Island Path Kominka: A Traditional Home for a Slow Life in Itoigawa
This property, listed as Shimamichi Kominka (Nou-113), is a traditional Japanese wooden house located in the Nakano area of Itoigawa City, Niigata Prefecture. It is situated near the mountains in a quiet, rural environment, offering a chance to experience a slow-paced, old-fashioned lifestyle. The listing notes that this property is particularly suitable for those interested in agricultural work.
The property details are as follows: It is a two-story wooden structure built in January 1945 (Showa 20). The total land area is a generous 432.60 square meters, with a total floor area of 176.02 square meters. The layout is an 8K configuration, indicating eight rooms plus a kitchen. The property includes a parking space for three vehicles and an attached storage shed. The house became vacant around January 2016 (Heisei 28). Some minor repairs are required, and the cost of these repairs will be the responsibility of the occupant. Utilities are ready: electricity is connected, the bath is a wood-fired bath (currently under confirmation), and gas is LP. The toilet is a flush type. Water is supplied from a mountain spring, and the sewerage is connected to the public system. TV reception is available, and mobile coverage from major carriers (docomo, au, SoftBank) is confirmed. The property is within the school districts for Nakano Elementary School and No Middle School. Nearby facilities include a supermarket approximately 6.1 km away, a convenience store about 5.4 km away, and a general hospital roughly 17.4 km away.
The area around Itoigawa is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and geological significance. The city is part of the UNESCO Global Geopark, famous for its jade coast and dramatic sea cliffs. A fascinating local fact is that Itoigawa is the only place in Japan where high-quality jade (known as "Itoigawa Jade") is found. The closest major landmark to this property is the scenic coastal area of the Itoigawa Coast, part of the Myojo Coast, which offers breathtaking views of the Sea of Japan and unique rock formations.
