OPENING IN PREPARATION · NAKANOJO

Your stay,
a source of creativity.

A small, four-room inn where art is part of the stay.
Coming to Nakanojo, Gunma. Opening preparations underway.

Discover Hikarito.

Exterior of the former Yamakiya inn, planned to reopen as Hikarito. — FORMER YAMAKIYA · NAKANOJO

4 ROOMS

ROOM ONLY

ART & STAY

NAKANOJO, GUNMA

01 ABOUT

A new cycle of creativity in an old inn.

In Nakanojo, Gunma, we are preparing to bring a former Japanese inn called Yamakiya back to life as Hikarito., a small inn with just four guest rooms.

We want to preserve as much of the building’s timeworn character as possible, while introducing art and a new way to stay.

Time spent here by travelers will help support artists’ future work. We hope to nurture that small, sustainable cycle in this place.

THE BEGINNING

First,
we preserve.

The building’s weathered surfaces, traditional entrance, and tatami rooms all tell a story. We will retain their character while gradually making the spaces comfortable for today’s travelers.

Some spaces will change; others will stay much as they are. These photographs document the building before renovation—from the entrance and guest rooms to the corridors, shared rooms and washing facilities.

Entrance hall with the original staircase, dolls and display objects — Entrance / Looking into the building

Entrance hall looking toward the front doors from the wooden stairs — Entrance / Looking toward the front door

Tatami room with shoji windows and a low table — Guest room / Tatami room before renovation

Red-carpeted first-floor corridor with garden-facing windows — First-floor corridor / Windows overlooking the garden

Large shared room with tables — Shared space / Former common room

Shared room with bookshelves and tables, seen from another angle — Shared space / Another view

Long corridor lined with guest rooms — Guest-room corridor / Before renovation, view 1

Guest-room corridor with a row of windows — Guest-room corridor / Before renovation, view 2

Japanese-style room with shoji screens and a storage closet — Guest room / Tatami room before renovation, view 2

Corner of a Japanese-style room with a washbasin — Guest room / Corner with a washbasin

Frontal view of a large tatami guest room — Guest room / Tatami room before renovation, view 4

Two connected Japanese-style rooms — Guest room / Connected tatami rooms

Sunlit tatami room with shoji windows — Guest room / Daylit tatami room

Long external balcony walkway on the second floor — Outdoor walkway / Second-floor balcony

Wood-paneled changing room with shelves and baskets before renovation — Changing room / Storage shelves before renovation

Wood-paneled shared washroom with two sinks — Shared washroom / Sinks before renovation

Small sink with the photographer reflected in the mirror — Wash area / Private-room sink before renovation

Wood-paneled bathing area with large windows — Bathing area / Before renovation, view 1

Large bathtub surrounded by wood-paneled walls — Bathing area / Before renovation, view 2

Shared restroom with urinals — Shared toilets / Urinals before renovation

Shared restroom with a Japanese-style squat toilet — Shared toilets / Japanese-style toilet before renovation

Shared restroom with a Western-style toilet — Shared toilets / Western-style toilet before renovation

Small sink and kitchenette beside a window — Sink and kitchenette / Before renovation

Entrance of the former Yamakiya inn seen from the street — Exterior / View of the entrance

Exterior of the former Yamakiya inn seen from the corner — Exterior / Another view of the building

Small red torii gate and shrine in the garden — Garden / Small shrine on the property

Blue-walled covered storage and parking area on the grounds — Grounds / Current parking and storage area

1 / 27

02 STAY

Stay simply. Spend your time your way.

Slow down, explore the town, discover works of art and spend your days at your own pace. We are creating a small inn where you can enjoy Nakanojo freely.

Guest room in the former inn with tatami mats, shoji screens and wooden ceiling — Guest room before renovation. Final room amenities will be announced when preparations are complete.

ROOMS / BEFORE RENOVATION

Just four rooms.
Space for something special.

All four guest rooms are on the second floor. This intimate scale allows us to focus on essential comfort and the freedom to stay at your own pace.

01 / ROOMS

Four guest rooms

We are preparing the rooms while respecting the atmosphere of the historic building.

02 / SIMPLE STAY

Room only · Self check-in

No meals are provided. Self check-in is planned for an easy, independent stay.

03 / SHARED FACILITIES

Shared facilities

Guest rooms do not have private bathrooms or toilets. Shared toilets, a reservable private-use bath and shower facilities, and a guest kitchen are being prepared.

All photographs show the property before renovation. Details of the bathrooms, showers, guest rooms and services will be announced once confirmed.

03 ART

More than displaying art:
a stay that supports artists.

“Building a society where creators can keep creating.” This is the guiding philosophy of PRIMARY ARTIST WORK (Paw), the business behind Hikarito.

We aim to create a model in which each stay helps artists continue their practice, and encounters with art lead to new creative possibilities.

10%

10% of accommodation fees
is planned to support artists and their work

70:30

Sales of exhibited artworks:
70% to artists / 30% to the inn

Explore Paw’s philosophy

04 ACCESS

Find us in Nakanojo, Gunma.

A small inn within walking distance of the railway station.

NAKANOJO

LOCATION

Easy to reach
by train.

We are preparing to open in Nakanojo, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture, within walking distance of Nakanojo Station on the JR Agatsuma Line.

The exact address and directions will be shared with our opening announcement.

NEWS & UPDATES

Follow our journey to opening.

@info.hikarito

Your stay,a source of creativity.