Dream House

Reviews

Jonathan Seavey from the USA: Koshu Dream House 紅秋ドリームハウス was much more than a place to stay, it truly felt like a home away from home. Akemi Sensei’s kindness, hospitality, and generosity made my visit unforgettable. From sharing meals and conversation to discussing shodo, art, and Japanese culture, every day offered an opportunity to learn something new and experience a deeper side of Japan that most travelers never get to see. I would also like to thank Sati for her incredible hospitality and the wonderful meals she prepared each evening. Every dinner was thoughtfully made, delicious, and something I genuinely looked forward to after a day of study and exploration. Sharing those meals together became one of the most memorable parts of my stay. The peaceful atmosphere of Mito was another highlight. The slower pace, quiet streets, and welcoming community provided the perfect environment to relax, reflect, and immerse myself in Japanese life. It was a refreshing contrast to the bustle of the larger cities and allowed me to appreciate a side of Japan that many visitors overlook. The house itself is comfortable, welcoming, and full of character, but it is the people who make Koshu Dream House truly special. My time there gave me experiences, and memories that I will carry with me long after returning home. Thank you, Akemi Sensei and Sati, for your warmth, generosity, and hospitality. I look forward to returning again someday.

Shezad Morani from the USA : If you are looking for depth in your cultural experience in Japan, then Dream House will enrich your journey, open your heart, and quite likely develop a new rewarding discipline. For my 4-week-long journey in Japan, my week at Dream House was the most nourishing— creatively, spiritually, and physically. Akemi-San put together an itinerary for our small makeshift group. She has all the thought and care anyone could wish for in a sensei. To take on a practice like sumi-e is immediately rewarding, but like many things, it gets deeper and richer with greater immersion. I am but a beginner, yet in one week, the depth of culture and knowledge is so deeply imbued in me - a result of the curriculum and related excursions sensei planned for us, from a tea ceremony and Gagaku musical performance to an art museum visit, to zazen, to a history lecture— all beyond the brush instruction itself, which in person is transformational. A stay at Dream House also comes with three square meals prepared by Saty-San, sensei’s sister who studied at the macrobiotic institute under Michio Kushi. The meals are perfectly harmonized so you feel warm, deeply satiated, and ultimately blissed. To spend a week at Dream House is to gift your mind, your soul, and your body an incredibly welcome nourishment. Thank you, Akemi-San, and your whole family! What an honor.

Nuala Billings from the UK : I spent a delightful week at the spring residential course . Excellent Sumi e tuition in a comfortable well equipped studio. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing. We were treated to beautiful and nutritious meals ( including my vegan request being met most comprehensively) cooked by the artists sister , who also honoured us with a cooking tuition session and some useful origami ! The additional activities including some sightseeing , paper making and flower arranging were all seamlessly organised and very enjoyable. I particularly liked making our own seals by soapstone carving and the times spent at the local Buddhist temple were a delight. For me this was a perfect introduction to my first visit to Japan and I really felt I’d been privileged with this truly authentic experience. A very aptly named Dream House.

Mirsada Kadribasic from Bosnia : I spent eight wonderful days at Koshue Dream House attending a calligraphy and sumi painting course, and it was truly one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. Akemi is an amazing teacher — patient, kind, and incredibly passionate about what she does. She puts her heart into every lesson and really makes sure that each student feels supported and inspired. The program was so much more than just learning calligraphy and sumi-e. Akemi also organized wonderful trips, visits to museums and historical sites, giving us the chance to discover Japanese culture and traditions in such a special way. We also had the opportunity to try pottery making and ikebana, and to meet many lovely people from around the world. Each day was filled with creativity, laughter, and meaningful moments. Koshue Dream House truly lives up to its name — it felt like home. The food was delicious, thoughtfully prepared with so much care by the amazing Dream House team. I will always treasure this experience, and I can’t wait to come back again someday.

Emily T from the UK: I had such a wonderful time at Dream House. The course itself was full on, and my skills improved so much over the course of a week. Everyone was welcoming, and I have made friends that I still chat with months after returning home. The extra activities was really fun too, and I did so many things that I doubt I would have done otherwise. If you are considering the course, 100% go for it. You won't regret it!

Margarita Staneva from Bulgaria: Would give 6 out of 5 stars, if possible! The course is great, you can also feel relaxed and related to the beautiful nature out there! Everything was perfect! Starting from the accommodation, through the lessons and the optional activities, to the extremely nice food! Akemi-san and her team made everyone feel safe and happy at her school. We were lucky to be able to see so many beautiful exhibitions, gardens, temples, do zazen meditations, have a pottery class and taiko drumming experience! Everyone was welcoming, polite and nice! A huge thank you!

Farid Hamka from Indonesia: Imagine waking up in the Japanese countryside, with beautiful home-cooked meals that are fresh and tasty, learning so much about the art of ink (suibokuga and shodo) with detailed guidance from the sensei, but also allowing ample room to exercise out own personal creativity. This is simply what the Dream House is about. I had the privilege of joining the 7 day residential course in the autumn of 2024. The experience of living in a shared house in the countryside was much more pleasant than I had imagined. Everyone connected over the tea breaks, sharing jokes, merriment, but also opening up to one another. It was a warm and cordial atmosphere. Would definitely recommend anyone who is interested in art and Japan to join, even if you do not have that much experience in any of the art. It was a week that made me feel like poetry and gratitude are running inside my veins.

Diane Aoki from Hawaii : Just returned from my time at Koshu Dream House learning sumi-e and calligraphy. I can’t say enough good about my experience there. Akemi is a wonderful teacher, I felt like the worst student at times, but she guided me through the processes and in the end, I did come to finish my project and am proud of it, and of myself. But there was so much more to this time than the class itself. First of all, the food was amazing! It was healthy, tasty, and beautifully presented. We all looked forward to meal time. Also, there were optional activities which really added to experience. I took pottery, taiko drumming and cooking. So glad I took all of those. Moreover, the sightseeing excursions were incredible. And visiting a nearby zen Buddhist temple and learning and doing zazen meditation was beautiful. Also, I am a morning walker and the surrounding area was great for walking around. There is a river park, walkways though the rice fields, and a hillside path behind the temple. It was amazing that we did so much in the 8 days and 7 nights. I plan to return!

Tunku Alina Alice from Malaysia: I attended Koshu's first one-week residential art program in the Fall '24 in the serenity of the countryside in Mito. It was a full program of immersive lessons on history, shodo and sumi-e techniques, seal making, backing paper application, pottery and cultural visits to a temple for zazen lessons, to Sesshu's studio at Unkuokan and his gardens at Joei-ji temple and later to view his Four Seasons work at Mohri museum. We also had sightseeing visits to Akiyoshida caves and the plains and optional activities such as Taiko drumming and onsen visit. Koshu and her team so excelled in taking care of us, the thoughtful meals prepared by Sati and her team were cooked on premise and it was a very happy and fulfilling experience for me. I found it to be a safe space to be myself and be thoroughly loved by Koshu and her amazing team. I will be returning to this wonderful teacher and her Dream House in the future.

We look forward to welcoming you to Dream House

Enquire here: koshudreamhouse@gmail.com

5342-3 Oda, Mito-cho, Mine-city, Yamaguchi prefecture, 754-0211, JAPAN

Photos of Residential courses can be seen on Instagram & Facebook