Relax in the Warmth of Wood-Infused Traditional Houses: 7 Recommended Accommodations in Kansai

In Kansai, there are various accommodation facilities that make use of traditional row houses (nagaya) and old Japanese houses (kominka). From places with a cozy, homely atmosphere to facilities renovated in a modern style, we will introduce seven traditional Japanese house accommodations in the Kansai area.

1. CONTEXTED Osaka (Osaka, Terada-cho)

CONTEXTED, managed by us, is located in Terada-cho, where every 5th building is a traditional row house that preserves the old town’s charm. CONTEXTED Osaka is born from the full renovation of a nagaya built about 100 years ago and offers an artistic private villa experience. Within walking distance, you’ll find shopping streets, public baths, and with a bit more exploration, you can visit places like the East Central Wholesale Market and Osaka Ikuno Korean Town.

CONTEXTED Osaka consists of three separate row houses: “SORA,” “TEN,” and “GEN.” Each row house can accommodate up to 7-8 guests, and when combined, they can host a total of 23 guests. It’s perfect for graduation trips, group retreats, or home parties. The facilities include kitchens and washing machines, making it suitable for “workcations” or long-term stays as well.

Overview Price Range: 17,000 yen and up per room per night Address: 1-6-3 Ikuno Higashi, Ikuno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka 544-0025 Access: Approximately a 10-minute walk from Osaka Loop Line Terada-cho Station Official Website: https://contexted.osaka.jp/

2. Sora Inn (Hyogo, Takeda)

“Sora Inn” is characterized by a roof that replicates shachihoko (mythical tiger-fish creatures) tiles collected from Takeda Castle. While its exterior resembles a long-established ryokan (Japanese inn), the interior has been renovated and features facilities like lockers, kitchens, a free manga and book corner, and a powder room. You can also rent high-performance cross bikes for a fee. The free space, renovated from a storehouse, offers a relaxing environment where you can feel the history of the building. You can book individual rooms or even the entire villa for your stay. With a convenient location just a 1-minute walk from Takeda Station, it’s a recommended accommodation for exploring Takeda attractions, centered around Takeda Castle ruins.

Overview Price Range: 11,000 yen and up per room per night Address: 220 Takeda, Wadayama-cho, Asago City, Hyogo 669-5252 Access: Approximately a 1-minute walk from JR San-in Line Takeda Station Official Website: https://tenku109.jp/wp/

3. Old House Cottage “Kanon” (Nara, Ikoma)

This accommodation was created by renovating two kominka (traditional Japanese houses) that were built 120 years ago. The first building consists of a living room with a fireplace, kitchen, sofa, two tatami rooms, and two Western-style rooms. There is also a spacious garden outside where you can enjoy bonfires and handheld fireworks. The second building offers a relaxed atmosphere with an antique-style dining table and a sunken kotatsu in the conversation room. Two tatami rooms are available for sleeping. Both buildings have an open garden area where you can enjoy BBQs (for a fee). Pets are allowed to stay in both buildings for an additional fee, making it a recommended accommodation for those who want to relax with their beloved pets.

Overview Price Range: 37,000 yen and up per room per night Address: 309 Arisato-cho, Ikoma City, Nara 630-0233 Access: Approximately an 18-minute walk from Kintetsu Ikoma Line Ichibun Station Official Website: https://jhousekanon.com/

4. Minami Ise “Saitasou” (Mie, Minami Ise)

The village of Saita in Minami Ise-cho, where Saitasou is located, is a nature-rich village with more than 100-year-old kominka lining its streets. Saitasou is an accommodation facility created by renovating a kominka that is over 140 years old in a modern style. The rich warmth of the sturdy wooden structure and nostalgic furniture will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the Meiji era. You can bring your own ingredients and enjoy cooking in the kitchen, or use the barbecue grill in the backyard (for a fee). It’s an ideal place to forget the hustle and bustle of the city and refresh both your mind and body.

Overview Price Range: 24,000 yen and up per room per night Address: 932 Saido, Minami Ise-cho, Toba City, Mie 516-0113 Access: Approximately a 30-minute drive from Ise Expressway “Tamaki IC” Official Website: http://mie-saitasou.com/

5. Guesthouse Waraku-an (Kyoto, Okazaki)

Guesthouse “Waraku-an” is a renovated 100-year-old Kyoto townhouse (machiya). It retains the charm of the townhouse with cobblestone paths leading to the entrance, tiled washrooms, and wooden-themed shower rooms. From the veranda on the first floor’s living area, you can enjoy views of a beautifully designed tsubo-niwa (courtyard) with arranged stepping stones and greenery. The nearby Heian Shrine, as well as attractions like Okazaki Park, Kyoto City Zoo, and Nanzen-ji Temple, are easily accessible. Moreover, it’s just a 30-minute train or bus ride to Kyoto Station, making it a great base for exploring Kyoto.

Overview Price Range: 7,150 yen and up per room per night Address: 19-2 Seigoin Yamao-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto 606-8392 Access: Approximately an 8-minute walk from Keihan Electric Railway Jingu Marutamachi Station Official Website: https://gh-project.com/

6. Traditional House Accommodation “SenzanAn” (Wakayama, Yuasa)

Yuasa-cho, where “SenzanAn” is located, is the only area in Wakayama Prefecture designated as the “Yuasa Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings.” The town is known for its numerous townhouses and storehouses related to brewing. SenzanAn is created by renovating three townhouses that are over 130 years old. While preserving the traditional charm of townhouses, such as natural wooden pillars, beams, plaster walls, and earthen floors, it has been renovated for comfortable stays. Each townhouse provides approximately 70 square meters of space with both Japanese and Western-style rooms. Pay attention to the ceramic stone bathtubs, designed to resemble the high-quality hotel bathrooms. It’s an excellent place for those who want to experience a time travel back to the Edo period.

Overview Price Range: 38,000 yen and up per room per night Address: 2814-2 Yuasa, Yuasa-cho, Minamimuro-gun, Wakayama 643-0004 Access: Approximately a 12-minute walk from JR Kisei Main Line (Kinokuni Line) Yuasa Station Official Website: https://www.senzanan.com/

7. Machiya Accommodation Honmachi Shuku in Hikone (Shiga, Hikone)

This accommodation is created by renovating townhouses that have been in existence since the Edo period. Inside the facility, there is a conversation room and a counter space where guests can socialize, and an impressive Japanese garden is featured, utilizing the adjacent Myoshoji Temple’s main gate as borrowed scenery. Rooms can be chosen between traditional Japanese-style and Western-style rooms. With elements like hanging scrolls and Japanese chests, it feels like you’ve traveled back in time to the Edo period. Breakfast uses locally sourced ingredients, and you can start your day pleasantly with rice cooked in an earthenware pot filled with Omi rice. The location is within walking distance to tourist attractions like Hikone Castle and Lake Biwa, making it a great choice for exploring the area.

Overview Price Range: 11,000 yen and up per room per night Address: 3-3-55 Honmachi, Hikone City, Shiga 522-0064 Access: Approximately a 20-minute walk from JR Biwako Line Hikone Station Official Website: https://honmachi.hcdf.jp/

Conclusion

Kansai offers a variety of traditional house accommodations, including row houses, Kyoto townhouses, and storehouses. While staying in a luxurious hotel is great, occasionally experiencing the hospitality of a traditional house that has stood for over 100 years, feeling the culture and warmth passed down by previous generations and the warmth of the wood, can be a unique and delightful experience.