Rural Japan, still intact.
One group per day
5-minute walk to the river
Star-filled dark nights
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for your private stay
Book direct – One group at time
E- mail us/ WhatsApp
What makes Garbanzo House special?
🏡 Entirely yours
One group per day — no sharing, no strangers.
The whole house, the whole yard, all to yourselves.
🌊 5-Minute Walk to the Yoshino River
The Yoshino River is right there — crystal clear, swimmable, raftable.
⭐ Real Dark Skies
No city glow. On clear nights, the Milky Way is visible with the naked eye.
🚂 The Little Diesel Train
A single-car local train rolls past a few times a day.
It never stops feeling cinematic.
🔑 Arrive whenever you like
Key box entry — no check-in desk, no set arrival time.
Come when it suits you.
📶 Wi-Fi included
Free Wi-Fi throughout the house.
Mountain area — speeds vary, but it works fine for remote work.
Pricing
· private · one group per day
Weekdays: ¥25,000 (tax incl.)
Weekends & holidays: ¥30,000 (tax incl.)
Cleaning fee: ¥3,000
Base rate covers up to 4 guests.
¥2,000 per additional guest · max 8 guests.
Price may vary.
Pets: ¥3,000 per animal (please contact us in advance).
Check-in: from 15:00 · Check-out: by 10:00
Key box entry — arrive at your own pace.
No meal plans.
Kitchen and cooking utensils provided.
River activity plans are booked separately via Outdoor Garbanzo.
Book via Whatsapp
or email us
About Garbanzo House
This is not a hotel.
This is rural Japan at its most unhurried.
Garbanzo House is a 90-year-old traditional kominka in Otoyo, Kochi — one of Japan’s last genuinely quiet places.
The Yoshino River is a 5-minute walk away.
Only one group stays here each day.
A small rural train line runs beside the house, and from time to time a local diesel train slowly passes by.
At night the sky fills with stars.
There is no TV here — just the sounds of the countryside and a slower rhythm of life.
Things You Can Experience Here
・Starry night sky — almost no light pollution
・Night sounds of insects and nature — the countryside at its most peaceful
・Satoyama walks — old irrigation canals, Shinto shrines, and terraced fields
・River activities on the Yoshino River
Rafting · River SUP · Packraft · Kayak · Shower Climbing
→ Book with Outdoor!Galbanzo (26 years · zero accidents)
・Local festivals and Kagura performances — especially rich in autumn
・Seasonal farm activities — planting, harvesting, yuzu picking(coming soon)
・Traditional hand-rolled tea making(coming soon)
Activities may vary depending on the season and weather.
River Activities with Outdoor!Galbanzo
The Yoshino River is one of Japan’s last wild rivers — clear, powerful, and endlessly fun.
Our family runs Outdoor Garbanzo, a river activity company operating since 1997.
Small groups, veteran guides, real safety.
79,000+ guests · zero ambulance calls · 26 years on this river.
That safety record matters to us more than anything else.
🚣 Rafting — Big waves, gorgeous gorge scenery. Our most popular activity.
🏄 River SUP — Stand-up paddleboarding on moving water. A balance challenge with great views.
🛶 Packraft — Lightweight solo inflatables. Great for exploring at your own pace.
🚤 River Kayak — Whitewater kayaking for those who want more control.
💦 Mini Shower Climbing — Wade, swim, and scramble up a mountain stream. No experience needed.
📅 Full-day combo courses — Mix two or more activities. Popular with families and groups.
→ See all activities & book at Outdoor!Galbanzo
Photo Gallery
A 90-year-old traditional kominka in rural Kochi.
Quiet countryside stay near the Yoshino River.
Location & Access
Nearest station: Otaguchi Station (JR Dosan Line) — 3 min by car, 13 min on foot.
Train services are limited; we recommend renting a car.
Free parking available (1 regular car + 1 small car).
Pickup available from Oboke, Osugi, and Otaguchi stations.
The local train ride itself is worth the trip.
Nearby shops
Otoyo Supermarket: 3 min by car (9:30am–4:30pm)
Kondo Store: 4 min by car (7:30am–6:00pm)
FamilyMart Osugi: 15 min by car (24 hours)
Lawson Oboke: 20 min by car (24 hours)
We recommend shopping before check-in.
<iframe src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m18!1m12!1m3!1d53046.97622588263!2d133.75254685!3d33.80105955!2m3!1f0!2f0!3f0!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x3551f5b04777a4ff%3A0xd01f6cc288f5a580!2z44Ks44Or44OQ44Oz44K-44OP44Km44K5!5e0!3m2!1sja!2sjp!4v1752483373577!5m2!1sja!2sjp" width="100%" height="450" style="border:0;" allowfullscreen="" loading="lazy" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe>Good to Know
• Traditional wooden house — not a modern guesthouse. That’s the point.
• Insects may appear depending on the season (bring repellent if sensitive)
• Small fireworks and campfires allowed (no aerial fireworks — railway nearby)
• Dark and Quiet
Perfect For
Families · Small groups of friends · Pet travelers · Nature lovers
River & outdoor activity guests · Anyone who needs to properly switch off
FAQs
Q1. How do we get there?
🚗 The nearest station is Otaguchi Station (JR Dosan Line) — 3 min by car or 13 min on foot. Train services are infrequent, so we recommend renting a car. Pickup from Otaguchi, Osugi, or Oboke stations is also available — just ask. Parking fits 4 regular car.
Q2. What’s the check-in process?
🔑 Key box entry — no reception desk, no set arrival time. Check-in is from 15:00, check-out by 10:00, but you can arrive whenever suits you within that window. We’ll send you the code in advance.
Q3. Are there shops or convenience stores nearby?
🛒 Yes. Otoyo Supermarket: 3 min by car (9:30am–4:30pm). Kondo Store: 4 min (7:30am–6:00pm). FamilyMart Osugi: 15 min (24h). Lawson Oboke: 20 min (24h). We recommend stocking up before check-in.
Q4. What is the best season to visit?
🍂 Every season has something going for it. Spring brings plum and cherry blossoms. Early summer is when the river is at its liveliest — perfect for water activities. Autumn means colorful leaves, chestnut picking, yuzu harvest, and Kagura festival performances. Winter is the quietest and the starry skies are at their best.
Q5. Is this a traditional house? What should we know?
🏡 Yes — around 90 years old, wooden, with steps and uneven floors in places. Not a modern guesthouse, and that’s the point. One group per day means the entire house and yard are yours.
Q6. Can we stay with children?
👶 Absolutely — families are very welcome. Just note the traditional house has steps and uneven floors in some areas. The river activities are family-friendly too; our guides are experienced with children of all ages.
Q7. Can we stay with pets?
🐶 Yes — please contact us in advance. House-trained pets only; we ask for care around the tatami mats and wooden interiors. The yard and earthen-floor entryway (doma) give pets plenty of room to settle in. Pet fee: ¥3,000 per animal.
Q8. Are meals included?
🍳 No — self-catering only. We provide a kitchen, cooking utensils, and basic seasonings (oil, salt, pepper). Local shops are a short drive away.Q9. Are there insects?
🐛 Yes — it’s a rural house surrounded by nature.
We clean carefully and take preventive measures, but bring insect repellent if you’re sensitive to bugs.
Q10. Can we do fireworks or a campfire?
🎇 Small fireworks and campfires are welcome.
Please keep away from the fields and train tracks nearby.
Aerial fireworks are not permitted — the railway runs close to the house.
Q11. Is Wi-Fi available?
📶 Yes, free Wi-Fi throughout the house. It’s a mountain area so speeds aren’t city-fast, but it works reliably — including for remote work.Q12. Can we book river activities together with our stay?
🚣 Yes — and we highly recommend combining the two. Our family runs Outdoor!Galbanzo, a river activity company with 26 years on the Yoshino River, over 79,000 guests, and zero ambulance calls. Activities include rafting, river SUP, packraft, kayak, and shower climbing — including full-day combo courses. Book at Outdoor!Galbanzo.
A note from your host
I grew up in a busy town, and it’s been 15 years now since I came to live in these mountains.
At first I couldn’t understand the local dialect at all.
Now I find something warm and easy in the way people speak here.
This place has a kind of darkness you don’t find in cities — a real, complete darkness. On clear nights, the sky fills with stars and I still catch my breath.
We grow vegetables, fix what breaks, and try not to waste what we have. This house is still a work in progress — and maybe that’s exactly what makes it honest.
If you leave thinking “that was something special” — that’s everything we hope for.
Ready to come?
Stay at Garbanzo House
Experience rural Japan beside the Yoshino River.
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