Our Story
- About Us
Like a mother river, it connects people and communities.
01. CONCEPT
Mother River Stays is a lodging brand that connects the nature, culture, and way of life of the people in the Nemuro Strait coastal region to the future.
Just as salmon return to the river where they were born, I want to create a place in this area that makes visitors think, "I want to come back again."
It was born from that idea.
We want to share its charm with visitors.
I hope to gradually increase the number of people who love this land as if it were their hometown.
So that your connection to this place continues,
even after your journey ends.
02. WHAT WE DO
At Mother River Stays, we offer two ways to experience this place: staying here and discovering the local way of life.
We believe that it is the combination of both—not just one or the other—that allows you to truly connect with the spirit of this land.
Stay
A private house where you can live like a local.
Without feeling any pressure just because you're traveling, it's like coming home to a friend's house.
In a private space limited to one group per day,
You can relax and enjoy the everyday life of this town.
Enjoying time doing nothing, or gathering around the table to eat seasonal ingredients found in town,
I would gaze at the scenery unfolding outside the window.
A stay that feels like living there will lead to a new encounter with this place.
Mother River Stays HONIOI (Honioi)
HONIOI is Mother River Stays' first property, a private villa rental limited to one group per day.
As a base for exploring Shiretoko and the Notsuke Peninsula, you can relax and feel like a local while experiencing the everyday life of this region.
Local Guide
Beyond the guidebooks, into the everyday life of this place.
At Mother River Stays, we also offer locally guided experiences that take you beyond the usual sights.
Discover the quiet rhythm of the fishing port at dawn, the history shaped by salmon over thousands of years, the local food culture, and the stories of the people who call this place home.
Joining a tour is entirely optional.
Whether you choose to relax at the house or explore the region more deeply with a local guide, your stay is yours to enjoy, at your own pace.
Here are some examples of local guided tours.
Shibetsu Town / July
The legendary tour to enjoy freshly boiled Hokkaido shrimp.
This special tour, available only during this time of year, allows you to enjoy freshly boiled Hokkaido shrimp while listening to stories from the members of "Hashinkai," an organization dedicated to preserving the ocean for the future.
Shibetsu Town / Year-round
Shibetsu town walking tour
Immerse yourself in the 10,000-year-old daily life of Shibetsu with this walking tour. Explore shopping streets and shrines, enjoy interactions with locals, and discover unique local charms not found in guidebooks.
Shibetsu Town / September to October
Sunrise Salmon Harvesting Tour
The sounds of lively salmon echo through the harbor, along with the shouts of fishermen and local women, and the roar of boat engines. The sunrise viewed from the harbor in the early morning is truly special. This is one of the tours I recommend experiencing while in Shibetsu.
Living here. Sharing this place.
03. MEET THE HOSTS
We are based in the Nemuro Strait coastal region.
Beyond just the scenery of the travel destination, by experiencing the people, culture, and relationship with nature of that place,
I believe that travel can become a much richer experience.
We hope Mother River Stays can become a place that you'll want to return to again and again.
Owner / Local Guide
Satomi Saito
I moved to Shibetsu Town in 2018.
I hold a Hokkaido Governor-certified Outdoor Guide (Nature field) qualification and guide tours of the Nemuro Strait coastal area as "Nemuro Strait Local Guide Amutoki".
We connect local residents with our guests, sharing the charm of the nature, culture, and lifestyle that has been passed down in this land.
I love connecting local residents with guests and sharing enjoyable times together.
We look forward to your visit.
Until we welcome you home again.
Mother River Stays aims to be a place you'll want to return to again and again, not just a place for a one-time trip.
Just as salmon return to their mother river, may my connection to this land continue even after my journey ends.
We are looking forward to your visit.