Sleep in a 200-Year-Old Farmhouse — Where Time Stands Still | Washin Village Guide
There are many "farmhouse-style" accommodations across Japan. Staying in a genuine 200-year-old one is far rarer. Washin Village's kominka isn't a modern building designed to look old — it's the real thing. Two centuries of history live in every beam, pillar, and floorboard.
What 200 Years Feels Like
You notice it the moment you step inside: the air is different. The thick pillars have darkened to a deep amber over centuries. The beams still bear the marks of hand axes from craftsmen long gone. Morning light filters through shoji screens at the same angle it has for 200 years.
The color of aged wood, the depth of grain under your fingertips — these are things only time can create. No modern material can replicate them.
Comfort Meets History
Don't worry — "200 years old" doesn't mean roughing it. Bathrooms and water facilities have been fully renovated to modern standards. In winter, there are kotatsu (heated tables), electric blankets, and heating. The old charm stays; the discomfort doesn't.
Rates start at ¥25,000 per night — the most storied room at Washin Village.
A Night in the Kominka
According to TQ analysis, 6 guests praised the kotatsu comfort and 6 mentioned the room's cleanliness. Close the shoji at night and the world goes quiet. Then a cat curls up beside your futon, and you realize — this might be the most peaceful night you've ever had.
Experience Japanese Architecture, Don't Just See It
Temples and shrines are architecture you look at. A kominka is architecture you live in. After visiting Kyoto's historic sites, come sleep in a building that's stood for 200 years. It's a different level of understanding Japanese culture — one that tourism alone can't provide.
FAQ
Is the farmhouse cold in winter?
Kotatsu, electric blankets, and heating are provided. Winter in the kominka with a kotatsu, mandarin oranges, and a cat is actually one of the coziest experiences you can have.
Kominka, Jyubako, or tent — which should I choose?
For traditional architecture lovers: kominka (from ¥25,000). For design fans: Jyubako by Kengo Kuma (from ¥20,000). For open-air vibes: Nordisk tent (from ¥18,000).
Do cats come into the farmhouse?
Yes! Cats roam freely and often enter the kominka. At night, they sometimes sleep right beside you in the futon.