This time's traveller: Maro-san
While staying in hotels during the weekdays, he runs the media "Ohitorisama." that makes spending time alone more enjoyable. His activities have become widely known, including being in charge of the original story for Maki Hirochi's manga "Ohitorisama Hotel" (volume 2 released on August 8, 2023).
Instagram: @ohitorigram
Maro's "I want to go again!" That place
A place I'd like to visit again is Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture!
Maro is always researching hotels all over Japan. He says that in addition to the hotel's atmosphere, the charm of the town is also key when choosing a place to stay. One place he will never forget is Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture.
I love the hotel "LOG" so much that I want to stay there again and again.
Opened in December 2018, LOG is a complex that not only houses a hotel, but also a cafe and gallery.
Studio Mumbai, an Indian architectural group that is garnering worldwide attention, has completely reconstructed the apartment, which was built in the Showa era. Since their first visit in 2020, they have been captivated by the wonderful space.
Editorial Department: Just looking at the photos, it's clear that everything has been thought out for this wonderful space!
I was impressed and booked it on instinct, which was a great decision! I was fascinated not only by the beauty of the hotel, but also by the view of Onomichi from the window. The way it was framed was really beautiful.
The color of the walls was designed from scratch to blend in with the city, giving it a warmth that blends in with the surrounding area. The aesthetic sense is apparent in every aspect of the hotel's furnishings and services... it's truly a hotel that makes staying here a purpose in life.
Maro-san has fallen completely in love with the place and visits it every year as a treat for himself on his birthday.
Recently, I've been taking leisurely strolls around TEA FACTORY GEN, which produces and sells pesticide-free and fertilizer-free tea, mainly native tea (wild tea that has grown in the mountains since ancient times), Mendokoro Miyachi, a long-established ramen shop beloved by locals, and eating bento lunches on the open terrace of Onomichi City Hall, which is located by the sea.
He says he enjoys "traveling like he's living."
TEA STAND GEN, a store operated by TEA FACTORY GEN
Editorial Department: What would you like to do next time in Onomichi?
I want to buy a book and read it at my own pace.
Recently, Maro has been into buying a book that matches his mood or the trip he's in at "Books and Music Kamikata" and reading it at his leisure at LOG, a coffee shop, or on a bench along the Onomichi Strait. He says this is his happiest time.
Feeling the gentle breeze of the Seto Inland Sea, enjoying some time alone... It seems like he is enjoying a luxurious stay without being disturbed by anyone.
Books and Music Pieces of Paper
And every time I go there I discover something new.
In recent years, more and more people have fallen in love with Onomichi and moved there to open shops. They often learn about new shops while talking to people they meet at izakayas, cafes, and hotels, or discover them while walking around. They also sometimes travel to the surrounding islands, such as Mukojima and Ikuchijima.
In addition, Maro will share with us the charms of Onomichi City and LOG that he has seen!
Maro's memories of Onomichi
Q & A about Maro's travels
We get to see the real Maro, who shares the joys of spending time alone! We asked him a variety of questions in a Q&A format.
Q. What prompted you to stay alone?
A. I couldn't make the decision to settle down...!
When I was working as a company employee in Tokyo and was considering living alone, it was not easy to decide on each of these things, such as which city to live in and what the layout of the house should be. Moreover, when I thought about the fact that I couldn't easily change it, I didn't think that settling down was suitable for me, who gets bored easily (laughs).
At that time, I stayed at the HAMACHO HOTEL in Nihonbashi Hamacho, and I thought, "It's great to be able to surrender yourself to a space that someone has put so much effort into!" and I became interested in staying in hotels alone.
I could explore the towns I wanted to visit after work and they also helped me clean (laughs), so I thought it was killing two birds with one stone and the lifestyle that was perfect for me.
HAMACHO HOTEL
Q. What prompted you to create the "Ohitorisama" account?
A. I wanted to suggest ways to enjoy spending time alone!
I personally like spending time alone, and I started posting because I wanted as many people as possible to know how precious and fun it is, but at first, no one saw my posts. I didn't want to make it a self-centered account, so I got advice from a consultant.
After that, I tried to renew it by adding the "Ohitorisama" logo to the photos in a magazine-style style, changing the way I took the photos, and through trial and error! By changing the way I presented my photos, my number of followers increased, and I finally decided to work as a freelancer from September 2023.
In the future, I would like to propose even more diverse ways to spend time alone, and I would like to go to many different places, both in Japan and abroad!!
Q. When you're staying alone, don't you get nervous when talking to people you've never met before?
A: You'll get used to it!
I still get nervous in new stores or places, but I resonate with the advice someone once gave me: "You'll have something in common, being there, so you'll be able to find something to talk about."
It's become a lot easier since we've started having conversations that can only be shared because we're in the same place, like, "This is delicious," or "What made you come to this restaurant?"
Q: Finally, what does “travel” mean to you, Maro?
A. Encountering something new
Not only can you experience the hotel, but the city, the people, and through them, you can discover a new side of yourself.
Through my travels, I miraculously found myself an unexpected new job: working on the original story for a manga.
I want to go on a trip again to make new discoveries.
By pursuing the pleasure of being alone, Maro found his own path as a "solo producer." What he learned through traveling can lead to discovering a new way of life. That's another great attraction of traveling.
Traveler's friends
Maro introduced us to Moronnon (Instagram: @moron_non), a photographer who has many fans thanks to his impressive portraits.
They both love hotels, and as soon as they met, they immediately got excited talking about travel. "The beauty of the photos and the power of the images are unforgettable," he said.
What kind of travel stories will she tell us? Look forward to it!
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Articles by other travelers who have appeared so far can be found here
The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
