Experience 200+ years of Japanese charm in a fully restored countryside villa near Suwa Lake, in Nagano Prefecture. Sleeps up to 10 across spacious rooms, featuring tatami, hinoki baths, heated floors, and serene gardens in front and back, with azaleas in bloom each May. Families welcome, with children’s amenities including high-chairs, utensils, and baby-baths. High-speed Wi‑Fi & a modern kitchen round out a stay that blends tradition with comfort. At Villa Azalea, guests have exclusive access to a 244 m² historic compound centered around a beautifully restored main house (omoya), where centuries-old wooden beams, shoji screens, and an original irori hearth offer an authentic yet comfortable experience. The first floor features a cozy living room, a spacious dining area, a fully equipped modern kitchen, a tatami room with hearth, a bedroom, a work nook, and two full baths. Upstairs, you’ll find a lounge space and two serene bedrooms with views of the surrounding mountains. Adjacent to the main house are two traditional kura (warehouses) — in front and in back. The buildings are nestled within lovingly landscaped Japanese gardens, complete with seasonal flowers and stone paths. Whether you’re soaking in the atmosphere or simply enjoying a peaceful escape, the villa invites you to slow down and savor the charm of old Japan.

We are excited to share our family heritage and historical home with anyone looking to appreciate traditional Japanese architecture and environs!

Nestled in the heart of Nagano Prefecture, the city of Okaya offers a rich blend of natural beauty, living history, and quiet charm. Once a center of Japan’s thriving silk industry, Okaya still carries traces of its elegant past—from old merchant homes and traditional crafts to the pristine waters of Lake Suwa nearby. But perhaps its most enchanting legacy lies just outside Villa Azalea’s doors: the historic Nakasendō. The Nakasendō (中山道), or “Central Mountain Route,” was one of the five major highways of the Edo period, connecting Kyoto to Edo (now Tokyo) through Japan’s mountainous interior. Unlike the coastal Tōkaidō, the Nakasendō took travelers on a scenic inland journey through post towns, castle villages, and forested passes. It stretched over 500 kilometers and featured 69 stations (宿場町, shukuba-machi) where travelers could rest, eat, and sleep. These towns were bustling centers of culture and commerce, hosting everyone from samurai and merchants to poets and pilgrims. Villa Azalea stands just steps from a preserved section of this historic route, where the path narrows into stone-paved slopes and moss-lined walls that have witnessed centuries of footsteps. Walking this stretch, one can easily imagine the clip-clop of horses, the chatter of traveling merchants, and the rustle of kimonos in the wind. It’s a portal into another time—an invitation to slow down and savor the rhythm of a different era. Today, Okaya’s connection to the Nakasendō offers a rare and meaningful experience for travelers seeking more than just scenery. Whether you're enjoying a morning stroll or following in the footsteps of feudal-era wanderers, the path embodies the spirit of Japan’s journey through time—humble, poetic, and enduring.