Brown's Field, located in the rural mountains of Minami Boso, Chiba, is about 90 minutes from central Tokyo and offers a mini-retreat experience. While it's possible to visit on a day trip, if you've made the effort, why not spend two days and one night fully immersed in nature? Owner Deco Nakajima gave us a tour of Jiji no Tei, a lodging facility located right next to Brown's Field.
Jijino Tei is a renovated, imposing mansion. There's a shrine in front of the building, and the people who lived here have a history of serving food and drinks to people carrying mikoshi (portable shrines) during festivals.
Jijinoie opened in 2012, just a three-minute walk from Brown's Field, where the cafe and main house are located. Deco and her husband, Everett Brown, purchased the house from the market and renovated it, preserving the original tile roof and other features to create a chic, modern lodging. The construction used natural materials, and under the guidance of a local architectural expert, the entire staff began by making mud bricks.
The dining room has a high ceiling and a spacious feel. Instead of flowers on the tables, the inn features ivy picked from the property entwined around the lampshades, a unique touch.
Just inside the entrance is the dining room, complete with a large rocket stove. Here, you can enjoy authentic kaiseki cuisine prepared by Nakajima Maichuon, Deco's second daughter, who became the inn's proprietress following the inn's renovation in March of this year.
In addition to being the kitchen for "Jijinoie," the space is also used for cooking classes such as Deco's "Sustainable School."
Dinner is a Japanese course meal featuring seafood. If you let us know in advance, we can prepare a menu that's vegan or accommodates allergies.
"For the first five years after opening, my staff and I ran the restaurant. Our core dishes were based on macrobiotics, but Maichuon, who had an interest in Japanese cuisine and trained at a traditional Japanese inn, approached me and said, 'If it were up to me, I'd like to serve kaiseki cuisine, including fish dishes.' I was worried because I'd always served vegan food and had a regular clientele. However, macrobiotics itself doesn't reject animal products; it's about the balance of body and earth and the whole. So, since she was in charge, I decided to leave it to her! I made the bold decision."
The two-story building features a traditional Japanese-style hall, Japanese-style rooms, and Western-style rooms with canopy beds. Rooms are available for groups and individuals, so anyone can visit without hesitation. While you might expect tranquility, the gentle sounds of insects, wild birds, and the murmuring of flowing water create a relaxing space in harmony with nature.
Because we value natural circulation, the bathrooms are equipped with eco-friendly shampoos and soaps that can be used for face and body wash. You can also try Brown's Field's homemade persimmon vinegar rinse.
The bathroom is filled with natural light and has a sophisticated, modern Japanese atmosphere. It features a spacious cypress bathtub, custom-made by an Aomori craftsman. It can be used by groups, allowing for private, relaxing time.
Deco Nakajima, who guided us around Jiji no Tei, is pictured in front of the adjacent rental space, the Kura Gallery.
The next morning, after a relaxing meal and cypress bath, you can participate in early-morning tai chi or yoga classes or farm work experiences at Brown's Field (held irregularly). Optional sessions such as massages by specialists and counselling are also available.
The area around the inn is rich in nature, with a sandy beach just a 20-minute drive away. Even just strolling around the area without a plan is sure to provide a truly unique experience.
>>Series [Relaxed Travel in Minami Boso, Chiba]
[Facility Information]
Jiji no Ie
Address: 1815-1 Kuwata, Misaki-cho, Isumi-shi, Chiba Prefecture
Telephone: 0470-62-5401
Jijino Tei is a renovated, imposing mansion. There's a shrine in front of the building, and the people who lived here have a history of serving food and drinks to people carrying mikoshi (portable shrines) during festivals.
Jijinoie opened in 2012, just a three-minute walk from Brown's Field, where the cafe and main house are located. Deco and her husband, Everett Brown, purchased the house from the market and renovated it, preserving the original tile roof and other features to create a chic, modern lodging. The construction used natural materials, and under the guidance of a local architectural expert, the entire staff began by making mud bricks.
The dining room has a high ceiling and a spacious feel. Instead of flowers on the tables, the inn features ivy picked from the property entwined around the lampshades, a unique touch.
Just inside the entrance is the dining room, complete with a large rocket stove. Here, you can enjoy authentic kaiseki cuisine prepared by Nakajima Maichuon, Deco's second daughter, who became the inn's proprietress following the inn's renovation in March of this year.
In addition to being the kitchen for "Jijinoie," the space is also used for cooking classes such as Deco's "Sustainable School."
Dinner is a Japanese course meal featuring seafood. If you let us know in advance, we can prepare a menu that's vegan or accommodates allergies.
"For the first five years after opening, my staff and I ran the restaurant. Our core dishes were based on macrobiotics, but Maichuon, who had an interest in Japanese cuisine and trained at a traditional Japanese inn, approached me and said, 'If it were up to me, I'd like to serve kaiseki cuisine, including fish dishes.' I was worried because I'd always served vegan food and had a regular clientele. However, macrobiotics itself doesn't reject animal products; it's about the balance of body and earth and the whole. So, since she was in charge, I decided to leave it to her! I made the bold decision."
The two-story building features a traditional Japanese-style hall, Japanese-style rooms, and Western-style rooms with canopy beds. Rooms are available for groups and individuals, so anyone can visit without hesitation. While you might expect tranquility, the gentle sounds of insects, wild birds, and the murmuring of flowing water create a relaxing space in harmony with nature.
Because we value natural circulation, the bathrooms are equipped with eco-friendly shampoos and soaps that can be used for face and body wash. You can also try Brown's Field's homemade persimmon vinegar rinse.
The bathroom is filled with natural light and has a sophisticated, modern Japanese atmosphere. It features a spacious cypress bathtub, custom-made by an Aomori craftsman. It can be used by groups, allowing for private, relaxing time.
Deco Nakajima, who guided us around Jiji no Tei, is pictured in front of the adjacent rental space, the Kura Gallery.
The next morning, after a relaxing meal and cypress bath, you can participate in early-morning tai chi or yoga classes or farm work experiences at Brown's Field (held irregularly). Optional sessions such as massages by specialists and counselling are also available.
The area around the inn is rich in nature, with a sandy beach just a 20-minute drive away. Even just strolling around the area without a plan is sure to provide a truly unique experience.
>>Series [Relaxed Travel in Minami Boso, Chiba]
[Facility Information]
Jiji no Ie
Address: 1815-1 Kuwata, Misaki-cho, Isumi-shi, Chiba Prefecture
Telephone: 0470-62-5401
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