木曽路ふるさとユースホステル

Beautiful view, comfy and clean, and the food was delicious.

The spacious terrace would be a nice spot for a beer garden, though it’s showing its age. Inside, I liked the simple design, which feels right for a youth hostel. There’s no TV, and the clean sheets and blankets on the basic bed made for a quiet stay with a gentle breeze coming through. I stopped here because I wanted to see Magome-juku. From the south-side bath, I could stretch out in the tub and look at Mount Ena and the wisteria through the window. In the pleasant May weather, the flowers smelled wonderful, and the bright twilight made it feel even nicer than an open-air bath. It was wisteria season! 👍️ I also enjoyed the peaceful view of Mount Ena and the natural surroundings.

This was my third stay at Kisoji Furusato Youth Hostel, and I’m glad there’s a hostel near Magome-juku. I’ll stay here again next time I visit. The rooms were clean, the wooden building had a warm feel, and waking up to all that green outside the window was lovely. Dinner felt restaurant-quality, and breakfast was hearty. The bath was comfortable, too, and I could look things up on my laptop in the shared space. I came through on a spring tour in 2022. Since COVID-19 was still around, I called on a Tuesday and managed to book a Saturday night. I figured I might have trouble finding dinner and breakfast, so I requested both with the reservation. Traveling from Shikoku, I went through Kobe, Nagoya, and Tsumago-juku. It rained while I was in Tsumago, but I crossed the pass and reached Magome-juku, took some dusk photos, then headed to the hostel. Its location was a real help. As a youth hostel member, I found the price reasonable, and I felt comfortable staying alone. The rooms are usually shared, and chatting with other travelers can be one of the best parts of a trip. During the pandemic, though, I was the only guest. That probably wouldn’t happen now with inbound tourists. After parking my motorcycle, I put away my raincoat and hung it to dry using the handrail by the entrance stairs. One tip for anyone arriving by motorcycle: the parking area is gravel and sloped, so take care. I was so hungry that I forgot to photograph dinner and breakfast, sorry.

The home-style meals are delicious, and the sunset over Mount Ena is striking. After 18 years of walking the old Nakasendo route, I finally reached Gifu. This is the only youth hostel still operating here. It’s a 15-minute walk to the cobblestone path, and they can pick you up from the Ochiai bus stop if you ask.