The Guesthouse

A Traditional Kumihama Bay Guesthouse on the Kyotango Coast

A two-storey wooden minshuku with over 40 years of history. The Sea of Japan in front, mountains behind, Shotenkyo Beach five minutes from the door.

The House

Where the mountains meet the Sea of Japan

Gentle Moon Stays is a minshuku, a traditional Japanese family guesthouse, with over 40 years of history on Kumihama Bay. The house has been welcoming Japanese travellers since the 1980s and has been hosting international guests, volunteers, and students since 2016.

It is a two-storey wooden building, the kind of family-run guesthouse Japan does so well. Shoji sliding doors. Tatami floors. Futons laid out at night. The sound of the bay in the morning.

★ 4.96 · 171 reviews ★ Cleanliness 4.9

"Cosy, traditional tatami-style home overlooking the beautiful Kumihama Bay. The futons were incredibly comfortable, we slept like babies." Airbnb guest, 2025

"Waking up to the peaceful seaside, breathing in the crisp ocean air, and learning from someone as passionate and kind as Atsushi was an experience we'll carry with us forever." ly c, Google review

The Bay and the Beach

Five minutes from a long stretch of sand

Kumihama Bay is where the mountains meet the Sea of Japan. It is quiet and largely undeveloped, and on the right day the water turns a deep, clear blue. Fishing boats work the bay, small shrines sit along the paths, and rice fields terrace the hills behind.

Shotenkyo Beach is a five-minute walk from the front door, a long stretch of sand that is rough and dramatic in winter and calm and swimmable in summer. Black kites circle overhead. The neighbourhood is small and friendly, and you may well be the only non-Japanese visitor for miles.

It is a working coastal community, not a resort, and that is the point.

The Guest Rooms

Tatami rooms with shoji doors and bay views

For homestay guests, the rooms are traditional tatami style, with futon bedding and shoji sliding doors that open towards the bay. The futons are comfortable, the floors are warm in summer and cool in winter, and the rooms are some of the most genuinely lovely places to wake up in coastal Japan.

What's included

Two tatami bedrooms with balconies and bay views
A large traditional-style living area with a balcony
Toilets on both the first and second floors
A bathroom with sink, shower, and a Japanese-style soaking tub
Shared shower rooms and shared toilets on both floors
Free Wi-Fi throughout

A note worth making honestly: the shower rooms and toilets are shared. Recent guests describe them as "spotless and very well maintained".

Practical details

No dedicated guest kitchen (family kitchen by arrangement)
Free bicycles for local use
Free parking for up to four vehicles
Station pick-up available (small fee, ask when booking)
Some meal options available by prior arrangement

Book the Homestay

Volunteer Accommodation

Two private rooms, clean and air-conditioned

Volunteers stay in separate accommodation from the homestay guests. Both rooms are clean, air-conditioned, and well-maintained.

Room 1, above the garage

A private room with a small double bed, desk and chair, and good storage. Comfortable and bright. A solid spare-bedroom feel.

Room 2, traditional style

A more typically Japanese room with a single futon bed on the floor, a low desk and chair, and a wardrobe. Simple and quiet.

This is honest, comfortable volunteer accommodation. It is not the premium tatami homestay rooms. The shared kitchen is a working kitchen for basic self-cooking.

Find out about volunteering

Facilities at a Glance

Everything you need on the bay

Traditional tatami rooms with futon bedding and bay views
Shoji sliding doors and traditional-style living areas
Japanese hot tub and shared shower rooms
Family kitchen by arrangement (no dedicated guest kitchen)
Free Wi-Fi throughout the guesthouse
Free bicycles for local use
Free parking for up to four vehicles
Station pick-up available (small fee, ask when booking)
Two separate volunteer rooms, both private, clean, and air-conditioned

Honest Expectations

Rural Japan on your doorstep

Kumihama is rural. The nearest shops are a short drive away. Several recent guests have mentioned that it is worth bringing supplies with you, particularly if you arrive late or are staying just one night. Atsushi is happy to share local recommendations when you arrive.

Some meal options may be available by prior arrangement. Speak to Atsushi when booking to discuss what is possible at the time of your visit.

Getting Here

By train, car, or bicycle

By train

The nearest stations are Kumihama and Kotohiki Hama Otsuka on the Kyoto Tango Railway. Atsushi offers station pick-up by car for a small fee.

By car

Free on-site parking for up to four vehicles. A car is useful for reaching the more distant sights along the Tango coast.

By bicycle

Free bicycles are available for guests and volunteers. The coast roads are flat and quiet, and most local sights are within easy cycling distance.

Travel Times

Within reach of everything

30 min Kinosaki Onsen

45 min Amanohashidate

45 min Ine funaya village

90 min Kyoto city

1.5 hrs Tottori Sand Dunes

What's Around You

Inside the San'in Kaigan UNESCO Geopark

Kumihama sits inside the San'in Kaigan Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark that runs along the coast of northern Kyoto and into Hyogo. The area rewards those who explore it.

Kinosaki Onsen

30 min

One of Japan's most beloved hot spring towns. Seven historic public bathhouses, willow-lined canals, and a 1,300-year tradition of wandering the streets in yukata robes after dark.

Amanohashidate

45 min

Counted as one of Japan's "three views". A pine-covered sandbar stretches across a bay. The classic perspective is from the hilltop, looking back between your legs to see the sandbar appear to float in the sky.

Ine

45 min

A historic fishing village where rows of funaya boathouses are built directly over the water. Boat tours run from the harbour. Unlike anywhere else in Japan.

San'in Kaigan Geopark

On your doorstep

Hiking trails, coastal walks, and dramatic rock formations along the Kyotango coast. The Tango Peninsula cycling route runs right through it.

Shotenkyo Beach

5 min walk

Swimming in summer, surfing in winter, and largely empty in either season. The bay loop and the coast road are excellent cycling.

Tottori Sand Dunes

1.5 hrs

Japan's only large coastal dune system. An unexpected and striking landscape.

What Guests Say

Airbnb rating 4.96 from 171 reviews

"Absolutely amazing place with gorgeous views of Kumihama Bay. The guesthouse is clean, spacious, and has everything you might need." Sanya A, Google review

"Beautiful and authentic experience. Comfortable accommodation with amazing scenery and plenty of places nearby for sightseeing." Amber Traveling, Google review

"Although the bathrooms and toilets on the first floor are shared, they were spotless and very well maintained." Airbnb guest, 2025

Plan Your Stay

Speak to Atsushi about dates and what's in season.

He reads every enquiry personally and will reply directly.

Contact Atsushi Book a Homestay Volunteer with Atsushi