Pension Morino Garden Mashiko

The place was charming and clean, and the hostess was warm and so helpful. She has an incredible ceramics collection of her own and knows a lot about the town’s ceramics history and artists. I loved my stay. Thank you!

A quiet, comfortable spot to relax, and the breakfasts were really tasty.

A nice spot for a stay in Mashiko.

One thing to watch for is the turn to the guesthouse. You have to leave Kasama Kaido onto a small road, and it’s easy to miss. Times Car Share’s navigation didn’t show it, so I used Google Maps. If your car navigation is older, it may help to use Google Maps as well when you’re close. My daughter and I stayed for a night before visiting Mobility Resort Motegi, which is about a 10-minute drive away. The guesthouse is surrounded by forests and streams, with fresh air and water, and it felt easy to relax there. Parking is free and spacious. The price is reasonable, and the large cypress bath has a wonderful scent that helped ease our fatigue. The proprietress prepared a delicious breakfast with local ingredients and Mashiko ware, better than some five-star hotels, perhaps. We also received a lovely piece of Mashiko ware as a souvenir, possibly as a limited-time gift, and my daughter loved it. The proprietress told me that many international guests stay there and that it’s a popular hidden gem with foreigners. During our stay, an American woman who loved Japan also spoke highly of the guesthouse. It could work as a base for nearby places, or as a quiet countryside spot for a workation. I’d highly recommend it and would like to return to Tochigi if I get the chance. I booked through Booking.com.