Minshuku Asahiya

Having a bath schedule that let the whole family use the baths was a real help. Our room was spacious, with 16 tatami mats, and the children had meals prepared for them too, far more than they could finish. The food was delicious, the rice included, and the portions were generous. We were also glad to have laundry facilities, with the washing machine costing 200 yen and the dryer 300 yen.

Dinner was a highlight: the yamame trout, horse sashimi, and pork cutlet were all delicious. The bath wasn't a hot spring, but it was relaxing all the same. The place feels like a grandparents' home, with local calendars, a Buddhist altar, and elementary students' calligraphy in the dining area. When we arrived, the grandmother was folding laundry as she welcomed us, which gave the guesthouse a lovely country feel. The toilet has been renovated, though the toilet and bathroom are shared, and there are no refrigerators in the rooms. Countryside guesthouses really are the best!

For 7,700 yen, both dinner and breakfast were included, and breakfast was satisfying. The host was a wonderful, thoughtful person. Dinner had a mountain-inspired menu, and the seasoning was just right despite my expectation that country cooking might be strongly seasoned. Even the boiled herring was presented stylishly. The bath isn't a hot spring, but the black silica stones made the water feel mellow, and the temperature was just right, not too hot.

The food was so extensive that I was amazed my husband had made it all himself. We also got a surprise from the bath: I knew it wasn't a hot spring, but the special stone they use seemed to warm me just like one. Wi-Fi came in handy, too. In early March, several meters of snow still covered the area, and the mountains looked imposing. Asahi-ya's local-style architecture made the stay feel oddly like being in an ordinary home. Our room was already warm, and my daughter was delighted by the cute little kotatsu, which had been heated up in advance. It was a truly valuable stay, and I'd definitely come back.