The story of Yamaboushi begins with Mie Hama.
During her travels through Europe, she was deeply moved by the way historic buildings remained woven into everyday life. Villages, homes, and traditional architecture were not preserved as museum pieces, but continued to serve as living parts of local communities.
Returning to Japan, she found a different reality. Across the countryside, traditional farmhouses were disappearing. Buildings that had sheltered generations of families were being abandoned, demolished, and gradually forgotten.
Determined to preserve what remained, she began a remarkable journey.
Over many years, Mie traveled throughout Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu, personally visiting more than 200 traditional houses.
She searched not for monuments, but for homes that still carried the stories of the people who had lived within them.
Among the hundreds she encountered, twelve houses were selected. Each represented a unique chapter of rural Japan's architectural and cultural heritage.
Carefully dismantled and documented piece by piece, these houses would eventually begin a new life in Hakone.
Hakone was chosen deliberately.
For centuries, Hakone has stood at the crossroads of travelers, culture, and nature. Located along the historic Tokaido Road between Kyoto and Edo, it has long been a place where journeys pause and stories are exchanged.
It was here that the selected houses were rebuilt.
Modern comforts were introduced where necessary, but the essential character of each structure was preserved. Original beams, pillars, hearths, and handcrafted details remain at the heart of the houses today.
Thus, Yamaboushi was born.
Today, guests are invited to experience more than a place to stay.
Yamaboushi offers an opportunity to slow down, gather around the hearth, listen to the sounds of the surrounding forest, and experience a way of life that once shaped rural Japan.
Today, Mie Hama's vision continues through her son, Shin Kaneko.
Growing up among restored farmhouses, traditional craftsmanship, and the landscapes of Hakone, Shin developed the same appreciation for places that carry stories.
While his mother dedicated herself to preserving historic architecture, Shin chose to focus on preserving and sharing the cultural landscape that surrounds it.
Through Explore Hakone, he has spent more than a decade introducing travelers from around the world to the mountains, forests, old highways, artisans, and traditions that define Hakone beyond its famous attractions.
Together, Yamaboushi and Explore Hakone carry forward a shared vision across two generations—preserving meaningful places and creating authentic connections between people, culture, and the landscape.
Staying at Yamaboushi is only the beginning.
Beyond the farmhouse lies the landscape, history, and culture that gave this place its soul.
The rest of the story is waiting outside.
Yamaboushi offers a place to stay.
Explore Hakone offers a way to experience the place that surrounds it.
Guests may choose from a range of private experiences designed to deepen their connection with Hakone's landscapes, history, culture, and people.
