn’t have a TV in any of its rooms. This place is meant for you to have heart-to-heart chats with friends, enjoy tea, and converse. So this Zen four-person room has been designed with both a tea area and a reading nook—very thoughtful.

The only tech items here are probably that one speaker and the air conditioner, letting soothing music cleanse our…

…TV-poisoned souls, XD. The tea set is all prepared for us, so tonight let’s chat over tea and enjoy this rare digital detox day.

It’s been ages since I last quietly chatted over tea with friends like this. The tea bags the owner prepared also seem pretty amazing—they’re fragrant and rich~

The owner especially designated a reading nook by the bedside, hoping we’ll read more since there’s no TV.

There’s an open washbasin where we do our washing up—it’s a bit embarrassing being so exposed, XD. There’s also a small fridge underneath, perfect for storing our night market spoils.

The bathrooms are separated into two rooms—you can really tell how spacious this room is.

In such a literary, people-oriented space, you can imagine how much emphasis is placed on environmental protection, so aside from shampoo and body wash, please bring your own personal care items.

When we woke up the next morning, we truly appreciated how great the natural lighting in this building is. The clever design allows sunlight to naturally pour into the interior.

The stairwell isn’t decorated with anything too fancy—just a simple painting placed there, and it already feels very pleasant.

Next to the stairwell on the first floor is the bathroom.

Early in the morning, the owner couple was busy preparing breakfast for us. With great natural light and a view of the lush green backyard, sitting in the book-filled living room, we couldn’t help but feel a bit more refined ourselves.

I really love this elegant reading space—so many books, plus the apple green sofa set against the greenery of the backyard. It really makes you want to bury yourself in this sea of greenery, quietly reading and enjoying this rare moment of tranquility. I’ve always felt like this place is like a library. After looking it up, I learned that the owner’s dream is to turn this into a community parent-child library. I hope the owner can make this dream come true.

The collection of books here is incredibly rich, and almost every series is complete—not just randomly collected.

There are even children’s picture books and dictionaries.

Oh, my favorite Studio Ghibli series!!

While I was reading, the owner had already served breakfast. You can tell the owner must be vegetarian, but the breakfast still doesn’t feel like you’re eating vegetarian—the French toast is still wonderfully fragrant. The breakfast includes plenty of fruit, French toast, purple sweet potatoes, and other light meals—refreshing and healthy.

Drinks include soy milk, milk, coffee, black tea, and more to choose from.

My friend really liked their cups—they’re so beautiful..

The owner has a great sense of aesthetics—even the teacups aren’t an afterthought. The environment here is peaceful, the book collection is rich, and the minimalist Japanese Zen style calms our minds.

I also really admire the owners' commitment to their quality of life. The log cabin architecture, the courtyard shaded by greenery, the elegant reading space, and the extensive collection of books — I love this literary, minimalist Japanese Zen-style homestay with such a humanistic touch. Although we suffer from information anxiety, these days, with smartphones always at hand, we can stay updated on world events even without a TV. But... have we forgotten the beauty of reading? Staying here reminded me of the importance of reading. It seems I haven’t read in ages, nor have I turned off the TV or put down my phone just to listen to music, sip tea, and chat with friends. Here, they reminded me of these simple, beautiful things I had lost. Thank you, Ruoshui Humanistic Space, and thank you to the owners for your dedication. I hope you can realize your dream of creating a community children’s library!

Ruoshui Humanistic Space (a homestay)
Address: No. 155-1, Qingfeng 8th Street, Qingfeng Village, Ji’an Township, Hualien County
Phone: 0958360779 / +886-958360779
Website:http://zen.eair.com.tw

Traveling afar helps us return to our roots with deeper understanding.
MIKA’s Foodie Travel Journal