The restored 130-year-old kura at Kura Retreat Daikokuten, Tōei
大黒天

Tōei, Aichi · Foot of Mt. Myojin

Where food, land,
and culture meet

A restored 130-year-old kura on five acres in Toei, Aichi. Private stays for families, couples, and travellers. Farm meals in the Japan Rooms. Bilingual hosts who live here year-round.

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1894
Year Built
5+
Acres Permaculture
20+
Countries Represented
4.9★
Guest Rating
2
Dedicated Hosts

Why Kura Retreat

Not a hotel.
A lived experience.

Historic Kura

Thick earthen walls, original timber beams, and the warm scent of aged cedar — a real storehouse, made comfortable for tonight.

Bilingual Hosts

Mari's TOEIC 960 English fluency and 13 years in the UK means you get genuine cultural translation — not a performance of Japan, but a conversation with it.

Farm-to-Table

Every meal starts in the garden. Guests don't just eat what the land produces — they learn to tend it, harvest from it, and cook with it.

Intimate Scale

The minpaku licence allows up to 10 guests in the kura, one party at a time. Some come for a BBQ, some for a multi-course or seasonal meal such as Tōei kochin. Guests dine in the Japan Rooms of the main kominka. Shem and Mari rarely sit with you — the table is yours.

The Kura

Your home in the mountains

The original kura kept valuables behind thick earthen walls. Now it keeps something else: peace. Downstairs is the living room — cedar, a low table, calligraphy. Upstairs, under the rafters, four tatami wooden-frame beds with soft mattresses. The bathroom is in the main kominka next door, open to guests day and night.

Currently open for bookings — Summer and autumn dates fill first. Request yours today.

Upstairs sleeping loft with four beds under cedar rafters

Sleeping loft

Four beds under the rafters

Upstairs sleeps four — four singles, or two doubles for couples. Tatami wooden-frame beds with soft mattresses, kimono at the window, paper lantern, cedar scent. Guests often say the kura itself is part of the rest: quiet, grounded, and surprisingly deep sleep.

  • —Four beds · singles or doubles
  • —Tatami wooden-frame beds with soft mattresses
  • —Cedar loft, paper lantern
  • —Bathroom in the main kominka, 24/7

Inside the loft

Sleeping loft

Upstairs: four tatami wooden-frame beds with soft mattresses, under exposed cedar beams. Arranged as four singles or two doubles.

Living room

Downstairs: cedar, a low table, evenings in the kura. Two extra futons if needed. The wood stove is in the Japan Rooms of the main house, not here.

Bath & ofuro

The shower and toilet are in the main kominka, next to the kura — not a private bath inside the storehouse. Guests have 24/7 access, plus a half-price pass for Toei Onsen Hanamatsuri no Yu.

The land

Five acres of permaculture gardens, tea fields, and ancient sugi forest. Trails start at the front door. The valley view is from the garden road.

Amenities included
Starlink Wi-Fi (low-impact)Heating & A/CShared kitchen & diningWood stove in the Japan RoomsWashing machineFree parkingShower & toilet in the main house (24/7)Linens & towelsFarm mealsJR Toei station pickupToei Onsen guest passType A 100V outlets
Check Availability

The Japan Rooms

Where you eat.

Guests dine in the Japan Rooms of the main kominka — three traditional tatami rooms dedicated to the table. A wooden table seats six; we bring more chairs when the party is larger. In winter the wood stove is lit. On the walls, authentic calligraphy by the previous owner. A homemade drinks cabinet holds wine and more.

BBQ, multi-course chef dinners, and seasonal plates such as Tōei kochin — always in the Japan Rooms, not a hotel restaurant.

The dining rooms

Three tatami rooms in the main kominka, opening to the garden. A wooden table seats six; we bring more chairs when the party is larger. This is not the kura — guests sleep in the storehouse, and eat here.

  • —Three Japan Rooms in the main kominka
  • —Wooden table for six — extra seats brought in
  • —Wood stove for winter evenings
  • —Calligraphy by the previous owner
  • —Homemade drinks cabinet — wine and more
  • —Multi-course, seasonal, and BBQ dining

Shem and Mari at the table

Shem cooks — French and British plates, seasonal Japanese meals, BBQ when the weather asks for it. Mari looks after the culture around the food. Hosts rarely sit with you; the evening is yours.

From the kitchen

The table

Space for six at the wooden table, more when we carry chairs through. Intimate, not a dining hall.

The fire

A wood fire stove in the Japan Rooms. In winter, a real fire while you eat.

The walls

Authentic calligraphy pieces made by the previous owner, hanging in the rooms you dine in.

The cabinet

A homemade drinks cabinet with a variety of wines and drinks for guests.

Retreat Packages

Find your reason to come

Each package is built around a different kind of guest and a different kind of need. Browse by what you're looking for, or see everything.

Direct booking

Stay: room only

Ideal for: anyone · 1–10 guests

The kura, simply. Add breakfast or dinner when you book, or eat in the village.

  • —The whole 130-year-old kura for your party, one party at a time
  • —Access to the grounds and garden
  • —Check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
  • —Free welcome drink (direct bookings only)
  • —Half-price Tōei Onsen coupon: entry ¥400 per person. Coupon handed to you in person at the house (direct bookings only)
¥8,500per person / night · room only · 2 nights −5% · 3+ nights −10%
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Direct booking

Stay + 3-course dinner

Ideal for: anyone · 1–10 guests

Room plus a 3-course dinner made from the season's produce. Breakfast can be added.

  • —The whole 130-year-old kura for your party, one party at a time
  • —Access to the grounds and garden
  • —Check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
  • —3-course dinner (seasonal premium menu)
  • —Free welcome drink (direct bookings only)
  • —Half-price Tōei Onsen coupon: entry ¥400 per person. Coupon handed to you in person at the house (direct bookings only)
¥13,500per person / night · room ¥8,500 + dinner ¥5,000 · 2 nights −5% · 3+ nights −10% on the room
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Direct booking

Stay + 5-course dinner

Ideal for: anyone · 1–10 guests

Room plus a 5-course dinner, the seasonal premium menu. Breakfast can be added.

  • —The whole 130-year-old kura for your party, one party at a time
  • —Access to the grounds and garden
  • —Check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
  • —5-course dinner (seasonal premium menu)
  • —Free welcome drink (direct bookings only)
  • —Half-price Tōei Onsen coupon: entry ¥400 per person. Coupon handed to you in person at the house (direct bookings only)
¥15,500per person / night · room ¥8,500 + dinner ¥7,000 · 2 nights −5% · 3+ nights −10% on the room
Book
Groups · Talks

Groups: Talk & Stay

Ideal for: small groups, a speaker or architect with a host, a recorded talk or YouTube visit · up to 10 guests

A stay built around a conversation: for example a 3-person visit by an architect who is also recorded for YouTube. We shape the days, meals and recording space with you.

  • —The whole 130-year-old kura for your party, one party at a time
  • —Access to the grounds and garden
  • —Check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
  • —A quiet space for the talk or recording
  • —Meals and programme arranged with you
On requestquoted by the hosts · tell us group size, nights and what you plan to record
Request Quote
Culinary · Families

Farm Harvest & Chef's Table

Ideal for: families, couples, women traveling solo or in small groups

From garden to plate — a culinary immersion led by Shem. Eat with the seasons. A private chef dinner, quiet quality food, and evenings in the Japan Rooms. Children under 12: ¥10,000 per person per night.

  • —Multi-course private dinner
  • —French / British cuisine for dinner, included
  • —Full English breakfast, included
  • —Private chef dinner with wine or sake pairing
  • —Fire stove in the Japan Rooms in winter
  • —Mari's personal cultural facilitation
  • —All meals from quality ingredients
¥20,000per adult / night · under 12 ¥10,000 · meals included · check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
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Premium · Wellness

Mountain Retreat: Nature & Wellness

Ideal for: couples and solo travelers seeking renewal

Mornings hiking cedar trails, Local onsen, Experience authentic Japanese, No agenda beyond slowing down.

  • —Guided forest bathing walk (shinrin-yoku)
  • —Yoga and morning meditation in the garden
  • —Local temple monk visit
  • —Natural hot spring (Toeionsen) day visit
  • —Farm-prepared wellness meals, all included
  • —Vegan and vegetarian-friendly Japan experience
¥30,000per person / night · meals included · check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
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Premium · Transformation

Ikigai Discovery Retreat

Ideal for: people at a crossroads, seeking meaning

Ikigai — reason for being. Mari and Shem lead immersive workshops drawing on Japanese philosophy, cooking, and reflection. Many guests arrive uncertain. They leave different.

  • —3 × guided ikigai workshop sessions with Mari & Shem
  • —Journaling and reflection practices
  • —Cooking as meditation (daily)
  • —Local temple monk visit
  • —Silent morning walks
  • —Personal one-on-one time with Mari (bilingual)
  • —Vegan and vegetarian-friendly Japan experience
¥35,000per person / night · meals included · check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
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Family Immersion

BBQ Family Experience

Ideal for: families with children · up to 10 guests

Families come as tourists and leave feeling like they briefly lived somewhere real. An intimate family stay where you eat together and make memories that hold. We provide all BBQ equipment in countryside where time moves slower.

  • —Family dining at the chef's table
  • —Safe 5-acre grounds for free play
  • —BBQ experience, or wood stove if requested
  • —Flexible sleeping for large families — babies welcome
¥15,000per adult / night · under 12 ¥10,000 · meals included · check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
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Corporate & Groups

Team Cohesion Retreat

Ideal for: companies, HR teams, business leaders · up to 10 guests in the kura

The setting that forces real conversation. Eat, drink, hike together — nature as the background. Shem facilitates workshop discussion, or holds private space for company talk when structure helps. Fully customizable to your team's goals.

  • —Group cooking challenge (team collaboration)
  • —Facilitated ikigai / values workshop (Mari & Shem-led)
  • —Communal hiking and outdoor activities
  • —Evening reflection with sake or tea
  • —Customizable program to team goals
  • —Flexible sleeping for a large group
¥20,000per adult / night · meals included · check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
Request Quote
Budget Stay

Backpacker's Kura Stay

Ideal for: cyclists, hikers, solo travelers

You're passing through rural Aichi and want something memorable, not generic. International guests who want authentic Japan, or guests from Japan who want the countryside, in a 130-year-old kura. Eat with the hosts or keep to yourself. Leave with a story worth telling.

  • —Accommodation in the kura (shared or private)
  • —Breakfast and dinner not included — add them if you like
  • —Vegan and vegetarian-friendly Japan
  • —Local cycling and hiking route tips from Shem
  • —Access to grounds and garden
¥8,500per person / night · 3-night package: ¥25,500, −10% = ¥22,950 per person (nights adjustable) · meals extra · check-in 15:00 · check-out 10:00
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All packages are customizable. Tell us what you're looking for →

Enhance Your Stay

Add-ons & extras.

Every visit is different. Add what resonates, skip what doesn't. Book during your stay or at reservation.

Culinary
Sake or Wine Pairing
+¥5,000 / person
Culinary
Market Visit & Ingredients
+¥4,000 / person
Wellness
Massage (Partnered)
+¥10,000 / session
Wellness
Reiki Experience (Partnered)
+¥10,000 / session
Wellness
Forest Bathing (shinrin-yoku)
+¥4,000 / person
Culture
Pottery Workshop (Partnered)
+¥10,000 / person
Culture
Monk Temple Visit (Partnered)
+¥10,000 / session
Adventure
Waterfall Hiking (Guided) (Partnered)
+¥10,000 / person
Adventure
Mt. Chausu Day Hike (Partnered)
+¥16,000 / person
Adventure
Hanamatsuri Festival Tour (Partnered)
+¥10,000 / person
Learning
English Conversation Circle
+¥5,000 / person

What You'll Do

More than a place to sleep.

The kura is just where you rest. The real experience is what happens outside of it — in the kitchen, on the trail, in the field, and at the table.

We sell the stay here. Extra experiences with third-party partners are optional: you pay them; we introduce you and can take you when we are free. We do not sell other people’s rooms or tickets. Station pickup is included with the stay.

Farm-to-Table Workshop

Harvest seasonal produce from the garden, then cook it into a shared meal with Mari.

Private Chef Dinner

An intimate multi-course meal. Each dish reflects the season, the farm, and Mari's heritage.

Local Market Visit

Find the morning's ingredients, talk to the farmers, understand where rural Aichi's food comes from.

Japanese Recipe Sessions

Traditional dishes from scratch — technique and the cultural context behind each one.

When to Visit

Every season has its own truth.

Spring · 春
Haru
Cherry blossoms over the kura roof. Tea planting season — guests join the harvest. New growth in the garden. The farm waking up.
Summer · 夏
Natsu
Swimming holes in the mountain rivers. Long evenings, fireflies, community festivals. The garden at its most abundant.
Autumn · 秋
Aki
Harvest season. The hills burn red and gold. Hanamatsuri Festival preparation. Foraging at its richest. Most requested dates.
Winter · 冬
Fuyu
Snow on the mountains. The ofuro becomes essential. Hot springs trips. Cosy evenings by fire. Deeply restorative quiet.

Your Hosts

Two worlds,
one home.

Shem is British. Mari is Japanese. They lived in London, then came to Toei. They didn't build a business — they built a life, and they invite people into it.

S

Shem Booth-Spain

Artist · Musician · Permaculture Steward

Shem arrived in rural Japan carrying the restlessness of a creative person who hadn't yet found his right landscape. He found it here — in the mountains of Toei, in the slow work of a permaculture farm, and in sharing that work with guests who arrive needing something they can't quite name. He tends the land, leads hikes, facilitates art sessions, and plays music at dinner when the mood is right.

The farm teaches patience. Every guest who works with their hands here leaves a little lighter than they arrived.
BritishVisual ArtistMusicianPermacultureHiking Guide
M

Mari Booth-Spain

Cultural Facilitator · English Instructor · Host

Mari spent 13 years in the UK — London, Kent — as an English teacher before returning to Japan with Shem. What that gave her is rare: a genuine inhabitation of both worlds. She speaks English and Japanese fluently (TOEIC 960), leads ikigai workshops, facilitates cooking, runs the tea ceremony in the fields, and somehow makes every guest feel both culturally welcomed and personally seen.

Ikigai isn't found in a workshop. It arrives slowly, through the act of making food, tending something alive, connecting with people whose stories are different from yours.
JapaneseTOEIC 96013 Years UKCultural FacilitatorIkigai

Guest Stories

What people say
when they get home

Google review
★★★★★

This hidden retreat feels like a step back in time. Beautifully restored kura, serene, far from city hustle. The hosts shared their wood-burning stove and we finished the evening with great conversation. Ideal for a romantic getaway, solo reflection, or anyone seeking authentic rural Japan.

B
Bra-chan
Google · January 2026
BookRetreats
★★★★★

The best. I will be back. Shem and Mari offer the best welcome. They have a passion for the town that they want to share.

E
Edward
BookRetreats · November 2025
First kura stay
★★★★★

It was very good. It was my first experience staying overnight in a real storehouse. It's very amazing.

M
Miyoshi
BookRetreats · November 2025

What guests say on Google, Booking.com and Airbnb

“Staying with Mari and Shem was one of the highlights of our Japan trip! Mari went above and beyond to cater to our dietary needs… Having their amazing coffee in the mountains and enjoying the stars by the campfire is an experience my friends and I won't forget!”
Kate, Canada · Airbnb · 5★ · Nov 2025
“Shem and Mari offer the best welcome. They have a passion for the town that they want to share.”
Edward, Japan · Booking.com · 10/10 · Nov 2025
“Inside of sake brewery was nicely renovated and was super comfortable… I highly recommend you stay at her place if you happen to visit Toei.”
Summer · Airbnb · 5★ · Sep 2026
“Best decision to choose Mari's tiny house… I was invited to take dinner with them, get to know each other and got lot of insights for that idyllic nearby area.”
Martin · Airbnb · 5★ · Nov 2024
“Cadre magnifique, hôtes très attentionnés et chaleureux”

(Beautiful setting, very attentive and warm hosts)

Hugo, France · Booking.com · 10/10 · Aug 2026

Booking.com

Dawn over the Okumikawa valley, seen from the garden road

From the garden road, looking down the valley at first light.

Getting Here

Toei, Aichi —
intentionally remote.

Hidden at the foot of Mt. Myojin (1,016 m) in rural Tōei — Okumikawa, Aichi. A private kura for families, couples, and travellers. Complimentary pickup from JR Toei Station.

  • Mt. Myojin
    1,016 m — the mountain at our door
  • Hanamatsuri Festival
    700-year-old fire festival — national intangible cultural property
  • Toei Onsen · Hanamatsuri no Yu
    Local onsen with a half-price guest pass
  • Okumikawa Niagara (Tsuta no Fuchi)
    A waterfall in cedar forest, a short outing
  • Mt. Chausu
    Aichi's highest peak — hiking and views

Getting Here

JR Toei StationComplimentary pickup
From Nagoya (car)~2.5 hours
From Nagoya (train)~3–3.5 hours
Chubu Centrair (NGO)~3–3.5 hours
From Tokyo (Shinkansen + Iida Line)~4–5 hours

Address: 14 Okamori, Nakashitara, Tōei-chō, Aichi 449-0211. Arrive at Toei Station between 3pm and 6pm if you can. Airport transfers from NGO at petrol and toll cost. Shem will map the best route from where you are.

Address14 Okamori, Nakashitara, Tōei-chō, Kitashitara-gun, Aichi 449-0211, JapanInstagram@kuraretreatdaikokuten

Reserve Your Stay

Your kura
awaits.

No payment now. This is an enquiry. Mari or Shem reply within 24 hours. Once they confirm, a 30% deposit secures your dates and the balance is due 30 days before arrival.

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Type a date in the boxes, or tap the calendar. First tap is arrival, second is departure. Tap arrival again to start over. Greyed days are already held.

October 2026
  • Open
  • Your stay
  • Held

No payment now. Mari or Shem reply within 24 hours.

Adults
2
Children
0

Letters from the kura

Seasonal news from the valley, recipes, early word on new stays, and a thank-you for returning guests. About four letters a year, from Shem and Mari.

Letter language

Journal

Notes from the farm.

Recipes, philosophy, seasonal updates, and stories from guests who came and stayed longer than planned.

Recipes

Autumn Harvest Soup: A Recipe That Changes Every Year

The soup we make in October looks different every time. That's the point. Here's the base recipe — the rest depends on your garden.

Permaculture

What a Regenerative Garden Actually Looks Like (And Why Ours Isn't "Neat")

Shem explains why the messy bits of the farm are the most important, and what permaculture means in practice on our five acres in Toei.

Culture & Wellness

Ikigai Isn't a Poster. It's a Practice.

Mari on the difference between ikigai as a concept and ikigai as something you actually feel — and why it tends to arrive in the kitchen.

More stories coming. See all journal posts →