A Hidden Retreat to Lose Yourself in Books, Sound, and Water
Located in Chikugo-Yoshii, Ukiha City, Fukuoka—an area known for its white-walled historic streets—Minamo is a decentralized hotel created from three traditional townhouses over 100 years old. Nourished by the underground spring water flowing from the Mino mountain range, this stay invites you to experience the rhythms of the land with all five senses, like ripples gently spreading across water.
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Services & Facilities
Opened in July 2022 in Ukiha City, Fukuoka, Minamo is a renovated kominka stay composed of three traditional houses with six guest rooms, all over 100 years old. It is located in Chikugo-Yoshii, a nationally designated Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, where Edo-period streetscapes and white-walled storehouses still remain, creating a richly atmospheric setting.
The concept of the inn is “Immerse yourself in the life of Ukiha, sustained by water.” Blessed with pure groundwater flowing from the Mino mountain range and the Chikugo River, Ukiha has long flourished thanks to its abundant water sources. A stay at Minamo invites guests to slow down and fully experience this water-nurtured way of life.
The name Minamo—meaning “water’s surface”—reflects the hope that the water-supported livelihoods of this region will continue to ripple gently into the future. Set against a historic townscape and local culture, the inn offers both comfort and a sense of rarity, allowing guests to feel as though they have become part of the community itself.
A 100-Year-Old Townhouse Blending into the Streets of Chikugo-Yoshii
Located in Chikugo-Yoshii, where traditional architecture dating back to the Edo period still remains, Minamo is a restored inn created from historic merchant residences and a former clinic. Its dignified tiled roof and warm wooden textures evoke a sense of nostalgia, gently transporting guests to another era.
Minamo consists of three restored historic townhouses with six uniquely designed guest rooms. Minamo Usui Residence, which also serves as the reception, is a former merchant’s mansion that flourished through rapeseed oil and traditional Japanese candle trading. It is the only building in Ukiha with rare gray nezumi plaster walls, giving it a dignified presence. The property includes four rooms—three in the main house and one in a detached annex—each themed around Books, Space, Sound, or Water.
Room 101 offers a “Immerse in Books” experience, featuring about 200 titles curated by a local bookstore. Room 103 is a “Immerse in Sound” space with a record player and speakers for enjoying music. Each room provides a distinct, theme-based stay. Room 104, located in the annex, features a private hinoki bath filled with clear underground spring water and a sauna, where guests can enjoy self-serve löyly using locally produced hojicha tea.
Minamo Horie Residence is a former Meiji-era family home that once operated as a local clinic, now offered as an exclusive rental. Spanning over 125㎡ across two floors, it includes a private kitchen and spacious Japanese-Western style rooms. Overlooking an Edo-period irrigation canal and a seasonal garden, it allows guests to experience life as if they were part of the local community.
Minamo Kagamida Kura, added in April 2023, is a private rental renovated from the storehouse of the city-designated cultural property Kagamida Residence. Originally built in the late Edo to early Meiji period, this 160-year-old earthen kura has been thoughtfully restored. The first floor features an exclusive private bar counter for guests, where you can spend a quiet evening enjoying local Ukiha sake and drinks in your own intimate space.
Across all accommodations, original beams and earthen walls have been preserved as much as possible, while modern comforts have been seamlessly integrated. High ceilings, tatami-floored rooms, and tastefully balanced Japanese-Western interiors create an open yet relaxing atmosphere. Every room includes a private bathroom, and the Usui Residence rooms and Horie Residence feature hinoki cypress bathtubs. Soaking in the fragrant wood bath is a guest favorite for unwinding after travel.
The carefully curated amenities are another highlight. Refrigerators are stocked with local specialties unique to water-rich Ukiha, including Ishii Cider (a boldly carbonated local soda), drip coffee from ZELKOVA COFFEE, and Nagao Seimen’s regional ramen known as “Ramen Kamen.” Guests will also find bottled spring water, native tea bags, and even okara karinto sweets from Shigeoka Tofu Honpo, a third-generation tofu shop on the southern bank of the Chikugo River. Many of these items can be taken home as souvenirs, allowing you to enjoy the flavors of Ukiha even after your stay.
One of Minamo’s greatest highlights is breakfast served in the grand hall of the city-designated cultural property Kagamida Residence. In this atmospheric tatami hall overlooking a traditional garden, guests enjoy a special morning meal made with an abundance of local Ukiha ingredients. The menu is supervised by the chef of the lifestyle gallery Budo no Tane and features seasonal, health-focused dishes showcasing fresh vegetables and fruits from local farmers, handmade tofu, and rice grown in terraced paddies. From house-made juice to freshly steamed rice and miso soup, just-prepared tofu from a long-established shop on the southern bank of the Chikugo River, and seasonal fruit harvested at the foot of the Mino mountain range, breakfast offers a true taste of Ukiha’s natural bounty.
Dinner is not typically included in the stay, but curated partnerships with local restaurants allow guests to explore Ukiha’s culinary scene. Options include a dinner plan at the nearby local izakaya Hachibunme, featuring creative dishes made with locally sourced ingredients, or a private dining experience where the chef of MAHORO756 prepares a special course meal in your reserved townhouse. These collaborations with neighborhood restaurants provide diverse and memorable dining choices.
Additionally, Room 201 at the Horie Residence is equipped with a full kitchen, allowing for self-catering. With an IH stove, microwave, oven toaster, and other appliances, guests can cook with fresh ingredients purchased at local markets or roadside stations—making it possible to truly experience a “live like a local” stay.
The greatest appeal of staying at Minamo lies not only in the accommodation itself, but in experiencing the landscapes and culture of Ukiha as a whole.
Since breakfast is served in a separate building, guests take a morning walk from their rooms to the Kagamida Residence through the historic townscape. Strolling along streets lined with white-walled storehouses and traditional townhouses becomes a memorable part of the journey itself.
Ukiha is blessed with abundant fruits and agricultural products year-round, as well as picturesque waterside scenery. The city is so rich in water resources that natural groundwater is used for daily life across most of the area—and Minamo fully embraces this pristine spring water. Guests can brew native tea or coffee with the provided spring water in their rooms, and enjoy the crisp, boldly carbonated Ishii Cider—specialties unique to this “city of water.” Even a single cup of tea or glass of sake served at the inn carries the story of the land and its makers, allowing guests to connect with Ukiha’s way of life through the smallest of experiences.
Minamo also offers a variety of experience programs for guests. One popular option is the “Morning Town Walk Breakfast Plan,” where guests stroll through town, stop by a beloved local onigiri shop or bakery, and bring freshly made rice balls or baked bread back to enjoy at the inn. Visiting neighborhood favorites and interacting with shop owners and locals is part of what makes the experience unique.
Ukiha—known as the “Fruit Kingdom”—also offers seasonal fruit-picking plans. At partnered orchards, guests can harvest ripe fruits with their own hands and enjoy their exceptional freshness on the spot.
A stay at Minamo goes beyond relaxing in a traditional townhouse. Through town walks, encounters with local residents, and seasonal flavors, guests gently immerse themselves in everyday life in Ukiha. For those who wish to travel as if living like a local, Minamo is the perfect base. Why not begin a special journey here—one shaped by history and the pure waters that sustain this remarkable town?
Usui Residence
Retaining the authentic character of a traditional kominka, with its exposed beams and earthen walls, the residence is harmoniously blended with refined modern interiors. The result is a serene and inviting space where heritage meets contemporary comfort. In the evening, relax and recharge in the generously sized bed for a restful night’s sleep.
Horie Residence
Room 201 includes a fully equipped private kitchen, perfect for guests who enjoy cooking during their stay. A curated selection of local products awaits you, such as Ishii Cider and “Ramen Kamen” noodles by Nagao Seimen — both reflecting Ukiha’s abundant natural water. Gather local ingredients from nearby markets and enjoy creating a shared meal, turning your stay into a memorable culinary experience.
Entire Villa Rental (with Private Sauna)
Room 104 is set in a private annex, offering an exclusive retreat with a hinoki cypress bath filled with pure local spring water and a dedicated sauna. Enhance your sauna experience with self-service löyly using locally sourced hojicha from Ukiha — a uniquely regional touch.
Address: 1302 Yoshii-machi, Ukiha City, Fukuoka 839-1321, Japan
Approximately 60 minutes by car from central Fukuoka or Fukuoka Airport.
About 15 minutes from either Asakura IC or Haki IC on the Oita Expressway
Parking: Available (5 spaces, free of charge)
About a 10-minute walk from Chikugo-Yoshii Station on the JR Kyudai Main Line
Ryokan Name
Minamo
Address
1302 Yoshii-machi, Ukiha City, Fukuoka 839-1321, Japan
Baths
| Features | Sauna Available |
Facilities & Features
Common Amenities
