Dominic H.
Dinner and breakfast were homemade washoku, with lots of dishes and warm rice. I thought Japanese food was generally salty, but the rice was so good that miso sauce was all I needed with it. There was plenty, and another guest even asked for more. The meals were served in big bowls, enough for about four portions. Dinner came between 6.30 - 8 PM and included seasoned hida beef with mushroom, mung bean sprout, and green pepper on a grill, three vegetable tempuras (okra, eggplant, and sweet potato, I think), river fish marinated in soy sauce (I don't know the species), grilled tofu and skin tofu, steamed mushrooms and greens, steamed soy sauce baby potatoes, pickled radish, chopped apple and another fruit I couldn't identify. Breakfast was between 8 - 9 AM: tofu with thick miso sauce on a grill, stir-fried tofu, half a steamed egg, a cherry tomato, and mashed potato (or maybe egg salad), seasoned vegetables including long bean and root veg, natto without egg, packaged salted seaweed, a thick orange slice, and fermented vegetables, maybe cucumber and tomato or persimmon. One had a large seed inside and was very salty. There was also warm white rice. The gassho house felt like visiting my grandma's place, old, dim, cold and quiet, but homey. Our room had a heater and kotatsu, and the futons were thickly layered with comfortable-shaped pillows. Towels, a yukata with belt, hanten coat, hot water in a kettle, green tea, and shiso monaka shaped like a gassho house with sweet red bean paste were provided. You can use the bathroom in the evening until curfew, with room for two people to bathe together. You need to write your name down to reserve a 30-minute slot. The host was thoughtful with our luggage too. We dragged it through heavy snow and rain from the bus terminal, and they told us to leave it, cleaned it, and brought it to our room. Next time, I'd send it on to the next hotel and carry only what I need in a backpack. We loved the people, house, food, and setting. We explored the village, made a snowman, then came back in from the harsh winter and relaxed by the kotatsu. With the house so quiet, we could hear people in the kitchen, footsteps on the wooden floor, and doors sliding. We waited for our meals and slept well. In the late evening or early morning, you can enjoy the peaceful location near the three house, at the end of the road, almost to yourself. It was a lovely experience.
