Hello. I’m Aya, host of Oyado Chiyosato, a private whole-house guesthouse in Sakuho Town, Nagano Prefecture.
Through this blog, I hope to share a little at a time about the guesthouse, life in Sakuho, and the days we spend with our guests. For my first post, I’d like to introduce myself by telling you why I decided to open a guesthouse in this town. It’s a bit of a long story, so make yourself a cup of tea and settle in.
Moving from Tokyo to Sakuho as a family
In the summer of 2022, our family moved from Tokyo to Sakuho.
One of the things that set us on this path was how completely the pandemic had changed the world around us. I wanted my child to grow up somewhere with mountains in view, surrounded by the sounds of the changing seasons—That feeling gradually grew stronger, until it finally gave our family the push we needed.
From there, everything happened surprisingly fast—even by my standards! We came to see a property in Sakuho that had caught our eye, and just two months later, we were signing the paperwork. And so our new life in Sakuho began.
A town that welcomed us with open arms
After the move, our days unfolded at a completely different pace from life in Tokyo. An irrigation channel runs in front of our house, and its gentle sound can be heard throughout the day. Behind the house are rice paddies and fields, with beautiful mountains in the distance. In summer, we bathe to the sound of cicadas by day and insects by night. It is a life far removed from the bustle of the city.
Most of all, the people here were incredibly warm. A simple greeting while walking our dog might lead to someone sharing vegetables picked fresh that very day. People would even say, “Thank you for moving here with your child.” Each time, I felt a deep sense of happiness and thought, I’m so glad we came here.
Before long, I began to think: someday, I want to give something back to Sakuho for welcoming us so warmly.
A remarkable old house found through the vacant-home bank
Like rural communities across Japan, this area faces the challenge of vacant homes. Fine old houses lose their residents and slowly age in silence. Sakuho is no exception. About two years after we moved, I found an old minka farmhouse listed through the town’s vacant-home bank and called the municipal office. When I saw it in person, I was amazed. Its presence and stately façade were extraordinary.
Inside were magnificent, heavy pillars and beautiful traditional details in the lintels and shoin-style screens. My mother, who loves houses as much as I do, fell for it at first sight. We decided to buy it. This house could let me give something small back by preserving one of the town’s vacant homes, while also fulfilling my wish to create a place where people could gather. That was the moment I decided to open a guesthouse.
The story behind the name “Chiyosato”
The guesthouse takes its name, Chiyosato, from the local area where the building stands. I have always loved things rooted in Japanese culture, and the word chiyo feels unmistakably Japanese to me. Chiyo evokes a long, enduring span of time. I hope this remarkable house will remain here in the village for many years to come, now as a guesthouse. With that wish in mind, I chose to carry on the place name itself.
I believe the feeling of being restored is universal
What I want to offer at Oyado Chiyosato is the chance to experience the warmth and beauty of traditional rural Japan as a whole. The sound of water flowing through the irrigation channel, insects calling at night, a hot pot shared around a large dining table, and the star-filled skies unique to Sakuho’s high elevation. When we encounter things like these, we feel ourselves relax and heal in a way that is difficult to put into words. I believe that feeling is universal, whether you are Japanese or visiting from overseas.
For international guests, I hope Chiyosato can be a doorway into a local side of Japan that rarely appears in guidebooks. Learning about one another’s ways of life may seem like a small thing, but I genuinely believe it can help make the world a more peaceful place.
There is one more thing. Simply by coming here, our guests help me give back to Sakuho. They support local businesses, discover the beauty of rural Japan, and help create a positive cycle. My dream is that one day, this cycle will also create jobs in the town.
Next time, I’ll share some behind-the-scenes stories about everything it took to turn this remarkable old house into a guesthouse. Until then, take care.
Aya
Host, Oyado Chiyosato
