Rural villages search

Hi!
I would like some help in finding some quiet, rural villages in Japan, that have possibilities of accomodation. Like, for example, villages as shirakawa-go or ainokura.
I already have been there last year and i know they're very known, but i don't know other quiet, rural vilages of this type,
even if they don't have the same styled houses...

I know that there are a lot of rural villages in japan, but i don't know if there are any with accomodation possibility and more "open" for tourists, even if it's for japanese tourists.

If someone could help me in finding this, i would appreciate a lot!

Thanks in advance!

Tsumago and the other towns in the Kiso Valley:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6075.html

Temple lodging on Koyasan:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4905.html

Minshuku on Taketomijima:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7250.html

http://www.utsukushii-mura.jp/


The designated utsukushi mura are probably making a pitch towards tourism. I haven't looked through their website thoroughly, but you might find something there.

Although we didn’t stay the night, we liked the scenic village of Ouchijuku a lot.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7710.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/tourism/en/s024.html

From the following village map (on the right), there are some accommodations marked as 民宿. There is no online booking, only phone numbers are provided and I doubt whether English is spoken. http://www.town.shimogo.fukushima.jp/oouchi_jyutai/pdf/accessmap_omote...

I have read some positive comment of the one called 大黒屋 which is roughly in the centre of the village on the right-hand side of the main street. Lodging there is 7350 yen/head with 2 meals and their phone no. is 0241-68-2003.

If you need assistance in booking accommodation, maybe you can email the following to ask for help:
i-info@tif.ne.jp (Fukushima Prefecture)
kanri_01@town.shimogo.fukushima.jp (Shimogo town)

William5--
I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I was wondering how you got to Ouchijuku. (I want to go myself!) Specifically, if you took JR, did you then have to take a taxi to and from the station? Do you remember about how much it cost? (Is there really no bus? I once read about one but then couldn't find any more information.)

These are really helpful hints! thank you!
I already knew koyasan and tsumago.

That Utsukushii mura seems exactly what i wanted! The villages look amazing. i just wonder if there will be a translation, since my japanese doesn't allow me to understand the website throughly. I don't know if there's anything there about accommodation. I couldn't find anything.

i didn't knew Ouchijuku either. It seems very pleasant also. Thank you!

More hint's are wellcome.

Thanks

Hi Uma

We went during winter and there is no bus. From Aizu-Wakamatsu we took the private Aizu Rail to go to Shimogo (approx. 40 min) and then a 10 min taxi (about 1940 yen) to Ouchijuku.

From late Apr. to late Nov there is a direct bus from Aizu-Wakamatsu but the journey time is longer, about 2 hrs. The bus runs only on weekends and holidays and there is only 1 daily bus leaving Aizu-Wakamatsu at 8.50 arriving Ouchijuku 10.55. Returning bus leaves Ouchijuku at 12.15 arriving Aizu-Wakamatsu 14.40. Bus fare is 1000 yen.

http://www.aizubus.com/service/otoku.html

William5--
Thanks for the excellent information. I always enjoy your posts on Tohoku.

Ricardo A--
Another suggestion might be the Yamanouchi area. I have gone there several times for a relaxing, low-key overnight trip to a small onsen town. It's hardly a must-see tourist destination (although for some people the monkey park is), but it's authentically Japanese and I've always enjoyed it. Shibu Onsen is quite atmospheric (although the water was too hot for me!), and I also enjoyed Yudanaka Onsen. I like the rural scenery on the Nagano Dentetsu train; the bus from Yudanaka to Shiga Kogen also has good scenery and depending on the time of year you can possibly go hiking (or skiing). The following Japan Guide page has sponsored links to a number of places to stay, and the English Links and Japanese Link at the very bottom of the page also have good information.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6025.html

Okayama has two villas that may be of interest to you.

Hattoji is the rural location, while Shiraishi is on an island. The accommodations are very affordable, too!

Here is the website:
http://www.harenet.ne.jp/villa/

They used to have a villa in Fukiya, but it is no longer there. Still, Fukiya is a great place to go and very rural!

Uma:
Thank you for your advice. i already knew Yamanouchi area, and i'm also making plans to go there. Do you have any advices on cheap places to stay there overnight?

Thank you for your hint too, Rabbityama. Hattoji looks great! do you have any information about Fukiya?

Thanks!

The places I stayed in Yamanouchi were midrange and included dinner and breakfast. With the value of the yen nowadays, they would be far from cheap. I recommend searching Rakuten Travel, which seems to have a few options available through its English-language web site:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6025.html

Also check out the links on the Japan Guide page I mentioned earlier.

If you can find a place in your price range, I definitely recommend staying somewhere that serves dinner and breakfast. The Japanese food I had in Yudanaka and Shibu onsens was very good, and part of a classic experience.

Here's the Rakuten link:
http://travel.rakuten.co.jp/en/index.html

Yes, there is some here:
http://www.harenet.ne.jp/villa/villa/fuki.htm

Although the villa is not there, the information is still good, and the map is useful.

Hi Uma

Forget to mention, when you go to Ouchijuku don’t forget to try out the unique buckwheat soba in the eating place called 三澤屋. Instead of chopsticks, you use the provided leek to pick up the soba to eat, quite fun. The place is near the village entrance.

http://www.d3.dion.ne.jp/~hoshinoi/misawaya.htm