Shirakaba Kohan Chiisana Yado Sawa Rouge

I’d stayed here before on work trips, then called to book when a personal one-night plan turned into two nights. I recommend booking by phone or on their website. The two private hot spring baths are available around the clock, fit two people comfortably, and each has two showers. The food is tasty, and at breakfast you can get more bread, milk, and apple juice. You can bring your own drinks except in the dining room, where the alcohol is reasonably priced. I didn’t try it, but they seem to have a nearby ski plan too. I stay at inns about seven days a month for work, and I highly recommend this one. 😛 I only took one photo, so have a look at other guests’ photos for reference.

A peaceful guesthouse in the middle of nature, just right if you want quiet. I was there for work, and found the meals both generous and delicious. The bath was spacious, as was the very clean toilet.

For a long time my wife’s health has been poor, so we’ve spent recent years visiting nearby Ise-Shima, Uchiumi Onsen in Aichi Prefecture, and Gamagori Onsen ♨️. I love seafood and eat sashimi every day, but it had been a while since we took a trip 🚙💨♫. We stayed near Lake Shirakaba and went around it the next day, taking our time over tea and the lake. For this price, food this good feels hard to find these days. It was fun thinking about Ai Hashimoto and her friends having the whole place to themselves while filming. If you’re into Western food, this is a perfect place to stay.

The room faced the back of the lake, so there wasn’t a view from it, but I could see the lake easily by stepping outside. I came to Lake Shirakaba to get out of the summer heat, for my first stay at a pension. It’s on the road by the lake with Mt. Tateshina behind it and a view over the Kurumayama Plateau. It’s easy to miss because of a coffee shop further along, but there’s a small sign. The hostess checked me in, and I liked her straightforward manner. Dinner starts in the dining room at 6:30 PM: plated appetizers, soup, pie stew, steak, dessert, and more. Rice is self-serve with unlimited refills, so you’ll leave full. Drinks aren’t too expensive, so watch you don’t overdo it. At the end of dinner they ask what time you’d like breakfast. The owner appeared as I was leaving and seemed gentle and kind. My room had air conditioning, but the breeze was cool when I opened the window. Breakfast was an omelet plate and homemade bread, plus help-yourself apple juice and highland milk. It was delicious. The bath is private-use and open 24 hours, which I appreciated overnight. A closed door means someone’s using it. Sharing the toilet, sink, and refrigerator was a little inconvenient, but the value was good and I’d come back.