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. We’ve included the traditional toy that inspired each home’s name for guests to experience firsthand.
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. Discover the traditional Japanese toy behind each home’s name during your stay.
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.
The taketombo, or bamboo-copter, is a traditional flying toy made from bamboo meaning โbamboo dragonflyโ. 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.
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.
The traditional toys that inspire our homes evoke a sense of nostalgia: toys 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.
ๅฆ้ซใฎ้ญ ๅใฏใไธ็ใฏใฉในใฎในใญใผใ ใใงใฏใใใพใใใในใใผใขใณใญใผใๅคฉ็ถๆธฉๆณใใใๅฐๅ ใฎใใผใฑใใใๆฅๅธฐใๆ ่กใใซใใงใ้ ใใๅๆใพใงใๆฅๆฌใขใซใในใงใฎๆปๅจใๆๅคง้ใซๆฅฝใใใใใฎใฌใคใใใ็ดนไปใใพใใ
ๅฆ้ซใธใฎในใญใผๆ ่กใใ่จ็ปไธญใงใใ?่ตคๅๆธฉๆณๅจ่พบใฎๅณ้ธใฌในใใฉใณใใ็ดนไปใใพใใไผ็ตฑ็ใชๅฑ ้ ๅฑใใฉใผใกใณๅบใใใไธ่ณชใช็ผ่ใๆด้ขจใฎใฏใฉใใใใผใซใใใพใงใใใฎๅฆ้ซใใคใใณใฐใฌใคใใงใฏใใใใใใฎใๅบใๆณจๆใในใใกใใฅใผใ็พๅฐใชใใงใฏใฎใจใฃใฆใใใฎๆ ๅ ฑใใๅฑใใใพใใ
Discover the story behind the names of Satoyama Stays’ homes. Learn the cultural meaning behind Kendama House, Taketombo House, and more, and how these timeless toys reflect our values of connection, family, and preserving Japanese culture.
