Ayabe, Kyoto
Old homes, a gateway to Japan.
Under one big roof,there is a fire.People gather,and the night grows long.
About
In Nishisaka-cho, a hamlet in the hills of Ayabe, Kyoto, an old farmhouse with a great roof sits between the fields and the mountains. The KO café team laid the floors and the tatami by hand, and made it a house for one group a night.
An irori hearth in the living room, a garden where you can light charcoal. While you stay, the whole house is yours — no other guests, no staff.
The House
01Roof & Thatch
The roof was once thatched; today it is clad in metal to protect it. Look up under the eaves and the layers of thatch are still there, tied with bamboo and rope. The steep roof wraps the whole house.
02Irori
At the centre of the tatami room is an irori, a sunken hearth — a place to boil water, grill something, or just watch the fire. People gather around it on their own. We explain how to use it when you book.
03Rooms
The tatami rooms open into one another through sliding doors. Sit under the round paper lanterns and look out at the garden. You sleep on futons.
04Kitchen
A plastered kitchen with a long slab table and bench. Cook with vegetables from the local shops, or have KO café bring dinner to the house.
05Bath
Timber walls, a black-tiled tub and a window — a quiet place to soak.
06Satoyama
Nishisaka-cho is a short drive out of central Ayabe, a hamlet of fields and wooded hills. Nights are dark and quiet; mornings start with birdsong. You can light charcoal in the garden — we lend the whole kit.
Amenities
We list towels and other amenities in our reply email.
Gallery
A Stay
One way to spend it.
Drop your bags and walk through the house. Let the quiet of the hills settle in.
Charcoal barbecue in the garden — or book a sushi chef to make dinner in front of you.
Keep the conversation going around the fire. The night feels longer here.
A quiet morning. Check-out is by 10:00 AM. Stop at the café for sushi-making or tea on your way home.
Dining
Stays are room-only. If you like, KO café can bring meals to the house.
Private sushi dinner
A sushi chef comes to the house and makes a course in front of you. Book by the day before.
Barbecue set
Meat, grilled vegetables and seafood, put together to suit your group.
Barbecue kit
Grill, charcoal, nets, tableware, chairs and a tent — everything you need.
Platters and sushi tubs
Fried bites and onigiri, or a tub of nigiri and rolls.
Unagi and seared bonito
Dishes from the KO café menu, delivered to the house.
All photos in this section show dishes from KO café. We send the menu and prices with your booking details. Dishes may change with the season.
At the café
KO café, about 20 minutes from the house by car, offers sushi-making and table tea ceremony in a machiya built around 1930. Add it to your stay.
See the experiences
Details
Photos taken in October 2026.
Rates
The more you are, the less per person.
Per person per night, whole house, room only (tax included)
1 guest
¥25,000per night
2 guests
¥15,000per person
¥30,000 for 2
3–4 guests
¥13,000per person
¥52,000 for 4
5–11 guests
¥11,000per person
¥66,000 for 6
Total per night by group size
Access
JR Ayabe Station
JR Sanin & Maizuru Lines
about20min by car
KO Minka
Nishisaka-cho, Ayabe
FAQ
Choose your check-in date, nights and group size, and pay by card — your stay is confirmed the moment you pay, and a confirmation email follows right away.
You pay by card (including Apple Pay and Google Pay) when you book.
Stays are room-only. You can add a private sushi dinner, a barbecue set, platters and more.
Yes. We pick you up from and drop you off at JR Ayabe Station. Tick “Pick-up from Ayabe Station” in the form and tell us your arrival time.
Please ask. Tell us how many children and their ages in the form.
Yes. Email us in English or Japanese.
Book a stay
Fill in your check-in date, nights and group size, then send it to us by email. We’ll reply within two business days with availability and the rate.
How it works
We’ll send our cancellation policy with your quote.
Other ways to reach us
