Ideally suited for a socially distanced holiday in remote areas of Japan's lesser-known Setouchi region, Setouchi Cominca Stays is a unique collection of newly renovated traditional Japanese homes that have been transformed into exclusive-use, modern vacation rentals.
Comprised of five traditional cominca-style houses, all between 100 and 250 years old, Setouchi Cominca Stays offers travelers exclusive access to the historic town of Uchiko in Ehime Prefecture and the rural hamlet of Shobara in Hiroshima Prefecture, all located within the Setouchi region surrounding the Seto Inland Sea (famous for its storied "art islands"). The lesser-known town of Uchiko is a historic merchant town that boomed in the late 19th century with its Meiji-era wax production, while the remote hamlet of Shobara offers travelers an escape from the big cities and a peek into ancient Japanese rural life.
The mountainous landscape surrounding Uchiko offers a relaxing remote destination for travelers In Uchiko, guests can choose between the Ori villa, a two-story former miso factory and wood merchant's house, featuring a private garden with connecting bath and a large traditional Japanese tatami room, and the former wax merchant's residence Hisa, a serene retreat in the middle of town with a large private garden. In Shobara, three historic Japanese farmhouses offer travelers a truly unique experience of Japanese rural life: Furosen, 100-year-old farmhouse with a wood-burning outdoor bath; Chojaya, a 250-year-old thatched-roof farmhouse; and Kozako-Mori, a beautifully preserved 150-year-old farmhouse beside a pristine mountain stream.
All of the exclusive-use villas in the Setouchi Cominca Stays portfolio feature such authentic, traditional Japanese architectural and design elements as handmade washi wallpaper, tatami mats and ancient timber-framed roofs, while also boasting all of the modern amenities of a modern Japanese hotel (automated toilets, modern kitchen, oversized bathtubs and air conditioning/heating).
Setouchi Cominca Stays can also arrange authentic local experiences for guests - everything from hiking, biking, boating and mountain climbing in the stunning natural environs of Shobara to exclusive tours of the historic castles, gardens and pottery and paper-making factories in and around Uchiko.
For more information about Setouchi Cominca Stays, visit: https://cominca-stays.com/.
