Stay at Ryunohara Hatago, a 120-year-old kominka nestled deep in the mountains of the Kii Peninsula, Japan’s spiritual heartlands. In the Edo period, Hatagos were inns where travellers would rest on their long journeys. This Hatago has all the modern amenities you may need, but you’ll also find old Japan here, and space to rest your body and mind amid the Satoyama, where humans co-exist with nature. The Hatago was first built for residential use and retains the original room structure, so you’ll be able to imagine what life might have been like here 120 years ago. You’ll rest in comfort though! Enjoy modern beds with fluffy pillows, air-conditioning in all bedrooms, free use of a washer-dryer, a bathroom with toiletries and Imabari towels provided, as well as a fully-equipped and stocked kitchen. The house uses local wood, and the floors have been waxed with natural oils that are kid and pet-friendly.

I am a Singaporean who has been in Japan for 13 years. I now live in misty Ryujinmura, the “Dragon God Village”. Together with volunteers, I plant an heirloom variety of rice called 秋銀 Shugin, in paddy fields fed by mountain springs without pesticides or fertilisers. I also pick and make tea in the spring and autumn from 100-year-old tea bushes around my home. Come visit me, my goats Deko, Honda, Makita, and my 10 Ryujin chickens.

Ryujinmura, the Dragon God Village, is famous for our 1,300-year-old hot spring which has scentless but silky-smooth waters. The public onsen (open 7am-9pm with last entry at 8:30pm) is 7 minutes away by car. I can drive you there and back at no charge. There are no restaurants within walking distance. The nearest restaurant that is open till 8pm is a 12-minute drive away. The nearest supermarket is in Tanabe City, a 70-minute drive away. We are a 2-minute walk from the crystal-clear Hidakawa River, and are surrounded by lush mountains. The mountain opposite, Mt. Nenjudake, is 906m high (we are at 380m). The nearest trailhead of the Okuhechi pilgrimage route is a 22-minute walk (4-minute drive) away. Ryunohara is a 30-minute drive away from the Takijiri trailhead of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi route, 1 hour from UNESCO-listed monastery complex Mt Koya, and 1 hour from Shirahama Onsen, a hot-springs resort town with rocky cliffs, and Nanki-Shirahama Airport. Kansai International Airport is 2 hours away by car.