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Everything that surrounds us in our daily lives is born from the hands of our ancestors and has been handed down through the generations.The warmth of handcrafted living gives us a mysterious sense of peace and comfort.It might be because we can feel the craftsman’s thought as they carefully crafted each item by using handmade products and imagining the life of the person who used to use them.At Tsutaya, a traditional cultural experience inn, you can immerse yourself into the lifestyle by participating in activities such as weaving, indigo dyeing, chopping wood, cooking rice in a kamado, and more.Life was harsh for those who lived back then, with difficulties and challenges that would change from season to season.We hope that through the experiences at Tsutaya, you will touch upon some of the thoughts and feelings of the people of ancient times.
Feel with all five senses
Japanese traditional life
Tsutaya, the traditional culture experience inn, is a private, wholly restored, old house that is available for rent. We have renovated the house to preserve as much of its original atmosphere as possible, so that once you step into the house, you will feel the way of life as it was 110 years ago. Enjoy the experience, read to your heart's content, or simply lie back and enjoy the natural breeze.
Life at the time, when the Tsutaya building was built, was not as comfortable as it is today. However, even in such circumstances, people sought various measures to make their lives as comfortable as possible.
In hot summers, people removed fixtures to create breezes, blocked sunlight with reed screens and bamboo blinds, and cooled themselves with the sound of wind chimes. Instead of refrigerators, vegetables were cooled with river water, and the abundant food was dried or pickled in salt for preservation. You can find the ingenuity of ancient people's lifestyles everywhere in Tsutaya’s buildings and experiences. Please come and experience them firsthand.
Renovated 110-year-old kimono shop building
The bath and washrooms have been comfortably renovated while preserving the appearance of the building as it was when it was built. The main pillar, which has a discernible presence in the center of the room, supports the weight of the entire house and allows for a large, spacious room. The thick beams that run along the ceiling are etched with 110 years of history. The openwork carvings on the beams, the braids in the fittings and furniture, and the paintings on the fusuma sliding doors are all beautiful and intricate decorations. This is not only practical in terms of ventilation and lighting, but also allows visitors to experience the lifestyle of the people of that time, who incorporated and enjoyed the beauty of handcrafted work into their daily lives.
You can enjoy the magnificence of nature and the seasonal flowers
Uchiyama Gorge, where Tsutaya is located, is lined with unique rocks and boulders such as Hime-Iwa, Napoleon-Iwa, and Rousoku-Iwa, which can be seen from the national highway. In autumn, the contrast between the oddly shaped rocks and colored leaves is even more beautiful, and the sunset is spectacular. Nearby is Enjoji Temple, famous for its hydrangeas, and the Cosmos Road, a 9-km stretch along the national highway where cosmos bloom in profusion, making it a popular tourist spot.
The poem "Seiten wo Tsuke" was composed at Uchiyama
Saku Uchiyama has a strong connection with Eiichi Shibusawa. The young Shibusawa often visited Saku for his family's indigo ball business, and had business dealings with many navy blue dealers and cultural figures. On a cliff just outside the inn, there is a stone monument inscribed with the words "Seiten wo Tsuke," which became the title of a major TV drama. The poem is about Shibusawa's spirit and ambition to open up the beautiful but steep Uchiyama Pass, which he crossed on his way to Saku, by comparing it to a tough business road.
Luxurious time spent with your loved ones
The 110-year-old building is available for private use, so you can spend your time at your leisure as if you were at home. You can lie down on the floor and enjoy chatting until late at night without worrying about anyone else. If you wish, our staff will be happy to show you how to use the tools, how to enjoy the old house, or tell you stories about the old days. This is an inn where you can enjoy your own one-of-a-kind experience.
Thinking of our predecessors
The charm of Tsutaya lies in the experience that can only be had here, using equipment and tools as they were used in the olden days. With your own hands and gradually completing each task, you will feel a small but definite sense of accomplishment that is hard to experience in today's life. These various experiences will make your stay in an old private house even more memorable.
01
Visitors can experience Sakiori weaving on a loom that was used from the Meiji period to the Showa period (1868-1912). We will carefully instruct you from the beginning, so even first-time weavers can experience it easily. Sakiori is a traditional weaving technique in which old cloth is torn to make materials and woven on a loom. The charm of Sakiori weaving is that the result can be completely different depending on the materials and the weaver.
02
Aizome is a culture that has been deeply rooted in the lives of the Japanese people. Overseas, indigo is called "Japan blue" and has become a symbolic color of Japanese culture. Visitors can experience indigo dyeing under the guidance of the owner of a kimono shop founded in the Tempo era. The inn will provide the necessary supplies, so you do not need to bring anything. The vivid indigo color that appears the moment the cloth is rinsed in the river will leave a lasting impression on visitors.
03
Irori (hearth) has become a rarity today. In the past, the hearth was the center of the family reunion. After dinner, spend time around the hearth, watching the flickering fire and talking with your loved ones. Food is not included in the price. Please apply for the optional Irori meal for a fee.
04
In the Kamado experience, rice is cooked over a wood fire and served. Cooking rice while adjusting the heat level by yourself is a time-consuming task that requires a lot of time and attention. However, the aroma that rises when you open the lid of the cooked rice pot is exceptional. The rice is fluffy, sticky, and shining silver. It is so delicious that you can eat several bowls of rice without any side dishes.
