Learning Spaces | Farmstay in Aso

The town of Minami-Oguni has been squarely on the tourist map of Kumamoto (and Japan) for the past few decades because of the success of the hot springs resort of Kurokawa. It draws over a million visitors per year and frequently appears at or near the top of “best of” lists for tourist destinations.

However, there is more going on in Minami-Oguni than hot springs. Cafes and restaurants (including a number of soba shops on “soba road”) have sprouted all over the town, and there are a handful of natural sites worth visiting (like Oshidoishi).

But one of the most exciting developments for me is the increase in farm stays. Most residents in Minami-Oguni’s tiny hamlets do some farming, but this has not provided sufficient income for decades, so most earn more secure incomes elsewhere (farming, teaching). Recently, some have begun trying to supplement their incomes by allowing people to stay in their homes, and in some cases, help with agricultural tasks. By remodeling a few rooms and having an internet presence, families can offer urban residents a unique experience that people in the past may have experienced by visiting their grandparent’s house. These days, fewer people have grandparents living in such areas, so they turn to entrepreneurs like those here.

We were able to experience the incredible hospitality of two families who hosted us for two nights (20-21 May). Our main host was the Kumagai family, who operate Saconue no Kaeru. The food was mostly locally-sourced and homemade, and completely vegetarian. We were treated to a walking of the village, which included a tour of a lumberyard and wood-processing factory, a stop by a shrine, and a chance to feed some dairy cows.