SANU 2nd Home Stay Guide

Welcome to SANU 2nd Home

SANU 2nd Home is "another home" where you can engage with daily life and savor living amid nature.

Experience different seaside and mountain landscapes of each location, enjoy local vegetables and culture. Sharpen your senses to feel the sounds and scents of nature. Everyone has their own way of spending time here.

Enjoy a simple yet rich lifestyle that helps restore your mind and body.

Reading this guide before your departure will ensure a more comfortable and memorable stay.

Essential Checklist

SANU 2nd Home is designed as your home-away-from-home, where you can enjoy your usual lifestyle while respecting nature. We provide the bare essentials, but bringing your favorite items will enhance your experience.

Everyone involved—including the cleaning staff—is part of the SANU family.

As this is our “2nd Home,” we kindly ask for your cooperation in maintaining a warm and thoughtful space together, with care and respect for everyone who makes SANU possible.

  • Check-in is from 3:00 PM, check-out is by 11:00 AM. Early or late check-ins are not available.

  • Prior to check-in, please complete free membership registration, provide your passport information, and register your credit card for any paid amenities.

  • Please bring your own toothbrush and pajamas.

  • If you've booked a room with a sauna, please bring swimwear.

  • For BBQ, please bring your own grill and charcoal.

⚠️ Before Check-out

  • Please wash, thoroughly dry, and return all used dishes to their original places.

  • Please sort your trash and dispose of it at the waste station before check-out.

1. How to Check-in/Check-out

🔑 How to check in (3 p.m. or later)

SANU 2nd Homes are self-check-in.

First-time guests

Guests are required to register themselves, provide their passport information, and register a form of payment (credit card) on the SANU 2nd Home website before checking in. The registered payment method will be used for any amenities purchased during your stay.

⚠️ For Guests Who Booked via OTA (Online Travel Agency)

If you booked through an OTA, your room is tentatively held, but the reservation is not yet complete.

Please check the message or email from the OTA and follow the instructions to create a free SANU account and complete the pre-registration. This step is required to confirm your reservation.

Once your reservation is confirmed, you will receive a "Stay Guide" email with your room number and other details.

※If you forget to complete the pre-registration, please refer to the OTA message or email again on the day of your stay.

Check-in

  1. Read the QR code by your room’s door or log in to your account page.

  2. Tap on the check-in button.

  3. Enter the PIN that appears on the screen into the smart lock and unlock the door. Congratulations, you’re all checked in!。

※Some locations use facial recognition for check-in.

🛜 Wi-Fi情報

SSID: XXXX_SANU-Members-Wi-Fi ※XXXX is your room
Password: livewithnature

🔑 Check-out (by 11 a.m.)

Log in to the website and tap the “check-out button.”

*We will bill any amenities bought during your stay to your registered card. Guests will receive a receipt on their check-out day, after 7:30 p.m. (if you spot any errors, kindly respond directly to the email).

🤝 Before checking out

  • Wash and dry the utensils, dishes, and cookware you used during your stay and return them to their original places.

  • Sort your trash and dispose of it at the garbage station on the grounds.

2.Access

🚙 Travel to your SANU 2nd Home via car

While it's possible to reach SANU 2nd Home by public transportation, some locations are situated a bit further into nature, making car access more convenient.

In principle, one car per room is allowed. Google Maps is recommended for navigation. Please note that in-vehicle GPS systems may direct you to the wrong location.

Additionally, SANU 2nd Home has multiple locations within each area. Please double-check the exact location name of your reservation. (For example, the Karuizawa area includes Karuizawa 1st, Kita-Karuizawa 1st, and Kita-Karuizawa 2nd. The Kawaguchiko area includes Kawaguchiko 1st and Kawaguchiko 2nd.)

🔗 Location list (Google Maps)

  • Most SANU 2nd Homes accommodate one car per room.

    However, the following locations allow up to two cars per room:

    Yatsugatake 1st/2nd, Yamanakako 1st, Kawaguchiko 1st, Shirakabako 1st/2nd, Kitakaruizawa 1st, Nasu 3rd (Large), Tateshina 1st (Large), AMATSUMI Azumino, KOSO Azumino, HIARI Isumi

  • We've selected recommended rental car and car-sharing companies for each location:

    • Yatsugatake 1st/2nd (Kobuchizawa Station Rental Car)

    • Kawaguchiko 1st/2nd (Toyota Rent a Car: Kawaguchiko Station, Times Car Share: Kawaguchiko Station)

    • Yamanakako 1st (Toyota Rent a Car: Kawaguchiko Station)

    • Ichinomiya 1st/2nd (Times Car Share: Kazusa-Ichinomiya Station)

    • Tateshina 1st (Times Car Share: Chino Station)

    • Minami Alps (Kobuchizawa Station Rental Car)

    • Shirakabako 1st/2nd (Toyota Rent a Car: Chino Station)

    • Kitakaruizawa 1st/2nd (Toyota Rent a Car: Karuizawa Station)

    • Karuizawa 1st (Toyota Rent a Car: Karuizawa Station)

    • Nasu 1st/2nd/3rd (Toyota Rent a Car: Nasushiobara Station, Times Car Share: Nasushiobara Station)

    *SANU members can use car-sharing services at special prices. You can use Toyota's car-sharing service "TOYOTA SHARE" for a 25% discount from the standard price at eligible stations. For usage instructions, please check the menu bar on the member page.

  • The following locations are located within a 15-minute walk from the nearest station or bus stop:

    • Izu 1st (12-minute walk from Tomito Station)

    • Yamanakako 1st (9-minute walk from Nadakedaira-mae Bus Stop)

    • Shirakabako 1st (5-minute walk from Higashi-Shirakabako Bus Stop)

    • Shirakabako 2nd (5-minute walk from Ground-mae Bus Stop)

    • HIARI Isumi (15-minute walk from Mikado Station)

  • Since SANU 2nd Home locations are situated at high altitudes, winter tires are essential. It's also advisable to bring a snow brush, boots, rubber gloves, cold-weather washer fluid, and de-icer.

    We've compiled information about precautions for each area, items available at each location, and common concerns. For your safety, please read this information.

    🔗For safely enjoying winter

🪧 How to Find Your SANU 2nd Home

The entrances to SANU 2nd Homes are marked by signs like the one in the photo.

3.Amenities and Supplies

We provide both complimentary and paid amenities. Note that toothbrushes and pajamas are not provided.

Complimentary Items

  • Kitchen
    Cooking utensils, tableware, cutlery, and basic seasonings

  • Daily essentials
    Bath towels, face towels, shampoo, conditioner, body soap, etc.

  • Home appliances
    Refrigerator, microwave, rice cooker, toaster, hair dryer, etc.

Paid Items

  • Coffee beans (¥320/pack and up)

  • Firewood (Kindling ¥450/bundle, Firewood ¥800/bundle)

  • Frozen curry, natural wine, and more

※ For details on available items, please check here

🧳 What to Bring for a Comfortable Stay

The following items are not provided:

  • Toothbrush

  • Pajamas

  • Facial wash/toner and other skincare products

  • Food (We recommend purchasing at local markets or supermarkets before arrival)

  • Your favorite cooking seasonings

  • For sauna users: Swimwear, sauna hat, poncho

  • For bonfire/barbecue: Grill, charcoal, camping chairs, table

  • Rain gear, boots (for heavy rain or winter season)

  • Items provided:

    • Air purifier with humidifier, deodorizing and sterilizing spray

    • Dog bath towels × 2

    • Wet wipes

    • Lint roller, dog food bowls (large, medium, small)

    • Fabric vacuum cleaner

    • Foot-washing bucket

    Items not provided:

    • Toilet tray

    • Toilet sheets

    • Cage

    • Dog food

4. Recommended Ways to Enjoy Your Stay

🌷 Pick flowers after check-in

After check-in, feel free to use the scissors on top of the dining table to go outside and pick some flowers nearby. A sprig of flowers will make your stay all the more special at SANU 2nd Home.

Where is flower-picking allowed?

You can pick flowers essentially anywhere on the SANU 2nd Home premises. Please remember to be respectful and mindful when picking flowers, though.

*Some plants can cause serious injury or negative reactions if touched or eaten by dogs. Please refer to this page to confirm which plants to be cautious of.

🍳 Gather around the dining table

Even those who don’t cook regularly can appreciate mealtime at SANU 2nd Home. We invite you to a break from your devices and take this opportunity to enjoy nature with local, seasonal ingredients, and cook with your friends and loved ones.

Equipment and Ingredients Provided

Each kitchen is equipped with cooking ware, dining ware and cutlery, and basic seasonings (salt and pepper, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, rice wine vinegar) and cooking oils.

We recommend stopping by a local supermarket to purchase some seasonal vegetables, and also bringing your favorite seasonings and sauces from home

🔗 Overview of amenities provided(Select the type of lodging you will be staying at)

* Please thoroughly wash, dry, and put away dining and cookware after use. We ask for your cooperation in ensuring that the next guests can use them comfortably.

🧖‍♀️ Relax in the sauna with fresh outdoor air

Our lodgings with private saunas allow guests to fully relax while enjoying an open-air experience surrounded by the soothing sounds and scents of nature.

*Please bring your own swimwear when using the sauna at SANU 2nd Home. For an even more comfortable and enjoyable experience, we recommend bringing a sauna hat or poncho as well.

*Sauna facilities vary by location. For details, please refer to the Equipment Operation Manual.

    1. About 30–45 minutes before using the sauna (or around 1 hour in winter), turn on the heater to warm up the sauna and fill the cold bath with water.

    2. Before entering the sauna, rinse your body using the shower or cold bath water, then dry off. Place a sauna mat on the bench and take a seat.

    3. If you're using a barrel sauna, gently pour water over the sauna stones to enjoy a steam session (löyly).

    4. After your sauna session, rinse off any sweat and relax in the cold bath or in the outdoor “totonoi” (cool-down) chair area.

  • Löyly bucket and ladle, wash basin, leaf skimmer for the cold bath, and two pairs of outdoor sandals.

🔥 Gather around the bonfire (until 10:00 p.m.)

Spend a relaxing moment gathered around the fire, simply watching the flames. Some cabins are equipped with a fire pit and firewood (available for purchase). For added comfort, we recommend bringing your own outdoor chairs, tables, or other camping gear.

    1. Place 2–3 fire starters in the center of the fire pit.

    2. Arrange kindling (small firewood) over the fire starters, leaving some space between pieces to allow airflow. Once set, light the fire starters with a lighter.

    3. Once the kindling is burning steadily, add larger logs to build the fire. Wait until the fire settles before starting any cooking.

    Once the fire is stable, it will continue to grow naturally. For cooking, it's best to use the glowing embers (hot coals).

    1. About two hours before you plan to finish, begin reducing the amount of firewood you add to the fire.

    2. Let the remaining firewood burn completely and confirm by sight that the fire is fully extinguished. Then, place the lid on the fire pit. If any unburned wood remains, use tongs to remove it and douse it thoroughly with water on the gravel until it is fully extinguished.

    3. Use the bucket and shovel located next to the ash disposal area to collect the ashes and any remaining unburned wood. Dispose of them in the ash bin. Please return the bucket and shovel to their original place, and bring any unused firewood or equipment taken from the facility back indoors.

    Please return the bucket and shovel to their original place, and bring any unused firewood or equipment taken from the facility back indoors.

  • Yes, firewood is available for purchase inside your lodging: kindling (¥450) and regular firewood (¥800). The cost will be automatically charged to your account after checkout.

🌽 Barbecue with friends (until 10:00 p.m.)

Guests can enjoy barbecuing in the great outdoors at lodgings equipped with a fire pit—perfect for grilling or even just warming up food.

Please bring your own grill grate, charcoal, and ingredients. For added comfort, we also recommend bringing outdoor gear such as chairs, tables, skewers, and a skillet.

*Due to safety reasons, please do not bring your own barbecue grills or other fire-producing equipment.

*For more details on how to barbecue using the fire pit, please see here.

  • Charcoal is not available on the premises. Guests need to supply their own.

    Kindling and firewood are available for purchase at each lodging.

  • Barbecue equipment is not available for rent.

    *For safety reasons, do not bring your own grills or other fire-producing equipment.

    At Tateyama 1st, Nasu 3rd, and SAZARENO Shimoda, there are separate paid BBQ facilities equipped with gas BBQ grills and BBQ tongs.

    If you wish to use these facilities, please make a reservation in advance. For more details, please click here.

  • Use of fireworks is only permitted around the fire pit area. To avoid disturbing nearby residents, please refrain from using fireworks after 10:00 P.M.. Fireworks are not allowed at lodgings without fire pits or at certain urban locations.

    Important Notes:

    • Only handheld sparklers are permitted.

    • Please do not point fireworks toward surrounding plants or buildings.

    • Always have a bucket of water with fire pit supplies nearby when using fireworks.

    • Dispose of all trash in the cabin’s garbage bins.

  • Yes, paid BBQ facilities (¥8,800) are available at Tateyama 1st and Nasu 3rd locations.

    Please make a reservation in advance if you wish to use them. For more details, please see this.

☕️ Morning coffee on the terrace

In your room, you’ll find carefully selected coffee beans (available for purchase) from SANU’s curated collection, including ONIBUS COFFEE and Overview Coffee, along with filters and grinders.

ONIBUS COFFEE is a famous coffee brand that is also known for giving back to the community. Here, we share four steps from founder Atsushi Sakao on how to brew delicious coffee the ONIBUS way.

🔗 Learn more about ONIBUS COFFEE

How to Brew Delicious Coffee

  1. Measure your coffee beans and water. The ideal coffee-to-water ratio is 1:17. At ONIBUS, they use 13g of beans to 225ml of water per cup.

  2. Adjust the grind size and grind the beans. Aim for a grind that’s neither too coarse nor too fine—uniform particle size is key.

  3. Heat water to 93–95°C (199–203°F). Before placing the coffee grounds, rinse the paper filter with hot water to remove any papery taste.

  4. Brew the coffee. Pour the hot water in a circular motion—first from the center outward, then from the outside inward—to evenly saturate the grounds. Stir gently once with a spoon to mix the grounds evenly. Continue pouring slowly and complete the extraction over about 3 minutes.

🧑‍💻 Workcation Amidst Nature

SANU 2nd Home is also an ideal place to focus on your work.

All lodging premises and rooms are equipped with Wi-Fi to ensure smooth online meetings and connectivity. Additionally, some locations offer workcation-friendly rooms with monitors or even have coworking spaces on site.

Standard Rooms

Basic Wi-Fi environment and workspace setup.

Workcation Rooms

Equipped with Wi-Fi, workspace, and a 23.8-inch monitor (24QP750-B with USB Type-C and HDMI cables).

  • The following locations have rooms equipped with a 23.8-inch monitor, designed specifically for workcation needs:

    Yatsugatake 2nd / Yamanakako 1st / Shirakabako 2nd / Ichinomiya 1st / Ichinomiya 2nd

  • Guests with reservations at the following locations can use the members-only coworking spaces “Soil work” free of charge:

    • Ichinomiya 1st/2nd: “Soil work ichinomiya” located on the second floor of Ichinomiya 1st

    • Izu 1st (SANU STUDIO RAY / SOWA): “Soil work Izu” adjacent to the management building

💡How to Use Other Facilities

For instructions on using in-room equipment at each location, please refer to the Equipment Operation Manual.

Available equipment includes:

Projector, speaker, induction cooktop, microwave oven, coffee grinder, washing machine, and more.

5. Guest Guidelines

📌 Review our house rules before your stay

SANU 2nd Home is your second home—and someone else’s too. To ensure everyone enjoys a comfortable stay, we kindly ask for your cooperation in following our rules.

  • Campfires, barbecues, and fireworks are allowed until 10:00 p.m.. After that, please enjoy the peaceful quiet of the night.

  • Please use campfires, barbecues, and fireworks only in the designated fire pit areas. Our lodgings are wooden and highly flammable, so for everyone’s safety, please follow the rules.

  • Smoking is strictly prohibited indoors, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Please check your room guide for designated smoking areas.

  • Please wash and thoroughly dry any dishes you use, then return them to their original place. This helps ensure the next guest can enjoy a clean set.

  • Please separate your trash and dispose of it at the designated trash station before checkout.

*If additional cleaning or compensation fees are required, a charge of ¥5,500 (tax included) may be automatically billed.

6. Local Recommendations

You’ll find plenty of great restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, bakeries, and more near each SANU 2nd Home location. Enjoy the surrounding nature, dining options, and activities—and be sure to use our tips to help plan your trip.

How to Find Recommended Spots

  1. From the area list page, click on the area where you’ll be staying.

  2. Click on “Recommendations.”

  3. Select the category you’re interested in to view recommended spots.

7. Frequently asked questions

  • Check-in must be completed by the reservation holder (the person who made the reservation). Check-in by accompanying guests only is not permitted.

    Please ensure you have completed membership registration in advance. If you have not registered beforehand, please complete your membership registration on-site via the QR code at the entrance.

    After registration, the check-in button will appear.

  • We do not offer temporary luggage storage or offer luggage shipping. Thank you for your understanding.

  • Maximum occupancy varies by property:

    • SANU CABIN MOSS: 4 guests (2 semi-double beds + 1 extra bedding set)

    • SANU CABIN BEE: 4 guests (2 semi-double beds)

    • SANU STUDIO RAY Medium: 4 guests (2 double beds)

    • SANU STUDIO RAY Large: 6 guests (1 queen bed + 4 extra bedding sets)

    • SANU LOFT SKY: 4 guests (1 double bed + 2 single beds)

    • Selection Series: 5 to 8 guests (varies by property)

    Please note that preschool-aged children are not counted in the guest number.

  • Only certain locations have SANU CABIN - Dog Friendly rooms, where up to two dogs can stay with you. Pets are not allowed in standard SANU CABINs.

    For details, please here.

  • Yes. Bring a swimsuit or clothing specifically for the sauna.

  • We have the following:

    • Plastic tableware and utensils for children

    • Cushions for kids

  • Since SANU 2nd Home is nestled in nature, it’s normal to encounter insects and wildlife.

    To help, insect spray (Kinchoru insecticide) is provided inside each cabin.

    The management building also stocks:

    • Yamabiru Fighter (for leeches)

    • Cockroach spray

    • Bee and hornet spray

    • Poison remover

    For more about insect precautions, please see this article.

8. Contact Information for Emergencies

Trouble with the lodging facilities

After checking the manuals and help center, feel free to reach out to us (available 24/7 throughout the year).

SANU 2nd Home Support Team
Reach out: Contact form
E-mail: 2ndhome@sa-nu.com
TEL: 050-1807-2687

If your car gets stuck in the snow

Remain calm and try the following steps:

  • If your tires are slipping or stuck in fresh snow, gently rock the car back and forth to help pack the snow around the tires.

  • If a sand box is available, sprinkle sand around the drive wheels for traction.

  • If necessary, have your car towed.

Call a roadside service center when and if you require assistance. Car insurance companies and JAF provide road service support.

JAF Road Service: 0570-00-8139
*You may have difficulty connecting during winter.
*English available.

Evacuation information and nearby medical facilities in case of a disaster

If a disaster occurs, your safety is the highest priority. Pay close attention to public announcements, and if you feel at risk, evacuate as early as possible.

For weather alerts, evacuation notices, and nearby hospitals specific to your location, please refer to this page.

If you encounter a fallen tree, fire, or other dangerous situations at your cabin, contact the police or fire department immediately, and also notify the SANU 2nd Home Support Team.

Accidents or incidents

First, stay calm and do not leave the scene. Contact the police (dial 110) or fire department (dial 119) from the location, and be sure to notify the SANU Support Team as well.

🔗 SANU 2nd Home Locations (Google Maps)