MABUSHI-ya

The town feels warm and quiet, a good fit if you want a peaceful stay. This seems to be an old traditional Japanese house now run as a guesthouse. The bath smelled lovely of cypress and was relaxing. The building is old, but the facilities matched what had been described, and I didn't run into any real inconvenience.

I stayed at Chiyogiku, where old building details around the inn really got my imagination going. The bath has a wooden tub from an old bathhouse, which gives it a great atmosphere. On the veranda, the breeze was lovely, especially with a beer after a bath. Townspeople passing by would greet me, and it felt like I'd lived there forever. There are lots of snack bars nearby, all with their own distinct character. The friendly locals and I hit it off quickly, and we drank and sang together. It was reassuring to know the inn was just around the corner when we stayed out late.

There’s no TV and the lights are dim, so it feels quiet and restful. The cypress smell in the bath is lovely, too. A convenient spot for going out drinking with friends in Tomioka.

In May 2019 I stayed in the private room called Chiyogiku. The room felt comfortable, from the high-ceilinged entrance hall to the wonderfully relaxing cypress bath. The staff, who were local shop owners, were very kind. I had dinner at Il Pino, an Italian restaurant, then spent the evening at the snack bar Lost Time. It was great to try a delicious place where locals gather.