Traditional Japanese farmhouse kominka surrounded by tea fields at altitude in Yame, Fukuoka

Sky Tea House 天空の茶屋敷

天空の茶屋敷

ColivingCoworking

4.9

123 reviews

“The setting is unlike anything else in Japan — tea fields in every direction, total silence except for birdsong, and a sky full of stars at night. Jiro is an incredible host with a fascinating story. The cats make it feel like home.”

via Google Maps

Sky Tea House is a renovated traditional farmhouse (kominka) perched at 460 metres elevationin the Kasahara district of Kurogi-cho, Yame City. The property sits at the top of a hamlet cluster surrounded by working tea fields. The original birthplace of Japan's prized gyokuro green tea. It was renovated by the local community and the host, Jiro Sakamoto, a former Japan Self-Defense Force member turned long-haul backpacker turned tea farmer.

The stay is deliberately off-grid in spirit.There are no restaurants within easy walking distance. Guests bring food and cook in the shared kitchen using free natural spring water and a well-stocked supply of condiments and rice. The vibe is part guesthouse, part commune. Resident cats, free-range chickens, bonfire nights, and long conversations in the common room. Dietary options are not confirmed. Guests are expected to self-cater.

For remote workers, there is no dedicated coworking space, but WiFi covers the property and two of the private rooms are set up with desks. The annex single room and the workation double are the best options for anyone who needs to work through the day. The setting rewards those who want a deep break from city life, not those who need high-speed reliable internet as their primary concern.

Long-term stays from one week are possible through a work-exchange programme (similar to Workaway or Wwoof) or as a paying long-stay guest with tiered discounts up to 40% off for four-week stays. A dorm bed runs ¥48,000/month for budget travellers. The host actively encourages negotiation for travellers on a tight budget.

Rooms & Pricing

Based on website

5 room types from premium balcony suite to dorm. Capacity ~20 guests total.

Room Type	Capacity	Size	Nightly	Weekly	Monthly
Premium Balcony Room (12-tatami, en-suite toilet) Balcony with panoramic view, cypress bath (self-lit), Alexa Echo, Netflix/Amazon/YouTube	1-6 people	12 tatami (~20 sqm)	¥10,000	—	—
Workation Room (desk, queen bed) Desk, queen bed (or two singles on request), Alexa Echo, Netflix/Amazon/YouTube	1-2 people	—	¥6,000	—	—
Annex Single (desk, detached building) Desk, quiet detached setting	1 person	—	¥6,000	—	—
4-Person Private Room Shared room for up to 4, basic furnishings	1-4 people	—	¥6,000	—	—
Dorm (budget) Shared dorm space; helpers/work-exchange guests also use this room	Up to 3 people	—	¥4,000	¥20,000	¥48,000

Contract Options
Nightly	Standard rate	Dorm from ¥4,000; private rooms from ¥6,000. Fukuoka Prefecture lodging tax (¥200/person/night) added.
1-week stay	10% discount	Applies to paying long-stay guests (not work-exchange).
2-week stay	20% discount	Negotiate directly with host.
4-week stay	40% discount	Best value for monthly coliving. Dorm equivalent to ¥48,000/month before discount.
Work-exchange (helper stay)	Free or heavily reduced	Available from 1 week. Help around the property in exchange for accommodation. First week is trial.

What's Included

Based on website

Shared kitchen

Fully equipped. Seasonings, rice, tea free. Spring water.

WiFi

Building-wide. Mountain area — speeds may vary.

Shared bathrooms

2 shared showers, 2 shared toilets. Suite: private toilet.

Outdoor cypress bath

Balcony suite guests can use. Self-lit with panoramic view.

Bonfire area

Communal fire pit for evening gatherings.

Outdoor cinema

Open-air film screenings in season.

Karaoke lounge

Indoor lounge with karaoke setup.

Trampoline & hammocks

Outdoor leisure in the grounds.

EV charging

EV charger available in front of the property.

Resident cats

Several cats live on the property.

Tea fields

Property surrounded by working gyokuro tea fields.

Streaming TV

Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube Premium in private rooms.

No elevator. Pets allowed in private rooms (+¥1,000). No food delivery available — self-catering required.

House Rules

Based on website

Bring your own food; tea, rice, and water are provided. Kitchen seasonings are shared and free to use. No food service on site — nearest restaurant (Rakuen Bangohan) is a short drive away. Pets allowed in private rooms with prior notice (+¥1,000, diapers required if sharing bed area). Cancellation policy: 20% fee one week out, 50% three days out, 100% same day. Discounts for students, cyclists, walkers, round-Japan travellers, and guests who bring their own sleeping bag — declare on arrival.

Community & Events

Based on website

Sky Tea House draws a mix of budget long-haul travellers, Japanese remote workers on workation, and people on round-Japan cycling or walking trips (the host offers discounts to self-powered arrivals). The host Jiro Sakamoto has a media presence — featured in BE-PAL magazine, Nikkan SPA, and his own book about 2,000 days of world travel — which gives the guesthouse a storytelling culture. Guests tend to be curious, independent, and interested in rural Japan rather than in typical tourist infrastructure.

Shared activities include bonfire evenings, outdoor cinema, and karaoke in the lounge. The resident cats are a community anchor. There is no formal programme; socialising happens naturally in the shared kitchen and common areas. English is actively spoken — the host and the property's international guest history make it genuinely foreigner-friendly.

Resident Mix

Mix of Japanese and international guests. Solo travellers, round-Japan adventurers, remote workers on short workation. All ages welcome; family-friendly with child discounts.

Getting There

Nearest Station

Hainuzuka Station (JR Kagoshima Line) — car required from station

Lines

See Google Maps

A car is strongly recommended.Sky Tea House is at the top of a mountain hamlet with no public transport connections to the property. From Fukuoka city (Hakata), take the Kyushu Expressway south toward Yame IC, then follow local roads up to Kurogi-cho Kasahara. Approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by car. From the nearest JR station (Hainuzuka Station on the Kagoshima Line), the property is about30 minutes by car. The host (Jiro Sakamoto) offers a pickup service from the valley. Mention in your booking inquiry. Cyclists and walkers who arrive under their own power from the town below receive a discount.

About Yame

Yame City (八女市) is a rural city in southern Fukuoka Prefecture, about 1 hour from Fukuoka (Hakata) by car. It is best known as the birthplace of Japan's highest-grade gyokuro green tea — the steep hillside terraces of the Kurogi-cho and Hoshino districts produce tea that routinely wins national awards. The city also includes the well-preserved Edo-period merchant townscape of Ushitori, famous for its illuminated stone lanterns during the annual Yame Chochin Matsuri festival.

For digital nomads, Yame is not a hub but a destination in itself. Remote workers drawn to slow living, mountain scenery, and genuine rural Japan will find it rewarding. A car is essential. Infrastructure is sparse, but guesthouses like Sky Tea House have built small international communities around the tea fields. The area is best visited outside peak summer heat, with spring (April to May) and autumn (October to November) offering the most pleasant conditions for mountain stays.