Meet the Kotori and Kotohira Community in this people first guide for your stay. Here you will find short introductions to Kotori staff, local friends, and Japanese neighbors who enjoy meeting visitors and sharing daily life. Use these profiles to put names to faces, spot where you might meet them, and start easy conversations around town. If you are new to Kotohira, this is your friendly roster of people to talk with, learn from, and befriend.
Table of contents
The Kotori crew
Taijiro Kusunoki (Mr Udon)
Who is Mr Udon: runs Kotori coworking & Hostel in Kotohira and Takamatsu, as well as Kotobus and Udon Taxi.
Signature passion: udon. He has tried all udon shops in Kagawa. If you’re looking for a recommendation, he’s the person to ask.
Vibe: warm and welcoming. You might often spot him at dinners and gatherings at Kotori. Karaoke nights? Definitely invite him along.
Learn more about Mr Udon, his business and project for Kotohira.
Natsuki, Community Manager, Kotori Coworking & Hostel
What she loves: food and travel, swapping stories with guests. She also loves hiking, nature, and hanging out with nomads.
Why Natsuki loves Kotohira: The countryside feel, being a well-known destination that never feels too busy, kind people, and a close-knit community.
Isshy, Community Manager, Kotori Coworking & Hostel
What he loves: meeting digital nomads and practicing English. Board games, lunch or dinner meetups, and conversations about culture and travel.
Top tip: explore Kotohira and meet locals first, then go island hopping in Kagawa. Sanagijima, also known as Cat Island, is his favorite.
Yna, Community Manager, Kotori Coworking & Hostel
What Yna loves to share with nomads: food and travel, plus swapping stories with guests.
How she connects with nomads: she loves showing her favorite spots in Kotohira and the surrounding area. She also enjoys discovering new places together with guests. Happy to talk about travel, culture, language, and food.
Favorite places: Urasando in autumn and Manno Lake.
Yoti, Project Manager
Favourite things: soccer and the live atmosphere of a stadium.
How he connects with nomads: “Let’s share our life journeys. I will show you around beyond the usual tourist spots”.
Favorite Kotohira moments: Yoti likes going to the shrine in the morning and looking at the mountain from the rice fields.
Kotohira People You Can Meet at Kotori
Ryutaro Ike (Mr Candy)
Who he is: Ike san is the 28th generation of owner of Ike Syouten in Kotohira, one of the original five families (Gonin Byakusho) who have served Kotohira Shrine and supported its operations across generations.
What he loves: sharing Kotohira history, stories of the shrine and the five families. He also enjoys board games.
How to meet him: visit his shop where his wife, mother, and father also work. He and Mrs. Candy often join Kotori dinners and events with their two kids. He doesn’t speak much English, but try a little Japanese and you’ll become friends quickly.
Learn more about Mr Candy, the five family history and Ike Syouten
Jun Omi (Mr Beer)
Who he Mr. Beer: the person behind KotoVegas. His projects include Bagel House Kotohira, The TeaRoom Kotohira, Gokan Kotohira, Donzo Brewing, and Kotohira Stationary Store.
Signature passion: beer!
Where to find him: sometimes in his office on the third floor of Kotori, or at Donzo Brewing, where you can share a beer. Also a great partner for karaoke.
Gin and Natsuho
Who they are: a creative couple next door to Kotori.
Gin: runs Hakobune. He is an artist, a former dancer, and a video creator who enjoys talking about dance, art… and a lot more!
Natsuho: an artist who loves fiber hooking and drawing.
She runs Sando Sand. Stand and makes standout sandwiches and muffins. She is also an onigiri master.
Ask her for some onigiri tips!
Learn more about Gin & Natsuho and Hakobune project
Discover Sando Sand. Stand, a cafe you can work from.
Keita Kitayama (Mr Bamboo or Sabumi san)
Who he is: manages Sabumi Terrace and leads local projects across Kagawa.
Some examples: bamboo light installations in Kotohira, a veggie market in front of Kotori, and collaborations with Ike-san and many other local shops across Kagawa.
Where you will meet him: often around Kotori, working, playing boardgames, sharing dinner and having fun with everyone.
Learn more about Mr Bamboo and his project for Kagawa
Shinji san
Who he Shinji san: runs the restaurant Hemp Heart, known in Japanese as Magokoro.
His history: After years of travel, especially in South America, he returned to Japan.
What he loves: ｍusic. He plays with his band and also hosts other artists for live shows at the restaurant.
He speaks English and Spanish and loves meeting new people from all over the world.
He also loves playing backgammon!
Learn more about Shinji san and Hemp Heart
Discover Hemp Heart, a place where you can work from in Kotohira.
Miyoshi san
Who is she: owner of Hitotubu Beads, a handmade bead shop and café in Kotohira where you can join workshops and create accessories.
Vibe: Miyoshi san is friendly and active in the Kotori community. When the shop is closed, she often works from Kotori and helps with events. She also runs a YouTube channel.
Discover Hitotubu Bead, for a workshop or a work session.
Chebi, photographer and videographer
Who is Chebi: a freelance photographer and videographer.
She is the main videographer for Udon Taxi and covered the Pop Up ALT x Kotori program No. 2.
What she loves: dogs, photography and New Zealand.
What she likes to share with nomads: learning Japanese by chatting with Chebi over a beer or a good dinner!
Fun note: her striking photo at Chichibugahama helped spark the sunset reflection trend there.
Check her Instagram!
Meet Kotori & Kotohira community – Conclusion
Kotohira is welcoming by nature and Kotori makes it easy to join the flow. Whether you are here for a week or a season, you will find people who are ready to share favorite places, local stories, and small daily moments that make this town feel like home. Use this guide to start conversations, learn a few names, and spot where to say hello. Follow a tip to a quiet shrine path, a steaming bowl of udon, or an evening catch up at Kotori. Begin with a simple introduction, then let the Kotori and Kotohira community surprise you with new friends and unexpected plans.
FAQ – Kotori Kotohira community
Is Kotohira good for digital nomads?
Yes. Kotohira offers a calm base with good access to nature and culture. Kotori provides coworking, community events, and local introductions so you can work well and meet people. Check the full guide for digital nomads in Kotohira.
Can I meet locals even if I do not speak Japanese?
Yes. Many people in this guide enjoy meeting visitors. Simple greetings in Japanese help a lot, and several friends speak English. You will be fine.
Is there a way to connect before arriving ?
Follow the Facebook page Kotohira Digital Nomad and join the group WhatsApp group to ask questions before your trip..
About the author
Manon, is a digital nomad and content creator. She lives between time zones, works between getaways, and shares the beauty of this joyful mess.