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 Jason Jetnarayan
Photo by Yoichi Fujita
Photo by Yoichi Fujita
Photo by Yoichi Fujita
Hostel Otate is the brainchild of 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/
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Mt. Zao
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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 (Shikashuku 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
Day-trip baths: 13:00~
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
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Kaido Hostel Otate