Scenic Stops for the Soul
— Where the real discoveries begin.
Around Tiny House ZEN Kurahashi,you won’t find souvenir shops or crowds.Instead, you’ll stumble upon places that speak softly to your soul.
A hidden hot spring.A seaside café with salt in the air.A forgotten shrine tucked into the hillside.
These quiet stops aren’t detours—they’re part of the adventure.
And sometimes, the places you find by chance are the ones that stay with you the longest.
A Boat of Prayers, an Island of Memory
This is a Goza-bune—
a sacred boat used in rituals at Itsukushima Shrine.
Long ago, Kurahashi Island was filled with shipwrights.A town where the scent of salt and the sound of carving wood danced through the air.
Now, the last boatbuilder has quietly retired.
But the boats remain— silent witnesses to a time when people lived by the sea,and shaped their lives with wood, wind, and waves.
Even now, they carry prayers.And they hold memories that linger like the tide.
Katsurahama: A Shore from Ancient Times
Just a short walk away lies Katsurahama—
a timeless beach where the waves have whispered for centuries.
Once sung of in the Manyoshu, Japan’s oldest poetry anthology,this sacred stretch of coast invites you to step into the footsteps of the ancients.
The sand, the breeze, the horizon—they all remember.
It’s more than a beach. It’s a portal to the past.
A Pine That Listens to the Wind
Along the path to Katsurahama Shrine,stands a lone pine— shaped by sea winds and silent prayers.
Its branches reach freely toward the sky,while its roots rest deep,quietly embracing the land it calls home.
Take a short walk from Tiny House ZEN Kurahashi,and you may find this pine waiting.
A moment of stillness. A breath that gently realigns your heart.
A Journey Refined Through the Senses
Within walking distance from the accommodation, you’ll find “Katsuragahama Onsenkan”, a hot spring facility with an on-site restaurant serving dishes made from local ingredients.
Right next door is the stylish “Café Slow”, open until 9 PM, perfect for a relaxing evening.
For outdoor lovers, there’s also a barbecue area, where you can either bring your own ingredients or have everything prepared for you—enjoy a BBQ just the way you like it!
Additionally, SUP rentals are available, allowing you to fully enjoy exciting activities on the sea.
From exploring charming old townscapes to hiking Mount Hi-yama and unwinding in a heated pool, there’s no shortage of things to do!
Katsuragahama Beach features a sandy shore that meets crystal-clear waters. Lined with pine trees, it creates an exotic and picturesque landscape
You can enjoy a light hike from the base of Mount Hi-yama, or drive up close to the summit for an easier ascent. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking panoramic views, stretching across the islands and even as far as Shikoku.
With numerous breathtaking sunset spots, staying on Kurahashi Island allows you to witness magical evening views you won’t find anywhere else.
Kurahashi is a historic place mentioned in the ancient Manyoshu poetry anthology. The area is home to old temples that exude a sense of history, and in spring, they are beautifully adorned with cherry blossoms
On weekends, the ‘Umi no Todai Sunset Cruise’ departs from Kurahashi’s Sea Station. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a sunameri—a small and rare whale species!”
“For more details, please see the information below