ABOUT
CONCEPT
Experience Rural Japan Through the Eyes of a Hunter
Tokuheian is more than a place to stay.
It is an opportunity to experience the traditions, nature, and everyday life of rural Japan through the eyes of a local hunter.
Surrounded by mountains, forests, and rivers, our 200-year-old farmhouse offers a rare chance to slow down and connect with a way of life that has been passed down for generations.
Taste wild game cuisine, explore hidden corners of Kyoto, discover seasonal mountain harvests, and share stories with the people who call this countryside home.
We invite you to experience the real Japan—simple, authentic, and deeply connected to nature.
Meet Your Hosts
Hideo Uyeda
Welcome to Tokuheian.
My name is Hideo Uyeda, and together with my wife Yukako and our three dogs—Azuki, Daizu, and Gon—I am pleased to welcome guests to our family home in the mountains of Kyoto.
I was born and raised in Keihoku and have spent my life surrounded by its forests, rivers, and traditions. Today, I work as a local hunter while also caring for our farmland, where we grow rice, vegetables, and even the grasses used to maintain our traditional thatched roof.
I have always enjoyed traveling and have been fortunate to visit many countries around the world. Those experiences taught me how meaningful cultural exchange can be, which is why I love sharing the food, lifestyle, and traditions of rural Japan with visitors.
Whether we are enjoying local cuisine, talking over coffee at our small café, or exploring the countryside together, I hope your stay will be filled with authentic experiences and memorable connections.
I look forward to meeting you and learning about your own story.
Yukako Uyeda
Hello, I’m Yukako Uyeda.
I have been married to Hideo since 2008, and together we have built a life centered around family, food, and hospitality in rural Kyoto.
Before moving here, I worked as a sous-chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant in central Kyoto. My experience in professional kitchens deepened my passion for cooking, and I continue to enjoy creating meals that showcase the flavors and traditions of Japan.
On our property, we built a small café and kitchen by hand. It has become a place where guests can gather, cook, learn, share stories, and enjoy time together. For me, some of the best travel memories are made around a table, and I love helping visitors experience Japanese food culture in a personal and welcoming way.
I hope to share a meal, a conversation, and many smiles with you during your stay.
Mascot Dogs
Meet Our Mascot Dogs
At Tokuheian, we have three more members of the family — Meme, Hachi, and Tomekichi.
These three dogs share our home in the mountains of Kyoto, keep us company around the farmhouse and fields, and are always ready to greet our guests with warmth.
Meme
French Bulldog / female
Hachi
Bernedoodle / male
Tomekichi
Golden Retriever / male
The Story of Tokuheian
Tokuheian is a traditional farmhouse that has been passed down through our family for more than 200 years.
Seven generations ago, our ancestor Tokuhei Uyeda built this home in the mountains of Keihoku. In 2015, we opened the house to international travelers so they could experience the culture, history, and hospitality of rural Japan.
The name “Tokuheian” comes from our ancestor’s name, Tokuhei, combined with “an,” a traditional Japanese word meaning a place of rest or retreat.
More than a guesthouse, Tokuheian is a living piece of local history, where visitors can experience a way of life that has been preserved for generations.
The Hidden Countryside of Kyoto
Located approximately 30 kilometers north of central Kyoto, Keihoku is a mountainous region rich in forests, rivers, and traditional culture.
For over a thousand years, the cedar and cypress trees of this area have supplied timber used in the construction of Kyoto’s famous temples and shrines.
Nature transforms the landscape throughout the year. Spring brings mountain flowers and cherry blossoms, summer offers clear rivers and fireflies, autumn paints the forests in brilliant colors, and winter covers the countryside in snow.
Each season reveals a different side of rural Japan, making every visit a unique experience.
A Traditional Thatched-Roof House
Living Beneath a Thatched Roof
A thatched roof, known as Kayabuki in Japanese, is one of the oldest forms of architecture in Japan.
Built from locally harvested grasses, these roofs have sheltered families for centuries and represent the wisdom of traditional Japanese living.
Naturally breathable, highly insulating, and environmentally sustainable, a thatched roof keeps the house cool in summer and warm in winter.
Today, very few thatched-roof homes remain, making Tokuheian a rare opportunity to experience an important part of Japan’s architectural heritage.
Preserving Japan’s Rural Heritage
Why We Protect This House
A traditional thatched roof requires extensive maintenance and must be renewed approximately every 25 years.
In the past, entire villages worked together to replace these roofs. Today, the work can only be carried out by highly skilled craftsmen, making preservation increasingly difficult.
Despite these challenges, we believe that these historic homes are worth protecting.
We harvest and store our own thatching grass, care for the house ourselves, and continue the traditions passed down through generations.
By staying at Tokuheian, you become part of that story and help preserve a disappearing piece of rural Japan for future generations.
Access
| Hotel Name | TOKUHEIAN |
| Adress | Danjo 4, Keihoku Kamiyuge-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 601-0321, Japan |
| Call | +81 80-8327-3913 |
| tokuheian@gmail.com |
Access from Kyoto Station
The easiest way to reach Tokuheian is by taking the JR Bus Takao–Keihoku Line from Kyoto Station.
Board the bus at Platform No. 3 of the JR Bus Terminal at Kyoto Station. The route passes through Nijo Station and Enmachi before arriving at Shuzan (Syuzan), the final stop in the Keihoku area.
The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes and costs JPY 1,180 per person. Guests traveling with a Japan Rail Pass can use this bus service at no additional charge.
On JR buses, passengers enter through the rear door and exit through the front door. When leaving the bus, either place your fare in the fare box next to the driver or simply show your Japan Rail Pass.
Once you arrive at Shuzan Terminal, we will be happy to pick you up by car. The terminal is small and easy to navigate, making it simple to meet your host.
JR Bus Timetable
Kyoto Station → Shuzan Terminal
| Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|
| 12:40 | 14:06 |
| 14:10 | 15:36 |
| 15:10 | 16:36 |
| 16:10 | 17:36 |
| 17:30 | 18:56 |
| 18:40 | 20:00 |
| 20:30 | 21:48 |
Danjo 4, Keihoku Kamiyuge-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto 601-0321, Japan
TEL +81 80-8327-3913
E-mail:tokuheian@gmail.com