Yakehashiri Cabin Village

The location is perfect, with Mt. Iwate close by, and it might be a great spot for camping. But we stayed in the cabin because our schedule left us few Tohoku options that take large dogs. There seem to be newer cabins, while the pet building feels old and tucked away deep in the forest. Opening the front door brought a moldy smell, and the room itself smelled of ammonia. There’s no air conditioning or air purifier. Aside from a cage simply put in the room, there was no consideration for pets at all. At least we didn’t see any of the insects said to be abundant there.

This time we chose a four-person cottage, after staying in a building for eight last time. The reception is at the same window as the “Yakihashiri no Yu” hot spring. It looks at first like you should take off your shoes, but for cottage and camp reception you can walk through the dining hall to the window with shoes on. From there, a narrow path goes through the campsite to the cottage area. It’s a maze, so watch the signs closely. The cottage is basic, with bare walls like a mountain hut and dim lighting. It does have a small fridge, electric kettle, microwave, two-burner gas stove, and a TV with terrestrial channels only. There’s hot water in the kitchen and you can take a bath, but shampoo, soap, and towels aren’t supplied. A yukata was there, though I didn’t spot it until morning. We found a knife, cutting board, large frying pan, handled aluminum pot, teacups, and rice bowls. We barbecued outside. Staying here felt more convenient than camping, and unusually, we didn’t see any stink bugs that day.

We stayed at campsite number 11 and could comfortably fit our roughly six-meter camping trailer on the deep site. The roads between sites are wide, two-way, and easy to pass on, and parking was straightforward. Since our trailer door is on the left, it was a big help to reserve a site with more room on that side for backing in. Each spacious site has its own water tap and a fireplace divided into three sections. The night lighting was minimal, which was nice because it wasn’t too bright. The Yakihashiri trailhead is right next door, the bathhouse is an easy walk away, and we even picked chestnuts.

It’s old and moldy, and I haven’t gone back. There’s a cottage where three people died by suicide about ten years ago, and it’s still standing. The shingles haven’t been removed. It should be demolished, but they probably don’t have the money. On the map, that area is just blacked out in green. It’s probably number 9.