The Town I Hoped to See
“When I opened the guesthouse, I just wanted to create a scene where people are out walking through the town,” says owner Naohiro Shiomitsu without hesitation, when asked about how it all began.
Born and raised in Hagi, his deep love for the place is unmistakable. It’s precisely because of that attachment that he wanted to make the town more interesting, give it more options, and come up with more ways for people to experience it.“I left Hagi when I was 18 and spent two years in Canada and the U.S. That’s when I first encountered guesthouse culture.
You’d walk into a lounge and meet complete strangers, travelers and locals, and before you knew it, you’d be clinking glasses with arms over each other’s shoulders. It felt like the town had accepted me somehow… That experience made me want to create a place in Hagi where that could happen too.
After visiting guesthouses around the country to deepen his understanding, Shiomitsu-san eventually returned to Hagi, where he came across the building that would become his own. Formerly a music store, the four-story structure has been renovated, with the first and second floors transformed into lounge spaces inspired by those early memories abroad.
“Hagi is a car-centric town, but there are things you can only notice when you explore it on foot, like the atmosphere, the traces of everyday life. I want travelers who stay here to enjoy that. And I think it’s vital for Hagi that they talk to the locals and share their values in conversation. If revitalization efforts rely solely on history, the town’s potential and its options will always be limited.
Through this space, I want to keep sending out signals that help broaden perspectives. If someone feels inspired to try something new, even better.”
When we asked Shiomitsu-san for local dining recommendations, every spot he mentioned was off the guidebook radar. One of them was Koryōri Fumi, a small eatery we later visited. Upon learning where we were staying, the proprietress smiled and said:
“Shiomitsu-san never shows how hard he works. But he’s the real deal—he’s a true Hagi local.”
Opened in 2013, Ruco is just a one-minute walk from the Hagi Bus Center, the town’s main transportation hub. It offers three types of rooms: Western-style, Japanese-style, and a mixed gender dormitory. A shared kitchen space makes it ideal for longer stays. From the windows, guests can enjoy views of Mount Shizuki and the surrounding castle town, both iconic sites in Hagi. The first and second floors serve as a café/lounge, welcoming not only overnight guests but also many locals who stop by just for a drink or meal. Since 2020, Ruco has also been operating Agawa, a small-town kiosk located inside JR Agawa Station in Shimonoseki.
92 Karahicho, Hagi, Yamaguchi 758-0025
TEL：0838-21-7435
