Roadside Station Hota Elementary School

Hota elementary school was closed in 2014 and transformed into a roadside station with the theme of “Protecting, Developing, and Passing on Satoyama Plaza.”

There are various types of guest rooms available, ranging from private rooms for two to large rooms for groups, each with an eye-catching blackboard on the wall. There are also old children’s study desks in place of the dining table, a student cubby for backpacks, and the original fluorescent lighting that has been retained in the rooms. Visitors can get a feeling of what used to be a school’s atmosphere. The accommodations include tatami mattresses, TVs, and refrigerators depending on the type of room.

Upon arrival, visitors can choose from four restaurants that are popular among tourists. The most popular is the “Satoyama Shokudo,” located on the first floor, which serves nostalgic school lunches in anodized aluminum dishes as well as Japanese set meals.

The gymnasium has been transformed into a satoyama market, “Kyonan Rakuichi.” The market sells a wide variety of products, such as original goods sold only here, processed local marine products, souvenirs, and flowers.