What is STAR Host? : STAR Hosts are experienced hosts who have met and exceeded HomeAways STAR hosting criteria
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This is for booking of an entire house (Not booking of a bedroom).
We can only accept one group of guests at a time.
Escape from crowd and noise!!
Come and visit Kyoto's mountainous area and stay at a traditional thatched-house.
---The SPACE---
The place we live is called Keihoku. It's only 1 hour north away from center Kyoto, and you can enjoy stunningly majestic mountain and river scenery, fresh air, and meet heart-warming people.
We can also offer some unique nature tours for you.
I was born and grown up in this house, as well as his 6 generations of ancestors.
I speak English without inconvenience, thanks to my travel experience in the world.
---Guest Access---
We have four rooms that can be used as bedrooms, 2 toilets, a shower room , a bathroom(Japanese style)and a convenient kitchen, just like your house (refrigerator, microwave, toaster, gas stove, any kind of dishes, glasses).
- TATAMI ROOM: Can sleep up to 3 guests (Futon)
- TATAMI ROOM 2: Can sleep up to 2 guests (Futon)
- BEDROOM: Can sleep up to 1 guest (Semi Double Bed x1) + 1 additional guest (Futon)
- 2ND FLOOR FLOORING ROOM: Can sleep up to 7 guests (Futon)
As amenity, we offer hand / bath towels, Yukata, shampoo, body soap, hair dryer, toothbrush, razor, and laundry machine.
For your access, you can use living room, shower/wash room, toilet. As for linen, clean sheets, pillow cases, blankets and bath / hand towels are provided. All the electronics are free to use. You can cook at the kitchen!
I and my wife can give an optional experience service such as family casual cooking, trekking, and yoga training (at attic space). We have 10 sets of YOGA mats. You can enjoy practicing YOGA anytime you want. You can ride horse riding machine (called Joba) in our house. Let's enjoy exercise!
I grow various kind of organic seasonal vegetables in my own farm. You can make dishes using those vegetables by yourself or we can also help you cook in our kitchen!
As for internet, we provide free internet (Wi-Fi).
---The Day Tour---
We can take you on tours (with English guidance and transportation) for an additional fee. We organize a tour schedule with you based on whats most suitable for you, the weather and the season.
***The Day Tour***
We can take you on tours (with English guidance and transportation) for an additional fee. We organize a tour schedule with you based on what’s most suitable for you, the weather and the season.
※One Day Tour (10:00〜16:00):
25,000 yen :1 group(2~5 persons)
You can choose your itinerary from the following options:
・Waterfall trekking
・Tallest cedars in Japan watching
・Visiting the shrine & temple
・Visiting the sake brewery
・Visiting the historical thatched roof house village
・Night fireflies viewing (from beginning-June to end-June )
・Go to hot spring
・Experience meditation in Zen temple with monk (need additional charge 1,000 yen)
※Special Seafood Tour:
We go to seaside to get very fresh fish and some seafood. W bring them back to our house and make very special fresh sashimi and sushi. The rate is 30,000 yen 1 group : 2~5 persons), plus fish fee and cooking experience charge. Local seafood is very, very tasteful and you cannot have the same experience elsewhere. Highly recommended!
※Central Kyoto tour:
If you want to go central Kyoto some temples and shrines , I can take you to central Kyoto. The rate is 30,000yen 1 group:2~5 persons (excluding admission fee, meals and parking fee). You can select some places from your idea.
Original Tour:
We can help you plan your own special tour!
--Getting around--
Since Keihoku is quite a large area, it is difficult to visit places just on foot (most destinations are about 5-10km away).
To get around this area, you can also rent 2 bikes for free - the supermarket and bus terminal are around only 30mins away by bike.
If you choose to do a tour with us, you can pay by credit card (VISA, MASTER, JCB, AMEX, DINERS, DISCOVER). Depending on how long you stay with us, we can do multiple tours - its up to you.
---Other things we offer---
We want to make your stay comfortable and entertaining, so we offer some added extras at our place for you to enjoy, including:
A BBQ set - having an outdoor barbeque with guests is our favorite way of dining
10 yoga mats so you can enjoy practicing yoga any time you want
Piano and acoustic guitar - we are music lovers!
Japanese toys for children, so there is no boring time for the kids
Two dogs - our Golden Retriever puppy Azuki is very cute and she loves meeting new people and making friends
I sometimes goes sea fishing, and you can eat what he catches!
A small farm full of seasonable vegetables, which you can harvest and eat for free
We are working on setting up a cafe that serves light meals. When its ready we hope our guests will enjoy eating there. :)
---The Neighborhood Overview---
Here in Keihoku, you can put yourself in majestic nature - enjoy trekking riverside, or to waterfall or giant cedars as well as praying in peaceful temples and shrines.
However, since Keihoku is quite a wide area, it is difficult to visit places by just on foot (usually 5-10km away).
---Access---
In order to come to Keihoku area, take a JR bus of Takao/ Keihoku line from Kyoto Station (terminal no. 3) via Enmachi and Nijo station. Shuzan (Syuzan) terminal is a final stop and it takes around 1 hour 20 mins from Kyoto station. It costs JPY1,200, or you can use the Japan Rail Pass.
You will get on the bus from a rear door and get off from the front door after you put your fare in the box next to a driver or show JR pass. We can pick you up at Shuzan terminal by car.
A bus timetable from Kyoto station to Shuzan final terminal:
Depart: 14:00 Arrive: 15:20
Depart: 15:30 Arrive: 16:50
Depart: 16:30 Arrive: 17:50
Depart: 17:30 Arrive: 18:50
Depart: 18:40 Arrive: 20:00
Depart: 19:20 Arrive: 20:40
The bus looks very local, but I am sure you will enjoy the scenery from the window when you come into the mountain lane (after 40mins or so).
