Minshuku Narao

From the guesthouse there are stunning views of the mountains. It’s a good place to stay if you’re visiting the historic sites and post towns along the old Nakasendo road. We came on a motorcycle tour and stayed one night near the foot of the Kiso Komagatake Plateau. Dinner and breakfast were both delicious and plentiful. The tempura of wild vegetables and grilled river fish were especially good. The staff were cheerful, kind, and attentive, and made our stay really pleasant. We visited Magome, Tsumago, Mount Ontake, and Kiso Fukushima on this trip. I’d definitely like to stay here again when exploring the Nakasendo in the future.

For 7,400 yen per person with two meals, it was well worth the price. The outside looks old, but inside was spotless and the food was excellent. It made for a wonderful stay. There also seems to be a tune-up space in a nearby annex.

The facilities are old but cared for. My room had no air conditioning, though it probably wasn’t needed. When I stayed at the end of October, there was a kerosene heater, which came in handy in the mornings. Temperatures outside were in the single digits then, so it was cold! The bath only fits about 3-4 people. I personally really liked the homely food, but wished there’d been coffee after breakfast. Also, as people mentioned in the comments, there was a foreign object in the kettle’s hot water, so it wasn’t drinkable. If they dealt with those points, I’d definitely come back.

The guest rooms are clean, and the stars look beautiful at night.