Our Story
Experience the Japanese Alps
Modern travel often moves too quickly.
We rush from destination to destination, collecting sights and experiences, but rarely taking the time to truly connect with a place. At Satoyama Stays, we believe some of the most memorable travel experiences come from slowing down, staying longer, and experiencing a destination as the locals do.
Our collection of private homes in Myoko and Hakuba offers an opportunity to discover Japan’s mountain communities beyond the guidebooks. Wake up to snow-covered forests in winter, explore alpine landscapes in summer, and experience the changing seasons that have shaped life here for generations.
We invite our guests to experience a different pace of travel: one rooted in nature, local culture, and meaningful connection.
What is Satoyama?
Our name comes from the Japanese concept of satoyama (里山), the landscape between mountains and low-lying farmland where people and nature coexist.
Traditionally, satoyama describes the villages, forests, rivers and fields that have sustained rural communities for generations. It is a place shaped by the changing seasons, where daily life remains closely connected to the natural world.
The idea of satoyama reflects the values at the heart of our company: connection to nature, connection to community, and connection to the people we travel with.
We believe that meaningful travel happens when guests become part of a place, even if only for a short time.
More Than a Place to Stay
Satoyama Stays offers a collection of thoughtfully renovated private homes in the Japanese Alps, located in the renowned mountain destinations of Myoko, Niigata and Hakuba, Nagano.
Our founder, a Scotland-born architect, partners with local tradespeople to lovingly restore vacant Japanese homes. By preserving original character while introducing modern comforts, we breathe new life into these properties, contributing to the community’s future while sharing these unique spaces with guests from around the world.
Designed for time together, our spacious homes sleep between 9 and 14 guests, making them perfect for families and groups of friends. Featuring open dining spaces, cozy living rooms, and inviting communal areas, each property encourages guests to slow down, gather, and create lasting memories in the mountains.
The Stories Behind Our Homes
Every Satoyama Stays property is named after a traditional Japanese wooden toy.
These simple toys have been enjoyed by generations of children throughout Japan, bringing people together through play, skill, and shared experiences.
We chose them as inspiration for our homes because they reflect the values at the heart of Satoyama Stays: connection, warmth, curiosity, and creating memories together.
Just as these toys have been passed down through generations, many of the homes we restore have their own stories to tell. By giving each property the name of a traditional toy, we celebrate both Japanese culture and the spirit of family gatherings that our homes are designed to encourage.
Swipe through to learn more about each of our stays.
Kendama House｜剣玉ハウス
The kendama is one of Japan’s most iconic traditional toys. Consisting of a wooden handle, cups, and a ball connected by string, it combines patience, skill, and practice. Simple in appearance yet endlessly engaging, it has remained popular with both children and adults for generations.
Kendama House was the first home in the Satoyama Stays collection and marked the beginning of our restoration journey in Myoko. As the property that inspired everything that followed, the name felt particularly fitting. Like the toy itself, restoring the house required care, craftsmanship, and attention to detail.
Today, Kendama House continues to bring people together, welcoming families and friends to gather, relax, and create new memories in the heart of Akakura Onsen.
Taketombo House｜竹とんぼハウス
The taketombo, or bamboo-copter, is a traditional flying toy made from bamboo meaning ‘bamboo dragonfly’. Spun between the palms of the hands, it lifts into the air and drifts gracefully overhead. For many people in Japan, it is a nostalgic reminder of long summer days spent outdoors.
The name Taketombo House was inspired by the dragonflies that fill the surrounding landscape during the green season. Throughout summer, these insects can be seen hovering above the fields and forests around Suginosawa, adding life and movement to the mountain scenery.
Like its namesake toy, Taketombo House is closely connected to the natural environment around it. Surrounded by mountains and forests, it offers guests the opportunity to slow down, enjoy the changing seasons, and experience a quieter side of life in the Japanese Alps.
Koma House｜独楽ハウス
The koma, or spinning top, is one of Japan’s oldest traditional toys. Found throughout the country in many different forms, it has entertained generations with its simple yet captivating motion. A well-spun koma balances effortlessly, finding stability through movement.
As the first Satoyama Stays home in Hakuba, Koma House represents the next chapter in our story. While our roots began in Myoko, expanding to Hakuba allowed us to share our approach to restoration and hospitality with a new mountain community.
The name reflects both tradition and continuity: a connection between past and present, and between the homes, communities, and guests that make Satoyama Stays what it is today.
Moments That Stay With Us
The traditional toys that inspire our homes evoke a sense of nostalgia—simple objects that brought generations together through play, imagination, and shared experiences. In much the same way, we hope our homes become places where families and friends reconnect, slow down, and create lasting memories together.
Whether gathering around the dining table after a day on the slopes, sharing stories with family, or introducing a new generation to Japan’s mountain villages, we hope every Satoyama Stays home becomes a place where lasting memories are made.
Local Knowledge, Personal Service
We are more than a booking platform.
As a small locally based team, we know these regions intimately and are passionate about sharing them with visitors from around the world. Whether you are planning a winter ski holiday, a summer mountain escape, or a longer stay in Japan’s countryside, we are here to help you make the most of your time in the mountains.
From accommodation recommendations to local insights, restaurant suggestions, activities, and transport advice, we strive to provide the kind of personal service that transforms a good trip into an unforgettable one.
Experience the Real Japanese Alps
We are passionate about sharing a side of Japan that many visitors never see.
Beyond the ski resorts and famous landmarks are communities with rich histories, distinctive local cultures, and a deep connection to the surrounding landscape. Through carefully restored homes and local knowledge, we hope to offer a more authentic way to experience these regions.
Whether you visit for a winter ski holiday, a summer mountain retreat, or simply a chance to reconnect with nature and those around you, Satoyama Stays invites you to experience life in Japan’s mountain villages.
Stay a little longer. Slow down. Feel at home in the satoyama.