Pension Maple Leaf

They looked after my bike so thoughtfully. After rain the first night, they had toweled it off, and when a storm came through the second night and morning, they covered it with a blue tarp. They also gave me tea and snacks, and were super nice. The onsen turned out to be nice, too. I arrived tired from touring on my bike and initially felt disappointed. There was no fridge in my room, only one men's toilet on the first floor, and the bath was an onsen style. I’d expected something like a cheap little business hotel run by a mom and pop, though I’m not sure why. The common room also serves as a restaurant, and they let me keep my drinks in their fridge. It was unlocked at night, so using it was no trouble. The place is a bit old but well kept, quaint, and surrounded by a really nice area. The old man speaks a good bit of English if you need it. I’d stay here again if I wanted something a little different from the big hotel chains.

The owner’s personality, the forest setting, and the delicious food made for a very soothing stay. My room was clean and comfortable, too. I hadn’t stayed at a pension in decades, and I’m glad I picked Maple Leaf. The two baths are called upper and lower. The upper one is the hot spring; the lower one isn’t. Guests write their preferred bath and time on a whiteboard in arrival order, with their room number shown on a magnet. I chose the hot spring bath, but someone with a different room number who had selected the non-hot-spring bath used it instead. That was really disappointing. Aside from that, I had a comfortable, enjoyable stay and would love to visit again.

Best of all, the food is delicious. The rooms are comfortable and clean, and the living and dining room feels homey with its wood-burning stove. The WiFi is great and handy, and you can read as many books as you like from the shelf.

I’ve returned several times over the years, and the food has stayed delicious. The large cypress barrel bath is a favorite, and on one early morning visit I saw a sea of clouds from the Nagamineyama Observatory. I also joined the early morning Azumino scenic tour on another trip. On October 19-20, 2025, the weather felt like autumn was coming. After checking in, I relaxed in the big wooden barrel bath until dinner. I ate with two other couples, and the white fish with couscous was seasoned just right. The pork was very tender and fresh. After leaving the next morning, I stopped at the Nagamineyama Observatory. My October 18-19, 2024 visit was a month earlier than the previous November trip, and daytime temperatures were over 20°C, warm enough to make me sweat. I again relaxed in the barrel bath before dinner, which I shared with two other couples, a couple and a family. The couple shared their birthday cake with me. In November 2023, the full course meal was affordable, and I loved the large cypress barrel bath. My October 2022 stay was exactly a year after my previous visit. The bath was large and cypress, and the food was delicious. Nationwide travel discounts were available then. I returned in October 2021 after two years away, and the food was as delicious as ever. In October 2019, the food and hot springs were wonderful, and the cats were adorable.