AreaMt. Zao

Kaido Hostel Otate

街道 Hostel おたて | Kaido Hostel Otate

A former elementary school converted into a welcoming hostel

Photo by Yoichi Fujita

Photo by Yoichi Fujita

Photo by Yoichi Fujita

Photo by Yoichi Fujita

  • Hostel Otate is the brainchild of Shichikashuku entrepreneur laureate Yoichi Fujita. Built in 1873, Yunohara Elemetary School in Shichikashuku was once filled with more than three hundred students. However, as the population of the town gradually declined, so did the number of students in attendance. Due to lack of enrollment, the school closed permanently in 2014. The school building remained abandoned for the next five years, until the town decided to renovate it into a hostel and event space.

    The hostel has its own sento bathouse and serves homestyle Japanese fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Walking around the hostel, you’ll notice that the look and atmosphere of the old school building has been retained, right down to its completely functional gymnasium and an old classroom kept in its original state. Day-trippers are welcome to drop by for lunch or a bath. If you’re in town on the right day, you’ll even be able to join a soba-making class led by the staff of Bashoan.

    WEBSITEhttp://shichikashuku-miyagi.co.jp/hostel/

    PRINT / PDF

  • Mt. Zao

Details

ADDRESS

81 Machiura, Shichikashuku, Katta District, Miyagi 989-0657

ACCESS BY PUBLIC TRANSIT

About 75 minutes by bus from Shiroishi Station (白石駅) or Shiroishi-Zao Station (白石蔵王駅), followed by a 2-minute walk. Board a Shichikashuku Shiroishi Line (七ヶ宿白石線) bus bound for Yakuba・Nananiro Hiroba (役場・なないろひろば); alight at Yakuba, Family Mart Shichikashuku-ten, or Nanairo Hiroba (役場、ファミリーマート七ヶ宿店、なないろひろば) bus stop. Transfer to a Shichikashuku Kaido Line (七ヶ宿街道線) bus bound for Yubara・Hikaba (湯原・干蒲); alight at Yubara Aramachi (湯原荒町) bus stop. Bus timetables here (Shichikashuku Shiroishi Line) and here (Shichikashuku Kaido Line).

ADMISSION

Day-trip baths: ¥500

CREDIT CARDS

Accepted

LANGUAGES

Limited English

HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE

Partially (has elevator, handicap-accessible toilet, etc.)

HOURS

Please inquire

RESERVATION

Required for overnight stays

CLOSED DAYS

Usually Tuesdays & Wednesdays, but negotiable if overnight guests want to stay those nights.

PHONE

0224-26-8877

TATTOO POLICY

Generally not allowed in the sento bath, but may be acceptable on a case-by-case basis. For more details, please contact the hostel directly.

Accommodation Details

ROOMS

4 dormitory-style, 4 private Western-style, 2 private Japanese-style

CAPACITY

60

ONSEN

No, but there is a large, gender-separated sento (communal bathhouse)

Food & Drink Details

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN

No

HALAL

No

FOREIGN-LANGUAGE MENU

No

NON-SMOKING

Yes

LUNCH HOURS

11:30–13:30

DINNER HOURS

Available for overnight guests only

Home Kaido Hostel Otate