Sonohigurashi is a one-group-per-day guesthouse in a 100+ year-old former calligraphy school, lovingly renovated by hand. Using local materials and reclaimed wood, I’ve created a warm and cozy space where you can slow down and enjoy simple pleasures. Life here revolves around fire. Relax by the irori hearth, soak in a handmade Goemon bath, or try our mobile truck sauna. Smoke over a bonfire, steam in a clay oven, simmer on the hearth, bake on the wood stove… Most of our cuisine is cooked over wood fire. Dinner offers a course meal tailored to the day’s ingredients. For breakfast, you can choose between Western and Japanese styles. Perched on a gentle hill, enjoy views of rice fields and the Kirishima mountains — a unique and cozy Japanese countryside experience.

I love handmade living and creating spaces with my own hands. I can speak a little English and enjoy sharing simple, authentic experiences with guests who are curious about rural Japan.

Sonohigurashi is located in Isa City, northern Kagoshima, often called the “Hokkaido of Kagoshima” for its cold winters and beautiful natural scenery. Visit Sogi Falls, known as the “Niagara of the East,” relax in local hot springs, or wander through rice fields. From cherry blossoms in spring to golden rice fields in autumn, the landscape changes with the seasons.Life here is quiet, simple, and deeply connected to nature. Staying at Sonohigurashi is a special opportunity to experience the Japanese countryside in a meaningful way.