The Art of Affordably-Stylish
Why stay at a guesthouse on the outskirts of town? There were plenty of hotels right by the station… The thought vanishes the moment I see Koukasha’s warm light glowing in the distance. Nestled elegantly in the mountains, the hostel stands alone, waiting for its guests.
“We just renovated and reopened in 2023. The building’s about 80 years old, and we’ve kept most of the exterior as it was. I’m told it was originally built around the end of the war, as an office for a bath additive company from the Kansai region,” says owner Sōichi Sugita with a gentle tone.
At the counter, there’s a cozy café/bar serving up house-made hot dogs and soup dumplings in a soy milk and tantan-style broth. A small shop offers handcrafted daily goods, while a dayroom with a fireplace invites guests to unwind. The interior has a calm, refined atmosphere. Years ago, it was run as a youth hostel by Sōichi’s parents.
“This was my childhood home, so the sound of travelers drinking and making noise late into the night was like a lullaby to me,” Sōichi says with a smile. “I spent about 20 years working in Tokyo, but when it came time to raise a family, I felt Yamaguchi with its nature and everything was the better choice so I moved back. After my father passed away, the hostel was at risk of shutting down, so I decided to take over.”
When renovating, his aim was to transform what had once been a space for travelers into something more open to the local community, while also giving people a reason to venture out to the edge of town.
“We built the café/bar, the shop, and the sauna together with some friends,” he explains. “The wood stove creates a natural convection that feels just amazing, and if you want to cool off, you can just take a dip in the river instead of a cold plunge. It’s kind of an affordably-stylish philosophy. We try to create joy with what’s within our reach. I’d be happy if people find something meaningful in our way of doing things.”
Soaking in the smooth flow of spring-fed water after the wood fire sauna, I find myself imagining the flavors of the meal to come. It’s a small escape from the everyday—something you won’t find in the city.
Originally opened in 1974 as Yamaguchi Youth Hostel by Sōichi’s father, Kazunori, the property was renamed Yamaguchi Koukasha in 2009 and underwent a full renovation in 2023 to reopen as a guesthouse. With support from a crowdfunding campaign, the space was extensively refurbished and now features a café/bar, shop, and a Finnish-style firewood sauna. Guest rooms include a traditional Japanese-style group room and a Western-style single room. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Shin-Yamaguchi Station and 45 minutes from Yamaguchi Ube Airport.
801 Miyanokami, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi
TEL：083-928-0057
