Kajiya Iya Romantei
Kajiya Iya Romantei
昔暮らし体験宿 カジヤ祖谷浪漫亭
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Those looking for a unique experience are certainly going to find it here. Located on a hillside overlooking the sleepy "downtown" area of Kyojo in Oku-Iya, the old wooden house of Kajiya Iya used to be a blacksmith shop many decades ago. Several features of this place make it stand out as somewhere special, with the most notable being the owner himself, Mr. Shinomiya ('Shino-san'), who goes out of his way to host and entertain every guest, welcoming everyone on arrival with a cup of sake
(see below for more on that).
Though we list this as a 'Guest House", only one group is taken per stay (so it is not a shared accomodation, even if you are alone) while Shino-san sleeps in a neighboring building. The multi-room house itself has been refurbished by the owner and is decorated with his sprawling collection of antiques and nick-nacks, and is particularly beautiful to relax in at night when he lights up all his various paper lamps.
In the center of the main room is a large irori
floor hearth,
where meals are cooked in a traditional way. Dinner includes dishes made with local ingredients like Iya's stone tofu, konnyaku, and various vegetables. A dutch-oven hot pot with chicken and vegetables may also be prepared, along with roasted wild game meat and/or other treats cooked over the coals (exact menu varies based on total number in your group). Breakfast includes rice porridge, roasted potatoes, and his signature fresh ground coffee.
Bathing is also a special experience here. The main bath-house
is located out front with a broad view of the valley, and on a balcony just outside it with an equally impressive view is the goemunburo bath-tub,
which is essentially a large iron pot that is heated from below by a wood fire (you may be enlisted to help split wood and 'fire up' the bath). Also on the balcony is a nice sitting space where barbecues can be had when the weather is good.
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Price:
¥10,000 per night per person, includes dinner and breakfast (on weekends its ¥11,000/person).
Bring your own alcohol, though those donating to Shino-san's epic sake
collection (see below) can freely drink as much as they want from it in return.
My trip
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Local Points
Kajiya Iya Romantei
is located 150 meters up a small side road which overlooks the Kyojo
neighborhood of Oku-Iya (Higashi-Iya). At the bottom of this road is the main street of Kyojo, where one can find a couple shops
and the gas station
(which also sells alcohol). The post office & ATM
is just up the road and a bit beyond that is the Oku-Iya History Museum
which is in the same building as the health clinic
Access by Car
By car, from the Central Nishi-Iya
direction, go up Rt 32 and turn left at Kazurabashi Junction
(Rt 32 becomes one-laned at various points after here). Follow this road about 15 minutes, and you will reach Tochinose
which is at the entrance to Kyojo Tunnel and where Rt 32 merges with and becomes Rt 439. Go through the tunnel, and about 50 meters after the tunnel exit turn left and go over the bridge (there are a bunch of cars in a small field on this corner). Once over the bridge turn right onto the narrow road and head into Kyojo. About 60 or 70 meters after passing Yanamoto
restaurant turn left up a small side road. A few parking spaces are on the road here at the turn (If you reach the gas station, you've gone too far). Kajiya Iya is up this road about 150 meters on the right.
If coming from the other direction, from points deeper in Oku-Iya going down Rt 439, at the red and white building of the Oku-Iya History Museum turn right here to enter the main road of Kyojo. About 150 meters after the gas station turn right up a small road that is just after a few parking spaces. Kajiya Iya is up this road about 150 meters on the right.
If coming from the other direction, from points deeper in Oku-Iya going down Rt 439, at the red and white building of the Oku-Iya History Museum turn right here to enter the main road of Kyojo. About 150 meters after the gas station turn right up a small road that is just after a few parking spaces. Kajiya Iya is up this road about 150 meters on the right.
Access by Bus
If you arrange beforehand, the owner of Kajiya Iya Romantei will pick you up from either Oboke Station
or from the Kazurabashi Parking Area.
But if taking the bus, the closest bus stop for Kajiya Iya Romantei is the Kyojo-Shimo Bus Stop which is not on our bus timetables, but it stops 2 minutes before/after the times for the main Kyojo Bus Stop. The Kyojo-Shimo Bus Stop is on both the Main Shikoku Kotsu Bus Line from Nishi-Iya, Oboke, and Ikeda, and Local Miyoshi Municipal Bus Line for Oku-Iya which goes to/from points deeper into the Iya Valley (including Ochiai and Nagoro (Scarecrow Village). From the Kyojo-Shima Bus Stop, walk 30 or 40 meters up the road and turn left up the small road (a few parking spaces are on this corner). Kajiya Iya is about 150 meters up this small road, on the right.
But if taking the bus, the closest bus stop for Kajiya Iya Romantei is the Kyojo-Shimo Bus Stop which is not on our bus timetables, but it stops 2 minutes before/after the times for the main Kyojo Bus Stop. The Kyojo-Shimo Bus Stop is on both the Main Shikoku Kotsu Bus Line from Nishi-Iya, Oboke, and Ikeda, and Local Miyoshi Municipal Bus Line for Oku-Iya which goes to/from points deeper into the Iya Valley (including Ochiai and Nagoro (Scarecrow Village). From the Kyojo-Shima Bus Stop, walk 30 or 40 meters up the road and turn left up the small road (a few parking spaces are on this corner). Kajiya Iya is about 150 meters up this small road, on the right.
If you have ever had an interest in exploring the world of sake, you will definitely enjoy what Shino-san has available. He has an entire room
dedicated to Japan's traditional alcohol, including at least one produced in each of the country's 47 Prefectures. Here he also has a "Sake Shrine"
in honor of this spirit. Guest are asked to bring a bottle of sake to donate to his collection, and in return they can drink and sample as much as they want of any of bottle here. (If you prefer, you can also bring other alcohols like whiskey, vodka, or wine and still be able to take whatever you wish in return. And do respect the value of this collection by bringing something good, not a paper carton of the cheap stuff).
As explained, one point which makes the experience so special is Shino-san.
He has a broad knowledge about the Iya Valley, including its history, legends, and culture. Though he can only speak a little bit of English, he tries hard to both undrestand and be a great host (his 'guest instruction book' in Engish is utterly fantastic). Furthermore, he will not only pick you up
from Oboke station or the Kazurabashi bridge in Nishi-Iya if you arrange it beforehand, but if you stay two nights or more, then on the day in between he can drive you around to see some of Oku-Iya's sights (he just asks you to pay for some car gasoline and his lunch). Exceptional service indeed!
Either book your stay with Booking.com, check out some more on Kajiya Iya's Facebook Page, or go to theirwebsite.