KUUHOUSE RETREAT · AUGUST 5–9, 2027
A return to a quieter,
more intimate Japan.
A five-day private journey through fireworks, mountain lakes, handmade washi paper, slow meals, and evenings around the irori, the sunken hearth. All transportation, meals, activities, and curated beverages included.
FROM OUR GUESTS
Words from those
who stayed with us.
★★★★★ 5.0 on Google · 69 reviews
“The highlight was the amazing fireworks festival they got us access to with front row seats.”
VICKY G. · GOOGLE REVIEW
“Best stay in Japan by far, after a full month in the country!”
ESTHER D. · GOOGLE REVIEW
“We only stayed 3 days, but by the time we had to go, it felt like saying goodbye to family.”
MICHAEL T. · GOOGLE REVIEW
“The hosts were just so accommodating that it made us feel like we couldn't possibly deserve it.”
TOM T. · GOOGLE REVIEW
Not a tour, but a carefully paced stay in rural Yamanashi,
about two hours from Tokyo.
Designed for travelers seeking beauty, silence,
craftsmanship, and genuine human connection.
DAY 1 · AUGUST 5
Arrival & Release
Guests arrive slowly into the rhythm of the mountains. Tea beneath ancient zelkova trees, silence, and an evening around the irori.
- Private station pickup by Keita
- Mulberry tea welcome beneath the trees
- Free time to rest, walk, or simply do nothing
- Evening onsen (hot spring) under the mountain sky
FOOD MOMENT
Dinner around the irori fire — handmade dishes prepared by Mom (over 80), local river trout, clay-pot rice, and stories translated slowly across languages.
CURATED BEVERAGES
Yamanashi wines, local craft beer, seasonal soft drinks, and a bottle of Yamanashi whisky (such as Hakushu) for quiet evenings around the irori.
DAY 2 · AUGUST 6
Lake Shibire
A quiet day shaped by water, forest air, and the pace of rural summer. Before the valley wakes, Sanaé is already in the field — she has tended this land for more than eight decades.
- Morning harvest with Sanaé at her family farm
- SUP or lakeside rest at Shiorenji Lake
- Private bungalow by the water
- Slow evening back at KuuHouse
FOOD MOMENT
Breakfast with vegetables harvested at dawn. In the evening, hand-cut udon noodles prepared together using Sanaé's family machine.
In your life, there is a sky you have never seen before.
On the night of August 7th, everyone who lives in this town
looks up at the same sky.
It is a prayer. And a blessing.
DAY 4 · AUGUST 8
Paper &
Prayer
Handmade washi, mountain temples, and traditions carried quietly across generations.
- Carving your own hanko, the personal name seal
- Washi notebook making
- Secret log-cabin unagi restaurant
- Minobusan Temple bell ceremony at dusk
FOOD MOMENT
TKG (tamago kake gohan: warm rice with a fresh egg) with our own handmade soy sauce, brewed every year since 2023 with groundwater that flows from a nearby mountain lake. Dinner features local venison and mountain vegetables.
DAY 5 · AUGUST 9
Afterglow
Mom's final breakfast. The same menu as Day 1 — but the taste changes once guests know every hand behind it.
- Slow morning with no rush
- Breakfast prepared by Mom
- Final checkout at 14:00
- All four hosts drive guests to the station
FOOD MOMENT
Mom's handmade dishes — the same home-cooked meal served on the first evening, now carrying the memory of the entire stay.
AT A GLANCE
- DATES
- August 5–9, 2027 · 4 nights / 5 days
- GROUP
- One private group only, 2–4 guests
- RATE
- ¥352,000 per person · all-inclusive, tax included
- FIREWORKS
- Shinmei Fireworks Festival on August 7 — your seat included
- RESERVATIONS CLOSE
- April 30, 2027
- TO RESERVE
- 50% non-refundable deposit at booking, balance on arrival
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Private use of our farmhouse, over 185 years old, for 4 nights
- All meals, home-cooked by Mom and our family
- Curated beverages — Yamanashi wines, local craft beer, Yamanashi whisky (such as Hakushu), and soft drinks
- Every activity in the itinerary, including the harvest with Sanaé, udon making, Shiorenji Lake, hanko carving, washi making, and Minobusan Temple
- Yukata dressing by Mom and your seat at the Shinmei Fireworks Festival
- English guiding and all driving by Keita, including pick-up and drop-off at Ichikawadaimon Station
NOT INCLUDED
- International flights
- Travel to and from Ichikawadaimon Station
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Personal expenses and souvenirs
BOOKING & CANCELLATION
- A 50% deposit confirms your retreat and is payable at the time of booking. Payments are made in Japanese yen.
- The remaining balance is paid on arrival at KuuHouse.
- The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel or shorten your stay for any reason.
- If we have to cancel the retreat (for example, due to a natural disaster or severe weather), we will refund your deposit in full.
- If rain postpones the fireworks, Days 3 and 4 simply swap — at no extra cost.
- We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is there air conditioning?
No. KuuHouse is a farmhouse over 185 years old, without air conditioning. It sits at about 750 m above sea level, usually 5–10°C cooler than the towns below, and mountain breezes keep August evenings at around 25–28°C.
Can we bring children?
Families with young children are welcome upon prior consultation.
Can you cater to allergies or dietary needs?
Please tell us when you enquire, and we will talk with you about what we can prepare.
How do we get to KuuHouse?
Take the train to Ichikawadaimon Station on the JR Minobu Line. Keita will meet you on arrival and drive you to the house.
Can we stay outside the fireworks dates?
Yes — we also host seasonal retreats in spring, autumn, and deep winter. See below.
YOUR HOSTS
Come as a guest.
Leave as family.
Keita speaks English fluently and warmly — every experience narrated, every story translated, every question answered.
Miki designs the retreat and holds the space. Mom (over 80) feeds everyone without exception. Sanaé tends the field before dawn.
Four people who have chosen to share their lives with a handful of carefully selected guests each year.
MIKI · MOM (YUKO, OVER 80) · KEITA
The fireworks light up one night of the year.
For all the days that remain,
the four seasons of the satoyama will fill you.
Every season has its own sky.
KUUHOUSE RETREATS THROUGH THE SEASONS
The same people.
A different season.
The same private, all-inclusive stay — a different peak moment each season. Each retreat is 3 nights for one private group of 2–4 guests. Shorter 2-night stays are also possible — just ask.
LATE MARCH – MID-APRIL
Spring — Cherry Blossoms & New Green
Cherry blossoms with Keita in the satoyama hills of Ichikawamisato — or wherever in Yamanashi they are at their best that week — sowing the fields, and making udon by hand.
MID-NOVEMBER – EARLY DECEMBER
Autumn — Maple Leaves & the Irori Hearth
The maples around the house turn red, evenings by the irori, and a quiet spot just 5 minutes away with a view of Mt. Fuji.
DEEP WINTER
A Special Winter Retreat
Details and dates coming soon.
¥242,000 per person for 3 nights · all-inclusive, tax included
RESERVE A SEASONAL RETREAT →Until we meet again.
Questions, dates, or simply a hello — we would love to hear from you.
Enquire directly:
KUU489@GMAIL.COM →