Guesthouses are popping up all over Japan's countryside. Even where I live, on Shiraishi Island (population 542) in the middle of the Seto Inland Sea, a new guesthouse will open in June. The building was converted from an old traditional Japanese minshuku (inn): The previous dining room is now a common room and the spacious kitchen is now open for all guests to use.

When I asked the owners why they decided to open a guesthouse, the wife said: "We wanted to be able to accommodate more guests, but since we're already running a minshuku, we don't have time to cater to them. A guesthouse is easier as the customers can cook their own food and we don't have to be on-site all the time."

At just ¥3,000 per person per night, it also provides budget accommodation for travelers who may find them an attractive alternative to traditional minshuku and higher-class ryokan, both of which typically include extravagant meals.