A 150-Year-Old Farmhouse, All to Yourselves.

Built around 1875, Taraichi-tei is an authentic Japanese farmhouse in the Kamikaidō hamlet of Makino Town, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture. The house has been gently restored — enough to be comfortable, but not so much that its character has been lost. All rooms are traditional tatami, warmed in winter by an irori (sunken hearth) and the slow crackle of a wood fire.

The house sleeps up to 9 guests and is yours exclusively for the duration of your stay. There are no other guests, no shared corridors, no check-in counters. Just an old house, open fields, and time to slow down.

Get your hands into the kind of everyday life that has mostly vanished. These are not tourist performances — they are the simple, satisfying tasks that generations of farm families have done in this house.

 

Irori hearth dinner — grill local fish and vegetables over an open fire
Kamado rice — cook rice the old way, over a wood-burning clay stove
Tofu making — using natural spring water from the surrounding mountains
Mochi pounding — available in winter, using a traditional wooden mortar
Pizza from scratch — fire-baked with seasonal toppings
Flowing sōmen — summer noodles in a bamboo flume
Pon-gashi — pop your own puffed rice, take it home as a souvenir
Farm experience — arranged with a local farming family nearby

Dinner is served around the irori. Choose from our evening meal plans:

· Irori Grill Plan — seasonal vegetables and local fish, grilled over the hearth (¥7,500/person)
· Ōmi Duck Hot Pot — local duck renowned for its clean, mild flavour (¥7,500/person)
· Sukiyaki Plan — Ōmi beef, one of Japan's finest wagyu (¥9,800/person)

Morning breakfast also available (¥1,500/person). Self-catering is welcome — a full kitchen is at your disposal.

Please let us know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.

From ¥33,000 per night for up to 5 guests.
Additional guests: ¥3,300/person (up to 9 guests total).
Multi-night stays: 15% discount per night from the second night.
Children (no bedding needed): free of charge.

Check-in: 4:00 PM  ·  Check-out: 12:00 PM
EV/PHEV charging is included at no extra cost.
Payment: cash, major credit cards, and QR code payments accepted.

Taraichi-tei is located in Kamikaidō, Makino Town, Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture.
〒520-1831　145-1 Kamikaidō, Makino-chō, Takashima-shi, Shiga

By train: JR Makino Station (Kosei Line) → 6 min by taxi or car
By car: approx. 80 min from Kyoto / 100 min from Osaka / 90 min from Nagoya
Parking: available on-site (2 cars) + additional nearby

Makino is also home to the famous Metasequoia Tree-lined Road and is a short drive from the shores of Lake Biwa — Japan's largest lake.

Q: Is English communication available?
A: Yes. Our English is limited, but we do our best to respond promptly and look forward to welcoming guests from around the world.

Q: How many guests can stay?
A: Up to 9 guests. The house is reserved exclusively for your group — no other guests share the space.

Q: Can we cook our own meals?
A: Yes. The house has a fully equipped kitchen including a refrigerator, IH stove, microwave, rice cooker, and all cooking utensils. A local supermarket is about 10 minutes away by car.

Q: Is the house accessible by public transport?
A: JR Makino Station is about 6 minutes away by car or taxi. We recommend renting a car, as the area is best explored at your own pace.

Q: Is there Wi-Fi?
A: Yes, free Wi-Fi is available throughout the house.

I moved to Takashima after graduating from university, drawn in by the landscape, the food, and the warmth of the people here. Taraichi-tei has been a gathering place in this hamlet for generations — I hope it becomes a place you return to as well.

You'll be greeted on arrival by Chachomaru, our Shiba Inu. He'll bark to say hello. Crouch down and offer the back of your hand — he'll come around quickly.