Minshuku Kawahara

The stir-fried bamboo shoots I bought at BiPress Kumamoto Nichinichi Kaikan were delicious. I first heard about the dish from a young man at a guesthouse, who told me he’d cooked it himself using his grandmother’s recipe. Thanks for the introduction.

We had to find somewhere to stay at short notice for a Buddhist memorial service, so we called and booked for our family during Obon. A Minakami Village campaign made the stay a great deal. We were in the main inn, in a roomy 20-tatami room with a veranda, and had a toilet, sink, and refrigerator nearby. It was very comfortable. Since we had children with us, being able to use the hot spring bath privately as a family was a real plus. The hosts were kind and the place had such a warm feel. I’d recommend it to my parents and relatives. We’d like to try the annex next time too. Thank you so much.

There aren’t any shops nearby, so if you’re coming with kids, bring snacks. There’s no refrigerator in the room either, so a cooler box would be useful. The toilet has been renovated and is bright and clean. It’s a quiet inn in lovely natural surroundings, with welcoming owners who make it easy to relax. We enjoyed the local-food meals, especially the rice. We could use the bath almost as a private family bath, and both the water quality and temperature were excellent.

The food was packed with local ingredients and really tasty, with venison, wild boar, pork, beef, and both seared and grilled meat among the offerings. The bath has thick hot-spring water and is free-flowing, so I’d suggest booking it privately for your family. The guesthouse has an old Showa-era feel, with Japanese-style rooms around 12 tatami mats in size. It’s an older place, but they accept credit cards and have come up with lots of clever ideas. A very warm stay.