Meet the people who are struggling to preserve their abandoned hamlet for the future
Odaira-juku is the name of a small hamlet lying secluded in the forests on a plateau by an old trade route halfway between the Kiso and the Ina Valley. In the winter of 1970, midst heavy snowfall, all villagers abandoned their homes in the mountains and descended down into the Ina Valley.
From the mid-1700s onward, the Odaira Kaido was an important trade route that linked the Kiso and Ina Valleys at their southern ends. Located on a pass halfway between the valleys, the Odaira-juku Post Town served as a place to rest for traders and pilgrims, travelling to worship at temples and shrines. Odaira-juku Post Town prospered and sometimes as many as 120 people stayed at one of the inns in a
single night.
Later, with the rapid modernization of Japan after World War II, modern roads were built to replace the Odaira Kaido, trade receded, and while all around lifestyles were changing rapidly, life in Odaira-juku Post Town became more and more difficult, which finally led to the inhabitants leaving their homes. However, in 1973, when a company proposed to build holiday cottages in the abandoned hamlet, a movement to preserve the nature and heritage of Odaira-juku Post Town formed around some of
the former inhabitants. They cut grass and restored the abandoned houses and since 2017, the local DMO has been taking the lead in managing the area and preserving the historic buildings for the future while using them as an educational and tourist resource.
In this program, local guides, who are striving to preserve Odaira-juku Post Town for the future, will guide you around the old post town, where you will learn about its history and experience life in an Edo period mountain hamlet first hand.
Nature/Culture/Activity
・This special experience features a visit to a completely abandoned hamlet with numerous historic kominka (folk houses) built over 200 years ago. A portion of the program fees will go toward local preservation efforts.
・As this is an isolated hamlet deep in the mountains, you will be able to experience tranquil natural surroundings without the noise found in urban areas. On a clear night, those staying overnight will also be able to enjoy a sky full of stars.
・Meals will consist of food that you prepare yourself using a traditional Japanese cooking stove and open hearth. This way you will experience traditional life in the Odaira-juku Post Town first hand.
[For day Trip]
39,000JPY~ for 2ppl
28,000JPY~ for 3ppl
23,000JPY~ for 4ppl
20,000JPY~ for 5ppl
17,000JPY~ for 6ppl
16,000JPY~ for 7ppl
15,000JPY~ for 8ppl
[For overnight stay]
51,000JPY~ for 2ppl
39,000JPY~ for 3ppl
33,000JPY~ for 4ppl
29,000JPY~ for 5ppl
26,000JPY~ for 6ppl
24,000JPY~ for 7ppl
23,000JPY~ for 8ppl
The time can be arranged according to your request. Participants are asked to pick up and return their keys themselves between 10:00 – 16:00 at the Minami Shinshu Tourism Bureau (approx. 1 hour by car from Odaira-juku).
[Day Trip]
Meeting at Odaira-juku, briefing with your guide and tour of Odaira-juku Free time and preparing lunch
Cleaning Tour finishes
[Overnight Stay]
Day 1
Meeting at Odaira-juku, briefing with your guide and tour of Odaira-juku
Free time and preparing lunch
Free time
Preparing dinner
Day 2
Free time and preparing breakfast
Cleaning
Tour finishes
Odaira-juku
Early-May ~ Early-November
11 yrs and above
90 days prior
Minimum 2 Maximum 8
[Day Trip]
Light working gloves for cooking on the open hearth, clothing that suits the weather, is comfortable and may get dirty.
[Overnight Stay]
Light working gloves for cooking on the open hearth, clothing that suits the weather, is comfortable and may get dirty. Warm pyjamas, second set of clothing, toiletries and towel. In the night it can get cold in Odaira-juku, even in summer.
1
Activities consists of indoor experiences and a light walk around town, which are suitable for every fitness level.
1
As this is not a conventional tourist facility, this tour is geared toward those who can enjoy aspects outside of everyday life, which might be considered “inconvenient”.
[Day Trip]
English speaking guide, preservation contribution fee, lunch ingredients (rice, vegetables, beef, pork, sausages), firewood, cooking equipment rental fee, paper utensils (plates, cups, bowls, chopsticks), water (one 2- liter bottle per person).
[Overnight Stay]
English speaking guide fee (only until the evening of the first day, after which time participants will be on their own), preservation contribution fee, ingredients for lunch on the first day (rice, vegetables, beef, pork, sausages), ingredients for dinner on the first night (rice, vegetables, curry or white stew base, pork), ingredients for breakfast on the second day (packaged cup noodles, similar rice product, or cereals with milk), firewood, cooking equipment rental fee, paper utensils (plates, cups, bowls, chopsticks), water (2-liter bottles per person), rental fee for sleeping bag and mat.
[Day Trip][Overnight Stay]
Transportation costs, insurance (please purchase international travel insurance in your own country), anything else not specified in “what is included” above. Bank transfer fees are borne by the customer.
・Please understand that Odaira-juku is not a conventional tourist facility, but a heritage site where preservation efforts are undertaken through means of experience tours. While you may experience certain inconveniences, we hope that you will be able to appreciate them as the unique quality of your stay in Odaira-juku.
・The building where you stay is filled with valuable historical relics, so please take extreme care not to cause damage or fire.
・There is no mobile phone or wi-fi service.
・There is a public satellite telephone, which accepts 100 yen coins. The fees are 200 yen for the first 33 seconds, and 100 yen for every subsequent 30-second period.
・Tap water and the bath tub inside the house cannot be used.
[Fees in case of cancellation on behalf of the customer ]
-Cancellation on or after the 20th day from the day immediately preceding the starting day of the tour: 20% of the tour price.
-Cancellation on or after the 7th day from the day immediately preceding the starting day of the tour: 30% of the tour price.
-Cancellation the day immediately before the starting day of the tour: 40% of the tour price.
-In cases where the contract is cancelled on the starting day of the Tour: 50% of the tour price.
-Cancellation after the start of the tour or the traveler does not participate in the tour without notice (no show): 100% of the tour price.
[Cancellation at the discretion of the organizer]
-In the case of the tour being cancelled by the organizer, no cancellation fees will apply.
-In case of cancellation due to bad weather, we will contact you the day before the tour.
-The itinerary may be changed or the tour maybe cancelled after the program has started. In this case, we will pay an indemnity in accordance with the Standard General Conditions of Travel Agency Business, except in a case of force major (natural disaster).