1 night, 2 days
Standard dates
- 1–2 people¥40,000
- 3 people¥45,000
- 4 people¥50,000
- 5 people¥55,000
Peak spring & autumn dates: ¥50,000 for up to two, ¥6,000 for each guest after that
Up to 5 guests
One hour from Kyoto city
Away from the crowds.
Live a while in a Kyoto village.
Kyoto is more than the temples in the city. An hour away there is countryside — cherry blossom and autumn leaves, old shrines, temples up in the hills, and villages that still live by the seasons. Stay in a farmhouse, one night to seven, and spend your days with the people who live here.
What this is
A private countryside stay
in Kyotamba, Kyoto.
Kuromamesan Stay is a private countryside stay in Kyotamba, Kyoto, Japan. You stay in a traditional Japanese farmhouse and spend your days in everyday village life — seasonal scenery, local food, and nearby places away from Kyoto’s crowded tourist areas. One group at a time, up to five guests.
Your stay begins at 11:00 AM at JR Sonobe Station, about 40 minutes by train from Kyoto Station. We meet you there and take you to Kyotamba. On your final day we usually return you to JR Sonobe Station around 2:00 PM. Breakfast, lunch and local transportation are included; dinner is not.
When to come
Every season, a different village.
Nothing here is staged for visitors. What you see is whatever the village happens to be doing that week.
About the seasonal dates
The best viewing dates move every year, sometimes by two weeks. Write to us with roughly when you can travel and we will tell you when to come.
- Blossomroughly April 1–13
- Autumn leavesroughly November 1–26
Why here
Not a visitor
passing through.
The Kyoto countryside where I live still holds the beauty of Japan.
Cherry blossom in spring, red leaves in autumn. Old shrines and temples, and the culture and the daily life that have been handed down here — all of it still going on.
Kyoto city is wonderful too. But honestly, it can be very crowded.
Every famous place is full of visitors. You come all the way to Japan, and it can end up being nothing but walking through crowds.
Here there are almost no tourists.
Walk through quiet country, feel the season, meet the people who live here. There is another Kyoto, not the one in the city.
Let me show it to you.
Kuromamesan (Kota Inaba)
Where we take you
The Kyoto most visitors never see.
On the guided drive we go wherever the season is at its best that week. Places like these.
- NantanA thatched village in the hills, still lived in.
- KameokaAn old shrine at the foot of a sacred mountain.
- AyabeA mountain temple wrapped in autumn leaves.
- KyotambaA quiet waterfall you may have to yourselves.
- KyotambaBlack soybean fields in autumn. The ones from here are known right across Japan.
Kyotamba is your base. From here, we choose places that match the season, the weather, and what you would like to experience. If there is somewhere nearby you especially want to visit, tell us — we will do our best to include it in your stay.
Where you stay
The farmhouse you stay in
is next door to the village elder care center.
You have the whole farmhouse to yourselves — only one group stays here at a time, up to five guests. Next door is Kuromamesan, a small elder care center where older people spend the day — and can also stay overnight when needed.
Kuromamesan is known for building the old way of life in Kyotamba into the care itself. The elders work the field, cook rice over a wood fire, and teach the young staff how to pickle vegetables. The work was published as a book by KADOKAWA, and more than three hundred care workers now come from across Japan every year to learn it.
This plan does not include any care experience.
During the day, life at Kuromamesan goes on right next door. You may see the elders working in the garden, cooking rice over the fire, or simply spending time together.
When it fits naturally with the day, you are welcome to say hello and spend a little time together. Nothing is staged for visitors — it is simply everyday life happening beside you.
Eating here
A private pizza dinner,
just for your group.
On the same grounds as the farmhouse is a small restaurant. Breakfast is served here every morning.
If you would like dinner here, we open the restaurant just for your group. Knead the dough, make your own pizza, and enjoy vegetables from Kyotamba. No other guests — the restaurant is yours for the evening.
For dinner, you have three choices: a local izakaya or restaurant we recommend — and we’ll drive you there; a private pizza dinner at our restaurant; or groceries from the supermarket to cook in the farmhouse kitchen.
Dinner is not included in the price, whichever you choose. The pizza dinner is around ¥2,500–5,000 per person.
You don’t need to decide when you book. We can talk about dinner during your stay. On the day you arrive, after a long journey, the izakaya is the easiest.
Four plans
How long you stay changes what you see.
Even one night gives you a whole day of the village. The longer you stay, the more unscheduled time there is — and the more this turns from a place you visited into a place you lived in for a while.
The seven-night plan has a lower nightly rate, giving you more time to slow down and settle into village life.
Prices are per group, not per person. A stay runs from 11:00 AM on your first day until around 2:00 PM on your final day.
2 nights, 3 days
Standard dates
- 1–2 people¥80,000
- 3 people¥90,000
- 4 people¥100,000
- 5 people¥110,000
Peak spring & autumn dates: ¥100,000 for up to two, ¥12,000 for each guest after that
Up to 5 guests
3 nights, 4 days
Standard dates
- 1–2 people¥120,000
- 3 people¥135,000
- 4 people¥150,000
- 5 people¥165,000
Peak spring & autumn dates: ¥150,000 for up to two, ¥18,000 for each guest after that
Up to 5 guests
7 nights, 8 days
Standard dates
- 1–2 people¥238,000
- 3 people¥266,000
- 4 people¥294,000
- 5 people¥322,000
Peak spring & autumn dates: ¥297,500 for up to two, ¥35,000 for each guest after that
Up to 5 guests
Children
- Aged 5 and underFree
- Aged 6–12¥3,000 per child, per night
- Aged 13 and overAdult rate
Children aged 5 and under stay free when they share bedding with an adult and need no extra futon. Children are included in the maximum group size of five guests.
The details
What is included, and what is not.
Included
- Private farmhouse — one group at a time
- Breakfast and lunch
On days we stay in the village, we provide lunch here. On days we go out, we eat together and pick up the bill — drinks included. - Pick-up and drop-off at JR Sonobe Station
- Seasonal guided drives
- Local transportation during your stay
- Natural opportunities to spend time with the elders next door
Not included
- Transportation to JR Sonobe Station
- Dinner, whichever of the three you choose
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Professional care training / care experience
Questions
Before you write to us.
Where is Kuromamesan Stay?
In Kyotamba, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan — about an hour from central Kyoto. It is countryside, not the city.
How do I get there?
Take the JR train from Kyoto Station to JR Sonobe Station. The journey takes about 40 minutes, and we will meet you at Sonobe Station. You do not need to find the house yourself.
What time does the stay begin and end?
Your stay begins at 11:00 AM at JR Sonobe Station. We’ll meet you there and take you to Kyotamba. If arriving at 11:00 AM is difficult, please let us know in advance.
We usually return to JR Sonobe Station around 2:00 PM on your final day.
How many guests can stay, and is the farmhouse private?
Up to five guests, and only one group at a time. You will have the farmhouse entirely to yourselves.
Where do we sleep?
There is one private room for one guest and one large tatami room with futons for up to four people. The tatami room is a shared open space, making it best suited to families or friends travelling together.
Are prices per person or per group?
Per group. ¥40,000 for one night covers one or two guests together, not each person. Guests beyond two are charged per night on top of that.
Are prices higher during cherry blossom and autumn foliage seasons?
Yes. Those dates are charged at the peak spring & autumn rate. Blossom is usually early to mid April and the autumn leaves are usually in November, but the best dates move every year — we cannot promise a particular week.
Do you have a children’s rate?
Yes. Children aged 5 and under can stay free when sharing bedding with an adult. Children aged 6–12 are ¥3,000 per child, per night. Guests aged 13 and over are charged at the adult rate. Children are included in the maximum group size of five guests.
What meals are included? Is dinner included?
Breakfast and lunch are included. On days we stay in the village, we provide lunch here. On days we go out, we eat together and pick up the bill — drinks included.
Dinner is not included. You choose between a local izakaya we recommend and drive you to, a private pizza dinner at our restaurant, or groceries cooked in the farmhouse kitchen. You don’t need to decide when you book.
Is transportation included?
Yes — pick-up and drop-off at JR Sonobe Station, the seasonal guided drives, and local transportation during your stay. Your travel to and from Sonobe Station is not included.
Can you handle dietary requirements?
Please tell us about any dietary needs — vegetarian, halal preferences, allergies, or anything else. We will let you know what we can accommodate. We are not a certified halal kitchen.
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. We are still learning English ourselves, so we use AI and translation tools when we need them.
They help us understand each other’s words — and the rest often comes naturally. A smile, a gesture, sharing food, or simply spending time together can communicate more than you might expect.
Is this a care training programme?
No. This plan does not include any care experience. Here you are simply a neighbour. If you would like to learn about our approach to care in depth, we have a separate Professional Care Programme.
Can I come alone?
Yes. Solo travellers, couples, families and friends are all welcome. Note that prices are per group, so one guest pays the same as two.
How do I book, and how do I pay?
Send us your dates through the form below. No payment is required to check availability.
Once we confirm your dates, group size and total price, we will contact you by email and send you a secure PayPal invoice or payment request. Your reservation is confirmed once full payment has been received.
What is the cancellation policy?
14 days or more before your stay: refundable, less payment processing fees. 7–13 days before: 50% refund. 6 days or less: non-refundable.
Payment processing fees already charged by the payment provider are non-refundable. If your trip is seriously affected by severe weather, natural disasters, or major transportation disruptions, please contact us — we will review the situation individually.
Book
Only a few guests at a time.
Send us the dates you are thinking of. We will tell you what is possible, suggest the best timing for the season, and answer your questions in English — usually within a few days. No payment is required to check availability.
Which dates are open
○ Available× Not available
The earliest we can take a booking is 14 days from today, and a stay is at least two nights. Dates change as bookings come in — we confirm everything by email.
How booking and payment work
- Send us your dates, group size and the ages of any children.
- We confirm whether the dates are standard or peak season, and calculate the total.
- We email you the details and the final price.
- We send a secure PayPal invoice or payment request by email.
- Your reservation is confirmed once full payment has been received.
No payment is required to check availability. We do not take card details on this site.
Cancellation policy
- 14 days or more before your stay — refundable, less payment processing fees.
- 7–13 days before your stay — 50% refund.
- 6 days or less before your stay — non-refundable.
Payment processing fees already charged by the payment provider are non-refundable.
If your trip is seriously affected by severe weather, natural disasters, or major transportation disruptions, please contact us. We will review the situation individually.
Prefer email?
Write directly to kuromamesan20@gmail.com with your dates and the details above.
Here to learn about care? There is also the Professional Care Programme.