Minshuku Sanpou

I came by for lunch, hoping to get the 1,500 yen soba set. It was a filling, tasty meal: soba, vegetable tempura, pickles, a bowl with waraji cutlet and miso-marinated pork, plus mini salad, kyarabuki, potato with sweet miso, a mini cake, and self-serve coffee. I’d prefer the soba’s texture if it were chilled in ice water.

The meals were a highlight, especially the duck hotpot and miso-grilled dishes made with local ingredients. I was very happy with the hot springs too, which were just right for easing the tiredness from a long walk. I came alone to tour shrines in Chichibu and had the whole place to myself, so it was wonderfully quiet. I arrived by train, and Bushu-Hino Station was a bit of a walk away. Booking directly on Sanpo's website gets you dinner and a decent range of amenities for around 7,700 yen, which I thought was a great deal and would happily recommend.

The atmosphere was lovely, and the staff were really friendly. There were lots of side dishes and drinks to choose from after the meal, too. I’ve tried quite a few warajikatsu places in Chichibu-gun city, and this one may be the best. I stopped in for lunch.

The room had been renovated and was clean and comfortable, and the shared toilets were nice and clean as well. The outside of the building is an old Showa-era house. The host’s dog greets guests by the reception house, which dog lovers will enjoy. I chose this place for an overnight motorcycle trip to Chichibu after deciding to go at the last minute because the weather was good. It was the only accommodation I could find then. For 8,800 yen, including breakfast and dinner, it felt like good value. Room only was 6,000 yen, so the extra 2,200 yen for two meals seemed worthwhile, and the food quality was reasonable for that price. The portions were generous and the selection was big, but if you expect a travel meal showcasing lots of local ingredients, you might be a little let down. Dinner included a few typical Chichibu foods, like miso-marinated pork, but most of the rest seemed pre-made to fill out the spread. I’d had expectations, so that was probably why I felt disappointed. Still, they really do provide a lot for 2,200 yen, and I was impressed by how focused the hospitality was on making sure guests left satisfied. The bathroom was spacious enough, but the water stayed lukewarm when I visited, more like a heated swimming pool, so it didn’t warm me up. That was disappointing. The windows were wide open, giving views into neighboring homes and fields, which felt a bit awkward. I came away thinking it was a typical guesthouse, but I was glad to get an overnight stay for a very reasonable 8,800 yen.