Welcome to Gunma's Classic Japanese
Vacation Homes
Kiyomizu House & Mitsuba House
For families or friends who want to socialize at a beautiful vacation home in a resort area just north of Tokyo, Kiyomizu House & Mitsuba House are ideal choices. Scroll down to learn about our traditional Japanese villas and the extensive amenities and services we provide.
You can also visit the individual Kiyomizu House and Mitsuba House pages for more details, photos and videos.
Although we can take direct reservations and are listed on most major online travel agency sites, we highly recommend booking on Airbnb.
Our style of personalized hospitality matches their philosophy the best, and they have been our partner since we first opened our doors to guests in 2016.
Please take a look, and if you like what you see, we would love to meet you in person! Happy vacation planning ♡
If you are on the fence and wondering if its a good match, or simply have a question, we're only a call or email away.
CONCEPT
Kiyomizu House & Mitsuba House
offer spacious living and garden areas for families and groups to socialize, relax and enjoy their vacation in Japan.
Located in Gunma, a family-friendly region full of art, culture, recreation and thriving industry.
Read on to learn more about these historical vacation homes and this very unique region right in the center of Japan.
BOOK A STAY
We accept direct reservations and are also listed on major online travel agencies (Airbnb, Trip Advisor, Expedia,、Booking、Hotels.com and others.
Located along the New Golden Route, guests can use their Japan Railways Hokuriku Arch Pass or travel directly from Narita and Haneda Airports reasonably and easily via highway bus.
Local guide support available.
MEALS
Our vacation homes are well-equipped for self-catering & have lots of fun supplies for group meals: BBQs, electric hot pots, takoyaki makers and more. Like a B&B, we cook Japanese-style breakfast per request. We can suggest local markets, eateries, restaurants and make reservations. Free shuttle service for shopping available
House Manual
Our vacation homes provide expat and inbound guests a wonderful opportunity to experience staying in a traditional Japanese home.
We have created a manual to help you prepare for your stay. If you have any questions or concerns before or during your time at Kiyomizu House or Mitsuba House, the owners and hosts, Motoyasu & Renée Sawazaki, are always available for support
CONCEPT
"Socializing and connecting" is our goal for the experience we provide our guests. We always keep this in mind as we continually improve our lodging services and facilities.
Even though the modern Japanese elegance of Mitsuba House is quite a contrast to the Japanese folk essence of Kiyomizu House, for both we choose decor that is inviting, comfortable and practical.
It is our goal to have our guests have all the detailed amenities they may need while having iconic Japanese traditional arts and household goods in every part of the house. Whether our guests live in Japan or have traveled from overseas, we want them to feel immersed in Japanese culture during their stay and leave feeling a little closer to traditional Japan.
MRS Gunma Vacation Estates
Kiyomizu House & Mitsuba House
For Your Dream Vacation in the
Countryside of Japan
Kiyomizu House
Silk heritage castle town estate near Ikaho Onsen
❀ Lovingly renovated wooden silk mill in a fascinating historic castle town
❀ Adjacent to Japanese gardens, samurai house & thatched roof water mill
❀ Short stroll to onsen, museum, lake & castle grounds
❀ BBQ, self-catering & meal service options
❀ Family-friendly amenities, WiFi, laundry, parking
❀ Free shuttle and local guide services in English and French
❀ Lots of sightseeing & nature
❀ Mt Haruna-Fuji & Ikaho 30min・Tokyo 2h
Mitsuba House
Elegant Estate near the resort areas of
Isobe Onsen & Karuizawa
❀ Spacious estate with a castle-like exterior and modern, traditional and comfortable Japanese interior
❀ Breathtaking garden and mountain views
❀ Short stroll to the historic Isobe Onsen village (1.5km)
❀ BBQ, self-catering, and meal service options
❀ Family-friendly amenities, WiFi, laundry
❀ Train station shuttle and local guide services in English, Chinese and French
❀ Lots of sightseeing & nature. Go hiking, golf, skiing
❀ Karuizawa 40min・Tokyo 2h
Eating at your vacation home
Meal options at
Kiyomizu House and
Mitsuba House
Self-catering
Guests can enjoy the use of the kitchen, dining room, living rooms and terrace for preparation and eating.
There is plenty of cookware, tableware, flatware and condiments for ease of eating at your vacation home.
The owners have spent years collecting beautiful Japanese and American tableware from the Showa era (1926~1989). With the comfortable atmosphere they have crafted, they hope their guests feel more like family than customers.
Enjoy good food and good times at your vacation home
Kitchenware
Appliances
Large refrigerator & freezer, gas range, microwave oven, toaster oven, rice cooker (10 cups), coffee maker, electric kettle, electric nabe (2 units), takoyaki grill (2 units), gas BBQ grills (2 units, extra fee for rental, set up and clean up)
Condiments
Salt, pepper, salad oil, soy sauce, sugar, butter, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, and more
Other kitchen supplies
Dining trays, luncheon mats, trivets, potholders and more
Tableware
lLarge collection of tableware, for both Japanese and Western meal styles: Large and small plates, bowls, partitioned plated for BBQing and more
Cutlery
Dinner forks, dinner knives, butter knives, chopsticks, chopstick rests, curry spoons, Chinese spoons, dessert forks, coffee spoons, children's forks, children's spoons
Cookware
Frying pan, pot, lid, mixing bowl, strainer, kitchen knife, cutting board, peeler, scissors, ladle, spatula, whisk, bottle opener, can opener, wine opener, measuring cups & spoons, zip lock bags, saran wrap, aluminum foil, toothpicks and more
Drink supplies & Glassware
Kettle, large thermoses, iced tea containers, water purifiers, mugs, coffee cups and saucers, teapots, teacups and saucers, plastic children's cups, outdoor plastic mugs, glasses, beer glasses, wine glasses, ice buckets and tongs, and more
Eating at home or in the neighborhood
Gunma is known for delicious fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, chicken, pork and noodles ~ It is a wheat-producing region, so if you love udon and soba, Gunma is the place to go for your handmade noodles fix. Gunma is also known for its fantastic pasta and pizza restaurants. So, there is a little something for everyone's tastes. Since most people work, eateries, restaurants and convenient stores abound and serve wholesome food at reasonable prices. Gunma residents often eat at the local onsen spas. Imagine ending a long workday with a rejuvenating mineral bath and steam sauna, and being served a homestyle dinner while lounging in sleepware ~ That's life in Gunma.
For casual eating at your vacation home, guests can easily have take-out, bentos, BBQ, hot clay pot, and other meals at the villa.
For guests who want a private vacation home, but do not want to prepare all their meals or eat out, Motoyasu and Renée offer catered breakfast, lunch and dinner. See below for details.
Welcome drinks and snacks
【
✓ Hungry travelers are greeted with homemade treats and hot or cold drinks, depending on the season. Renée loves to bake both Japanese and western style tea time goodies.
✓ Guests should let us know in advance if they have any egg, wheat or other allergies.
Grocery Shopping
Gunma's moderate climate and lush plains protected by a ring of mountains make it ideal for fruit and vegetable farming.
Gunma is best known for plums, peaches, nashi pears, persimmons,
konnyaku (konjac), leeks, cabbage and wheat.
Pork, chicken and egg farms with ethical practices abound in the foothills.
Each season provides tasty and healthy options for all.
For guests who want Costco treats, there is a store by the highway exit with easy access for our guests who are driving from the city.
If guests have a specific Costco request,
Motoyasu or Renée can pick it up for you before your arrival.
Near Kiyomizu House
There are three supermarkets, one drug store/grocery store, a 7-Eleven and a Lawson convenience store within a 10~15 minute walk. In addition, there are two 100 yen shops (Daiso and Seria), a household goods store (Sanki) and two bento shops (Torihei Chicken and Hokka Hokka Tei), and even a coffee shop (Sprocket and Coffee https://goo.gl/maps/iEpMUtWzHnMzskCaA) all within walking distance.
① Fressay is the closest supermarket and most popular among our guests as it has very good quality meats and vegetables. Daiso is located in the same building. (9am-10pm) https://goo.gl/maps/mGjfq3GBNUgmcGXD7
② Torisen is Renée's supermarket of choice as it's prices are reasonable and she appreciates their eco practice of putting local meat in bags instead of on plastic or styrofoam trays. They also have a nice bakery, Purariné, in the store. (9am-10pm) https://goo.gl/maps/WNJepNP55LPF11t29
③ Coop, a large supermarket popular in Japan for its healthy foods and original products. This store is located in the Harunamo Shopping Center that includes Seria 100 yen shop, Sanki household goods and clothing shop and Torisen chicken bento shop. This new center opened in 2022 along a major road that will eventually (by 2029?) link the UNESCO World Heritage Tomioka Silk Mill and Maebashi, the capital of Gunma. (9am-10pm) https://goo.gl/maps/1m6qAHt6J8EjjV8D8
④ Kusuri no Aoki, although a drug store, surprisingly has a decent selection of vegetables, meat and other grocery items at the lowest prices, even for things like yakisoba, milk and yogurt. Located across the street from the neighborhood onsen. (9am-10pm) https://goo.gl/maps/AqEKSQhkDEtqFVrD8
⑤ Hokka Hokka Tei, bento take out (9am-9pm) https://goo.gl/maps/CwemurQWp8bsjjN28
⑥ Torihei, chicken bentos. Gunma is known for farm-fresh chicken, and this shop is the largest and most popular in the region. Take out only, but their restaurant is located in the nearby Aeon Shopping Mall. 10am-8pm https://goo.gl/maps/1m6qAHt6J8EjjV8D8
⑦ 7-Eleven, Japan's iconic convenience store, located next to the neighborhood onsen. (24h) https://goo.gl/maps/qgwh8mz2H67VJCpZ6
Interesting shopping within a short drive
① Aeon Shopping Mall, 2-level indoor mall with a department store, lots of shops, restaurants, a food court and arcade. （17min drive, 10am~9pm） https://goo.gl/maps/ThGZxaaREWkiZJ8S8
② Kakujyo Fish Market, for sushi lovers, this is the best for take-out. （30min drive, 10am~7:30pm, but the earlier the better）https://g.page/kakujomaebashi?share For guests interested in eating sushi out, we recomment Uobei, where your order is delivered fresh on a shinkansen conveyor belt (20min drive, 11am~9:15pm) https://goo.gl/maps/DiZL6zxjHXgyD3Ch9
Near Mitsuba House
There are two supermarkets, two produce markets, one drug store/grocery store, three 7-Elevens (one in each direction) and a Lawson convenience store all within a 10 minute drive.
① Yaoko is the fanciest supermarket, and a little more pricey for Gunma, but our guests love it because it's still a lot cheaper than Tokyo! Very nice selection of everything, and has a bakery too. Route 18. About 10 min
https://goo.gl/maps/AcffU8NZoZyPiPux9
② Beisia Mart is smallish, has all the basics, and is the closest supermarket. On Route 18. About 5 min
https://goo.gl/maps/37UdyXch9rBVFMYD6
③ Kusuri no Aoki, although a drug store, surprisingly has a decent selection of vegetables, meat and other grocery items at the lowest prices, even for things like yakisoba, milk and yogurt. On the road heading out from Megumi-no-Yu onsen. Next to a 7-Eleven. About 5 min
https://goo.gl/maps/NiPHhEUpJknFtorNA
Happy shopping and meal time! 😊
Sightseeing in Gunma
Detailed lists of amazing sights in Kiyomizu House and Mitsuba House's neighborhoods coming soon!
Gunma Prefectural Government's
Inbound Tourism Project
"Gunma Excellence"
【Gunma Excellence Program】
Kiyomizu House and Mitsuba House are both designated partner facilities in this program. As such, we are recognized as lodging establishments that can support foreign guests so they can enjoy a stress-free vacation in Gunma.
MRS Gunma on "Visit Gunma",
Gunma Prefecture's official tourism website
Kiyomizu & Mitsuba House were featured in the "Gunma Prefecture Tourism Value Creation's" July 2022 newsletter to overseas travel agencies. We're really honored to be recognized for providing quality service for our inbound vacationers, and to play a part in supporting Gunma Tourism.
_Featuring%20MRS%20Gunma.png)