Mountaintop retreat in Chichibu: just a short hop west of Tokyo

Property Description
Unique, purpose-built timber frame home with a 30-year history located in a mountaintop village only 75 mins by train from Tokyo on the well-served Seibu Line from Ikebukuro. The house, with mostly Japanese - but some Western - features, originally served as the owner's family home when the children were small. It is enclosed on two sides by tall hedges and blessed with an extensive garden that borders onto forested land, offering total peace and privacy, and the constant presence of Nature. The garden was established from scratch by the owner, who planted trees which have now fully matured.

The property is ideal for guests wishing to experience rural Japan, either as a centerpiece for a rural holiday, or for short stays for people who are based in Tokyo and wish to escape to a quiet environment. As the rail service has a reliable express, daily commuting into Tokyo and back is definitely possible (75 mins one way).

The section for guests is a self-contained unit attached to the main dwelling by a long roofed veranda. It has an open-plan "long gallery" with four large windows overlooking the garden, which can be divided into four small individual rooms by optional partitions, offering various degrees of privacy according to individual preference. It is suitable for either a single person or couple, or a group of 2-4 people, seeking a rural retreat. The guest space also includes a toilet, kitchenette with a sink, fridge and microwave, and a Japanese-style stainless steel immersion-type bath and shower. For the more adventurous, a traditional Japanese-style wooden bath is also available in the main part of the house. This offers a direct view into the garden.

For each guest, Japanese-style "futon" bedding (laid on the floor) is available. However, for those who prefer a less spartan surface, there is an IKEA bed (single or double usage) and an inflatable semi-double air mattress.

The house is located in the village of Ashigakubo at an altitude of about 500 metres. This means that the cold can be quite harsh during January to late March, and occasionally heavy snowfall can make the roads impassible for a day or two. However, it also means that temperatures are relatively comfortable in June and early July and also in September, when it is still uncomfortably hot and humid in Tokyo. Irrespective of season, however, appropriate heating or air conditioning is available for guests.

Perhaps the most important point to emphasize for people considering this property is that **the owner will always be on site** in the main part of the house. Although privacy is, of course, always respected, guests from other countries unfamiliar with Japanese rural life are likely to need advice and help from the owner. In addition, as the house is a 10-min drive up a mountain road from the nearest rail station, car transport is necessary. The owner considers that the property is best suited to guests with their own transport, or those who enjoy biking or hiking.

Dave, the owner, is a UK (Cumbria-born) expat who has lived in Japan for more than 35 years. He has an extensive knowledge of Chichibu and is a familiar face in the area. Chichibu is a fascinating region, rich in history and tradition, which still remains off the beaten track to most foreign tourists, despite its proximity to Tokyo. In the present era of "over-tourism", **it is still possible to tour extensively around the Chichibu area and never see another foreign tourist**. The region is mountainous with peaks of up to 2500 metres, and has outstanding natural beauty in all seasons. This makes it ideal for visitors who wish to make hiking or biking the centrepiece of their trip to Japan. However, for the less energetic, there is a rich cultural tradition to explore too: the Chichibu Night Festival held on Dec 2-3 annually, is one of the most famous in Japan, featuring outstanding local "taiko" drumming troupes, ancient candle-lit wooden floats that are pulled through the town, and one of the most spectacular winter fireworks displays Japan can offer. The surrounding area also boasts a fantastic variety of seasonal festivals at all times of the year, Shinto shrines (often in wild and romantic settings) and a Buddhist pilgrimage route that includes 34 temples. Chichibu is also considered to be the model for the "Town of Titipu" in the comic opera "The Mikado" by Gilbert and Sullivan. For anyone wishing to tour the Chichibu area or sample some of the festivals, Dave is also happy to offer his services as a driver and guide.

The guest accommodation on offer is not "5-star" by Western standards. However, it is clean and very typical of Japanese rural accommodation in general, offering an authentic taste of real life in a Japanese mountain setting. This includes amazing views of the night sky (telescope available), occasional visits by monkeys and other wildlife (not guaranteed of course :-)) and the constant presence of exotic insect life in the summer. Guests should bear these points in mind when considering whether or not to book.