HOTARUAN

Hotaruan is a 150+ year-old thatched-roof house, registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Set on an 8,500㎡ estate surrounded by gardens and forest, it offers a peaceful stay with an irori hearth and timeless traditional atmosphere.

◆ Overview

Hotaruan is a private thatched-roof house rental, restored from a traditional farmhouse built over 150 years ago. The main house is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, preserving the authentic atmosphere of old Miyama—its earthen-floor entrance, irori hearth, and quiet tatami rooms. While the building remains deeply traditional, it has been carefully maintained and updated to provide the comfort and convenience modern travelers need for a relaxing stay.

◆ Cultural Heritage & Atmosphere

The main house is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, keeping the timeless charm of traditional Miyama alive. Guests can experience the earthen-floor entrance, the warmth of the irori hearth, and the peaceful simplicity of tatami rooms, all preserved with great care.

◆ 8,500㎡ Estate & Nature

The property covers approximately 8,500 square meters, surrounded by a spacious garden, a small orchard, and a forested hillside behind the house. Each season brings a different beauty: plum blossoms in spring, persimmons and yuzu in autumn, and the calming scent of trees throughout the year.

◆ A Place to Slow Down

This is not a tourist destination, but a place where time slows down naturally. A stay at Hotaruan offers something rare—space to step away from everyday life and quietly return to yourself.

Stay in a Traditional Thatched Roof House with an Irori Hearth in Miyama

king bed bedroom in Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

Main House: 2 Bedrooms, Irori & Tatami Rooms

A 150-year-old main house registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan. Experience Miyama’s traditional bengara exterior, the doma entrance with an old okudosan stove, rare susutake bamboo, and the quiet beauty of tatami rooms and an irori hearth.

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hinoki bath sauna and cold plunge at Hotaruan Miyama Kyoto

Annex Building: Kitchen, Dining, Bath & Sauna

Hotaru-an’s kitchen, dining room, bath, and sauna are located in a separate annex building. In traditional Miyama thatched-roof houses, water facilities were not placed inside the main house, which was considered a sacred space. At Hotaru-an, we honor this philosophy while offering modern comfort, including a Noto Hiba wood bath, a private sauna, and a cold plunge bath in a semi open-air setting.

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doma okudosan stove in Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

HOTARUAN Room Tour Video (6:38)

Explore HOTARUAN, a thatched-roof cultural heritage stay in Miyama, Kyoto. This 6:38 room tour video captures the quiet beauty of tatami rooms, an irori hearth, and authentic rural Japan.

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sakura blossoms around thatched roof house in Miyama Kyoto

The Four Seasons of Hotaruan | A Stay Surrounded by Nature

At Hotaruan, the changing seasons are part of the stay itself. Enjoy coffee in the garden, walk through the forested hillside, and experience the quiet beauty of Miyama all year round.

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traditional style kitchen in Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

Kitchen & Dining: A Multi-Purpose Space Once Used for Weddings of 30 Guests

Hotaruan’s annex building includes a fully equipped kitchen and dining space. Once used for weddings of up to 30 guests, it is now ideal for group dinners, meetings, and seminars. Cookware, appliances, amenities, Wi-Fi, and a water server are all provided.

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washbasin vanity area in Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

Doma & Washbasin: Quiet Comfort in a Traditional House

A washbasin set within the traditional doma space. Enjoy a calm moment surrounded by wood, earth, and natural light at Hotaruan.

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quiet green village path in Miyama Kyoto countryside

A Quiet Path at Hotaru-an: A Walk into Stillness

Beyond the garden of Hotaru-an, a peaceful path leads into the forest. Enjoy a moment of calm surrounded by birdsong, wind, and the beauty of Miyama’s seasons.

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moss covered open garden space in front of Hotaruan Miyama Kyoto

Hotaruan Garden: A Setting for Weddings & Garden Parties (27-sec Video)

Hotaruan’s garden is a special place where weddings and garden parties have been held. Maintained without chemicals, it is also safe for guests with dogs. (27-sec video)

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hinoki forest walking path for forest bathing in Miyama Kyoto

Walking the Hinoki Forest Trail Behind Hotaru-an (1:06 Video)

A quiet hinoki cypress forest lies behind Hotaru-an. Enjoy forest bathing on the peaceful walking trail. (1:06 video)

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Facilities & Appliances

Wi－Fi

Traditional irori hearth

Tatami room with futon bedding.

3Modern Toilets

Tatami room

Air Conditioning

hair dryer

A small charcoal BBQ grill

No TV

Kerosene fan heater

1 bathroom with a Hinoki bathtub (Japanese cypress)and 2 showers

2 bedrooms (one king-size bed and one double bed)

Fully equipped kitchen (cookware and tableware provided)

washing machine

Water dispenser

Amenities

Towels are provided.

toothbrush

Hand soap, body soap, shampoo, conditioner

No pajamas.

coffee, tea, green tea, herbal tea

Services

Free Station Pickup

Non-smoking

Pet-friendly

Outside Food & Drinks Allowed

Capacity: 1–6 guests (larger groups may be accommodated upon request)

Kitchen

pour-over coffee dripper

microwave oven

rice cooker

toaster oven

refrigerator with freezer

Cutlery (chopsticks, knife, fork)

Cups, wine glasses, plates

electric kettle

Kitchen knife, cutting board

Frying pan, pot

“Compare with Our Other Houses”

KAYA VILLA

1–7 guests

From JPY 14,000 /person
75 m²
2 bedrooms
1 bathroom
Self-serve breakfast provided
Pet friendly

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MITOYA

1–7 guests

From JPY 16,500 /person
100 m²
1 bedroom
1 bathroom
Futon on tatami
Self-serve breakfast provided
Irori

View Details

EISA

1–10 guests

From JPY 20,500 /person
100 m²
1 bathroom
Futon on tatami
Self-serve breakfast provided
Pet friendly / Annex

View Details

MIYAMA F&B

1–8 guests

From JPY 20,500 /person
160 m²
1 bathroom
Futon on tatami
Cooked breakfast served
Irori

View Details

OBATAKE

1–6 guests

From JPY 29,000 /person
185 m²
2 bedrooms
2 bathrooms
Futon on tatami
Self-serve breakfast provided
Annex

View Details

HOTARUAN

1–6 guests

From JPY 40,600 /person
250 m²
2 bedrooms
1 bathroom
Futon on tatami
Cooked breakfast served
Irori / Pet friendly

View Details

doma entrance space in Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

spring cherry blossoms near thatched house in Miyama Kyoto

double bed bedroom in Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

cherry blossoms around thatched house in Miyama Kyoto spring

thatched roof house exterior of Hotaruan in Miyama Kyoto

doma washbasin area in Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

genkan entrance of Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

floor plan layout of Hotaruan thatched house in Miyama Kyoto

dining table and multi purpose gathering space in Hotaruan Miyama Kyoto

thatched house surrounded by green forest in Miyama Kyoto

tatami room with irori fireplace in thatched house Miyama Kyoto

Japanese courtyard garden at Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

morning sunlight on thatched roof at Hotaruan Miyama Kyoto

dining and multi purpose space in Hotaruan thatched house Miyama Kyoto

irori hearth in tatami room at Hotaruan Miyama Kyoto

genkan entrance and courtyard garden at Hotaruan Miyama Kyoto

wedding ceremony at thatched house in Miyama Kyoto

Live the Old Future.

Direct Booking

A quiet night. A real house. Your name on the calendar.

You’ve reached the end of this story—now you can step into it. Reserve your dates on our booking page. Direct booking gives you the best price and supports the preservation of traditional thatched-roof houses in Miyama.

✓Go to Booking ?See How It Works

Best price • One group only • Preservation support