Seventh Home: Embracing the Slow Life in Ayabe
In the northern reaches of Kyoto Prefecture, just before you hit the Sea of Japan coastline, the small agricultural village of Shigasato in northwest Ayabe City lies almost hidden in a valley between sloping forested mountains. This is deep in the inaka, meaning that the villagers have learned to be as self-sufficient as possible. It’s a tough lifestyle of farming and making the most of the land that attracts few outsiders.
None of this kept away Yoshiyuki Ishizaki, a former Tokyo-based businessman who uprooted his family and settled in Shigasato precisely because of the charms and challenges that it offers. Together with his wife Yoko, they decided that a move to the countryside would give their eight-year-old son a healthier and more fulfilling childhood. After spending the past few years developing their home into a charmingly authentic guesthouse called Seventh Home, the Ishizakis are ready to share the pleasures of backwoods life in northern Kyoto with foreign visitors.
Though still a new establishment, the edifice of Seventh Home guesthouse has a long history as an important building in the village. Just off the town’s old main street, the hundred-year-old structure was once the home and shop of an umbrella merchant. Traces of the splendor of the old residence remain, with a former shop area in the home’s entryway and an inner courtyard garden—now home to a pair of friendly chickens. The building has a reassuringly lived-in feel to it, offering an intimate glimpse into the past of the village.
For guests who want a hands-on look at farm life, the Ishizakis offer seasonal activities of their own. There’s always something that needs tending in the organic garden behind the house, where vegetables are grown naturally without pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Yoko knows how to make something as simple as pulling weeds a delightfully rewarding experience. In the kitchen, guests can learn to make simple onigiri rice ball snacks and assist as Yoko prepares healthy meals from local ingredients. She even offers a beginner’s yoga lesson in the morning to start the day refreshed and limber.
During the planting and harvesting seasons, Yoshiyuki demonstrates how to work the rice field by hand, allowing guests to see the traditional ways of growing rice that are now often replaced by mechanization.
Dinner and breakfast are included in a stay at Seventh Home, but travelers have something to look forward to for lunch as well. The village is famous for a pair of noodle shops known throughout the region. Ajikidou serves handmade soba (buckwheat) noodles, while Takematsu Udon prepares chewy udon noodles over a wood-fired kiln. A visit to these appetizing eateries offers a chance to eat like a local.
Yoshiyuki suggests that visitors spend a few nights at Seventh Home to simply absorb the feel of inaka life. His fluent command of English allows him to share his story with guests, and he loves answering questions about country life. Opportunities to explore the region are numerous, and local shrines and hiking trails are within reach on bikes borrowed from the guesthouse. In summer, guests can play in the clear river behind the farm, and Yoshiyuki knows where to find fireflies when they appear on June evenings. It’s an excellent opportunity to dive deep into the Kyoto countryside with a friendly host family as a guide to the slow life of northern Kyoto.
A one-night stay at Seventh Home with breakfast and dinner is 7,000 yen per adult, 3,000 yen for elementary children (including tax). Free for children pre-school and under.
Some optional activities require additional fees.
Booking information available here: https://seventhhome.amebaownd.com/
