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Introduction
Immerse Yourself
in a World of Artisanship
at Craft Inn 手 [té]
From dyeing yarn and making paper, to weaving bamboo and kneading clay, the hands (te) of artisans combine the power of nature with the wisdom gained from living alongside it.
Craft Inn 手 [té] is an inn where you can experience a stay amongst Kyushu’s crafts, re-imagined to suit modern lifestyles. At the same time, it is also a gateway for guests to experience handicrafts by creating alongside artisans themselves.
The Living Craft Cultures of Yame
From Kurume Kasuri textiles, buddhist altars, lanterns, Japanese washi paper, woodwork, bamboo-work, and pottery, to Yame tea and Japanese sake, the Yame area of Fukuoka Prefecture’s Chikugo region is home to craft cultures that are intertwined with the lives of its residents.
With its rich natural resources and long history as a merchant town, the diversity of crafts concentrated in Yame is unique even across Japan. Craft Inn 手 [té] is located in the heart of Yame, a gateway to the craft cultures of Kyushu.
Rooms
In the historical townscape of Yame Fukushima, Craft Inn 手 [té] is located in a section where traditional architecture is especially concentrated. The Tsukamoto family's store and residence, which had been in business since the end of the Edo period, was renovated and reborn as an accommodation facility in 2021.
The maisonette-type rooms are decorated with furniture and fixtures made by Kyushu craftspeople and utilize local materials and techniques that focus on Yame. We hope our guests indulge in a full sensory experience during a stay in one of the two themed rooms: Indigo and Bamboo.
藍
indigo room
This room has a bright, open atmosphere and faces the street where the old townscape remains. A large wooden table and tapestry dyed by a Kurume Kasuri maker, as well as floor cushions and pillows, create a bold world of indigo — “Japan Blue.”
indigo room 藍
Area: 1F｜42.84㎡ 2F｜36.77㎡ Total｜79.61㎡
Capacity: 1~4 guests
The first floor includes an indigo-dyed table as the centerpiece of a tatami mat room and a bathroom furnished with a wooden bathtub. Upstairs, the wood-floored room is decorated with Kurume Kasuri tapestries and fluffy futon mattresses. There is also a table and chairs by the window, where you can enjoy a cup of cold green tea or coffee in the cups provided for each room.
* Please note that due to the nature of this traditional Japanese building, you may hear noises from the neighborhood or neighboring rooms, and insects may enter. We hope you enjoy experiencing the traditional way of Japanese living.
makers
Aizome Kasuri Kobo
tables, tapestries, seat cushions and covers, bed throws
A Kurume Kasuri textile maker located in Hirokawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, Aizome Kasuri Kobo is known for producing fabric with beautiful indigo gradations and modern geometric patterns through natural dyeing and hand-weaving techniques. The fifth-generation owner, Kensuke Yamamura, continues to use traditional dyeing methods inherited from his father, Takeshi. The delicate, yet deep, long-lasting colors, are achieved by dyeing in the indigo over 30 to 50 times. Aizome Kasuri Kobo used indigo to dye a table for Craft Inn 手 [té].
Furnishings
・futon mattresses (up to 4 sets)
・wi-fi
・toilet (western style, with bidet)
・bathtub/shower
・air conditioner
・safe
・refrigerator
・water dispenser
* Please note that there is no TV in the room.
Amenities
◯ Room Wear
MONPE-style Kurume Kasuri pants and T-shirt. (Traditional Japanese cotton-lined hanten jacket - winter only)
◯ Beverages and Tableware
Cold tea (green tea, hojicha), sencha (Yamecha) and tea set (teapot, teacup), sencha (tea bags), drip pack coffee, electric kettle, ceramic cups, glasses, small dishes, bottle opener
◯ Bathing and Toiletries
Bath towels, bath mats, face towels, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, hair dryers, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cups, facial cleanser, cleansing oil, cotton, cotton swabs, razor
◯ Other
Slippers, hangers, flashlight, shoehorn, tissues
* Please notify staff if you need an iron, ironing board, children’s toilet seat, diaper garbage can, and/or a smartphone charger (available only for selected phone models).
Sleeping Arrangement
Due to the structure of the room, when four guests stay in the Indigo Room, one futon will be placed on the first floor and three on the second floor. If you have other requests, please contact us.
竹
bamboo room
This room has a quiet and calming atmosphere. Inside are lampshades woven by a local Yame craftsman, an intricately constructed woven bamboo tabletop, and relaxing bamboo chairs with skillfully crafted curves.
bamboo room 竹
Area：1F｜43.86㎡ 2F｜39.92㎡ Total｜83.78㎡
Capacity: 1~4 guests
The first floor includes a woven bamboo table as the centerpiece of a tatami mat room and a bathroom furnished with a wooden bathtub. Upstairs, the wood-floored room is decorated with bamboo chairs. The shoji screen paper on the second floor is made of washi paper infused with parts of sliding fusuma doors originally in the room before renovation. The history of this region can also be felt through Kurume Kasuri cushions that feature the chrysanthemum motif painted on the building’s original fusuma doors.
* Please note that due to the nature of this traditional Japanese building, you may hear noises from the neighborhood or neighboring rooms, and insects may enter the room. We hope you enjoy experiencing the traditional way of Japanese living.
makers
Atsushi Ishida
table
A bamboo craftsperson based in Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture, Ishida manages a bamboo forest and harvests bamboo himself to create durable and practical bamboo crafts that can be integrated into daily life. Apart from bamboo, Ishida also weaves in other mediums, such as akebia vines. The bamboo table Ishida wove for Craft Inn 手 [té] is a reminder of the new possibilities of bamboo artisanship.
Yuki Nagaoka
lampshade
Creating sturdy pieces rooted in daily life, Nagaoka started working as a bamboo craftsperson after moving to Yame with Atsushi Ishida, a classmate from the Bamboo Craft Training Support Center. The lampshade woven by Nagaoka spreads a delicate glow when lit, a piece that allows the unique qualities of bamboo to shine.
Tengoya
chair
Tengoya is a workshop located in Hoshino Village, Yame, Fukuoka Prefecture, one of the most prominent bamboo production areas in Japan. The name tengo refers to baskets made on the island of Kuchinoerabu in Kagoshima Prefecture. Akira Someya, the owner of Tengoya, stumbled upon chairmaking fortuitously. After seeing a bamboo basket turned upside-down, he noticed that its “bottom” side could actually be reimagined as a seat. After two years of researching the structure of bamboo weaving, Someya created these delicately laced but strong bamboo chairs.
Furnishings
・futon mattresses (up to 4 sets)
・wi-fi
・toilet (western style with bidet)
・bathtub/shower
・air conditioner
・safe
・refrigerator
・water dispenser
* Please note that there is no TV in the room.
Amenities
◯ Room Wear
MONPE-style Kurume Kasuri pants and T-shirt. (Traditional Japanese cotton-lined hanten jacket - winter only)
◯ Beverages and Tableware
Cold tea (green tea, hojicha), sencha (Yamecha) and tea set (teapot, teacup), sencha (tea bags), drip pack coffee, electric kettle, ceramic cups, glasses, small dishes, bottle opener
◯ Bathing and Toiletries
Bath towels, bath mats, face towels, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, hair dryers, combs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, cups, facial cleanser, cleansing oil, cotton, cotton swabs, razor
◯ Other
Slippers, hangers, flashlight, shoehorn, tissues
* Please notify staff if you need an iron, ironing board, children’s toilet seat, diaper garbage can, and/or a smartphone charger (available only for selected phone models).
Sleeping Arrangement
Due to the structure of the room, two futons are laid out next to each other on the second floor. If there are three or more guests, the additional futons are laid out on the first floor. If you have other requests, please contact us.
Original 手 [té]
Furniture and Furnishings
（roomwear）
（table）
（bathtub oke）
（shoji screen paper）
（lampshade）
（tiles）
（stool）
（lampshade）
（table）
（lantern）
（cushion cover）
Craft Experiences
Visit workshops and interact directly with the artisans themselves to experience the joys of their craft. Feel the history of Yame Fukushima through its townscape, and take in the changing seasons through the light and breeze that flows across the rice fields and tea plantations. Let Craft Inn 手 [té] be your entry point to the streets and mountains of Yame. We also offer a variety of hands-on tours to take you deeper into the local craft culture.
Breakfast
In addition to Yame tea, the region abounds with fruits and vegetables, shiitake mushrooms, livestock, and more. Yame is a prosperous land, full of nature’s harvest. Created by producers in dialogue with the local environment, we view this edible bounty too as a craft.
At Craft Inn 手 [té], breakfast made of these local ingredients is served in Matsunobu Kougei's original buckets which are crafted entirely of wood and bamboo.
Yame Tea
Yame is known as one of Japan's leading tea production areas. Just a 10-minute drive from Craft Inn 手 [té] is the Yame Central Tea Plantation, which has fields that stretch as far as the eye can see.
To allow our guests to enjoy Yame tea during their stay, cold tea (green tea and hojicha) and sencha (tea bags) are available in the rooms. The tea leaves come from Chiyono-en's organically grown Yabukita cultivar and from Konomi Honke, a store known as the godfather of Yame tea.
Cedar Bathtub
Blessed with resources such as wood and bamboo, Yame and its surrounding areas are said to have been home to about 60 bucket makers during its peak period. Now, only one bucket craftsman remains on the main island of Kyushu. We asked this maker, Matsunobu Kougei, to make a cedar bath for Craft Inn 手 [té]. We hope our guests will relax in the bath, smell the fragrance of the cedar wood, and enjoy its natural heat-insulating capability.
Shop
A seven-minute walk from Craft Inn 手 [té] is “Unagi no Nedoko Marubayashi Honke,” (Unagi no Nedoko UNA PRODUCTS) a store that sells Kurume Kasuri MONPE pants and other items. Three minutes further down the road is “Unagi no Nedoko Former Terasaki Residence,” (Unagi no Nedoko NATIVESCAPE STORE) which sells items made by artisans from all over Japan.
Unagi no Nedoko
UNA PRODUCTS
Closed: Tues. and Wed. (open holidays)
Hours: 11:00~17:00
Address: 267 Motomachi, Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture
TEL: 0943-22-3699
→Website
Unagi no Nedoko
NATIVESCAPE STORE
Closed: Tues. and Wed. (open holidays)
Hours: 11:00~17:00
Address: 327 Motomachi, Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture
TEL: 0943-24-8021
→Website
Facility Information
Breakfast
Breakfast will be brought to your room by our staff. Please contact us at least 1 week before check-in regarding any allergies or other food items that cannot be eaten.
Dinner
Dinner is not served at Craft Inn 手 [té]. Please enjoy nearby establishments in Yame including izakaya restaurants (Japanese-style bar with food and drink), motsunabe (hot pot) restaurants, Japanese restaurants, French restaurants, udon restaurants, and cafes all within walking distance of the inn.
Additionally, there is a convenience store, a bakery, and a liquor store within a 5-minute walk. Purchases can be brought back and enjoyed in your room.
Check-In / Check-Out
Check-In: 15:00-18:00
Check-Out: Until 10:00
Front Desk
The hotel does not have permanent staff at the front desk. During the evening, there will be no staff present. We ask our guests to take care of locking the door when they go out.
Parking
Free outdoor parking is available near Craft Inn 手 [té]. Parking is available before check-in and after check-out.
Luggage Storage
Luggage can be kept at the front desk from 1:00 p.m. on the day of check-in and until 1:00 p.m. on the day of check-out. However, please take your valuables with you. Please contact us in advance if you wish to leave your luggage with us.
Number of Guests Per Room
Each room is limited to 4 people. Preschool children who do not require a futon mattress are not included in the number of guests.
Due to the structure of the room, when four guests stay in the Indigo Room, one futon will be placed on the first floor and three on the second floor. In the Bamboo Room, one or two futons will be placed on the first floor and two on the second floor for stays of three or more guests. If you have other requests, please contact us.
Accessibility
We apologize, but we do not have wheelchair-accessible rooms. Both the Indigo and Bamboo rooms are maisonette-type rooms with steep stairs to access the second-floor sleeping space. Due to the structure of the old-style building, there are many steps on the floor.
Smoking
Smoking, both paper and electronic cigarettes, is prohibited throughout the entire building, including in the garden. Ashtrays are available next to the entryway.
Cancellation and No Show
Please refer to the following cancellation policy.
No-show on the day of 100%
Cancellation 4 days prior to check-in 100%
Cancellation 7 days prior to check-in 30%
Cancellation 21 days prior to check-in 10%
* For reservations of two or more nights, the cancellation fee is determined by the entire reservation charge.
For any other information not listed above, please refer to the Accommodation Terms and Conditions. Please contact us if you have any concerns or inquiries.
Access
Craft Inn 手 [té]
120-1 Motomachi, Yame, Fukuoka 834-0031
Google MapsGuests Arriving By Car
From Fukuoka Airport, about 50 minutes
From Hakata Station, about 60 minutes
From Kumamoto Airport, about 60 minutes
From Saga Airport, about 50 minutes
From Yame IC of Kyushu Expressway, about 10 minutes
From Hirokawa IC of Kyushu Expressway, about 15 minutes
Guests Arriving by Public Transportation (Shinkansen or Local Trains)
- ◎Routes from JR Hakata Station using local trains・Get off at JR「Hainuzuka Station」→ Take a taxi, about 20 minutes
・Get off at JR「Kurume Station」→ Take Nishitetsu bus #31 or #32 to「Nishitojinmachi」→ Walk, about 10 minutes - ◎Routes from JR Hakata Station using Shinkansen・Get off at JR「Chikugo-Funagoya Station」→ Take a taxi, about 30 minutes
・Get off at JR「Kurume Station」→ Take a taxi, about 40 minutes
・Get off at JR「Kurume Station」→ Take Nishitetsu bus #31 or #32 to「Nishitojinmachi」→ Walk, about 10 minutes - ◎Routes from Nishitetsu Fukuoka Tenjin Station using local trains・Get off at Nishitetsu「Kurume Station」→ Take a taxi, about 40 minutes
・Get off at Nishitetsu「Kurume Station」→ Take Nishitetsu bus #31 or #32 to「Nishitojinmachi」→ Walk, about 10 minutes
Inquiries
- MAIL：te@unalabs.jp
- TEL：0943-25-7577（9:00-18:00）
Craft Inn 手 [té] is operated by UNA Laboratories, Inc., which also runs a travel business based in Kyushu. In addition to accommodation at Craft Inn 手 [té], UNA Laboratories provides travel planning consultation and travel arrangement services for a fee.