Kominka Kanade is a historic house built over 150 years ago during the final years of the Edo Period. While the actual story of the house is lost to time, its traditional architecture remains intact in many of its areas. While preserving its historic qualities, the owners of Kominka Kanade are expanding the home with renovations and additions as recent as 2022 and 2024. Part of the modern additions include the updated kitchen, as well as under-floor heating. Even the irori hearth was given a restoration job, although it's best to consult with the host first if you'd like to operate it during your stay.  More guestrooms were also added, so you may want to bring a bigger group to join you on your Japan adventures.

Design and Architecture

The changes brought to Kominka Kanade aren't just for the comfort of guests, they are also practical design decisions. The owners have been careful to preserve the traditional aspects of the home, particularly the woodwork of the walls and floors. Guests who like their Japanese rooms equipped with tatami floors and shoji screens will be very pleased that the bedrooms and social areas adhere to old conventions. There are, however, modern rooms for those who aren't bothered with or prefer having contemporary aesthetics.

While dining establishments might be a fair distance from its location, Kominka Kanade does feature a fully equipped kitchen so guests can instead cook their own meals. Aside from the burner stovetop, the kitchen also has a microwave and rice cooker, making it possible to prepare local dishes for those who'd like to try their hand at it. The social space where the indoor playground is located also doubles as the dining area - all guests will need to do is rearrange the tables and set down the zabuton cushions. Still, it's very worth checking out local businesses to try their delicacies, so be sure to ask the host for recommendations.

Cultural Experiences

Hakui's location on the Noto Peninsula might make it seem a rustic and out-of-the-way city, but its rural beauty and bounty are what make it such a wonderful place to visit. Foodies will go crazy with the amount of fresh seafood available at the city's markets. Culture buffs will also love the fact that the area isn't lacking when it comes to historical sites and attractions to visit. Keta Taisha is the region's grand Shinto shrine, surrounded by a sacred forest and popular with couples due to the love deity Onamuchi being enshrined there. Then there's Myojo-ji, a Buddhist temple that dates all the way back to 1294 and features a five-story pagoda built by the Maeda Clan, the feudal rulers of Ishikawa when it was still the province of Kaga. And for those who like space exploration, there's also the Cosmo Isle Hakui Museum, dedicated to the history of space endeavors and features exhibits of Soviet and American space missions.