Project Info
Project Description
A 150-Year-Old Thatched House, Preserved as Cultural Heritage
The main house of Hotaru-an is a traditional thatched-roof farmhouse built more than 150 years ago.
It is officially registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.
The moment you step inside, time begins to slow down.
This is not simply a place to stay—it is a place where the spirit of everyday life still remains.
Bengara Red: The Traditional Color of Miyama
The deep red exterior pillars are painted with bengara, a traditional natural pigment long used in Miyama.
Miyama is known for its heavy fog from autumn through winter.
If the wooden pillars were left untreated, they would initially look beautiful, but over time they would darken due to mold.
For this reason, bengara painting became a local tradition—both to protect the wood and to create the distinctive landscape that defines Miyama today.
Enter Through the Doma, Where History Still Lives
At the entrance, you will find a doma, a traditional earthen-floor space.
Here, a washbasin area and an old-style okudosan (wood-fired cooking stove) remain, preserving the original structure of the house.
Hotaru-an is not designed to imitate the past.
It simply continues it.
Susutake Bamboo: The Memory of the Roof
The partition in the doma washbasin area is made from susutake—smoked bamboo once used inside thatched roofs.
This bamboo was naturally smoked for centuries, hidden beneath the roof, and is now considered a rare material.
When polished carefully with rice husks and finished with oil, it reveals a deep, beautiful shine.
At Hotaru-an, we believe that the roof is not just architecture.
It carries time, smoke, and memory.
Tatami Rooms and the Irori Hearth
Inside the main house, you will find two bedrooms, tatami rooms, and an irori hearth room.
The irori is not only a feature—it changes the atmosphere of the entire house.
Even silence feels peaceful here.
Tatami textures, dark wooden beams, soft daylight.
Everything invites you to slow down and simply breathe.
Two Bedrooms
The main house includes two bedrooms, prepared with comfortable bedding while respecting the calm character of the traditional space.
In the morning, you will wake to the quiet garden and the sound of birds.
Here, rest itself becomes part of the journey.
The Heart of Hotaru-an
The main house is the heart of Hotaru-an.
It is a living space shaped by Miyama’s climate, traditions, and philosophy.
Your time here may not be filled with loud experiences.
Instead, it becomes something quieter—something that stays with you.
