Auberge Uchiko

The meals, room, and setting were all lovely, which makes what happened especially disappointing. Dinner was French and excellent in both portion and quality. The Japanese breakfast was better than I expected, and the afternoon tea and restaurant view sounded wonderful too. I loved the cottage’s cypress scent and design, and the complimentary drinks and snacks felt thoughtful. At first, I was sure I’d chosen the right inn. I stayed in the second cottage from the front on November 22, 2026. Within about an hour, I found 11 stink bugs: four on the sink, one inside the tissue box beside it, three on the wall, and three by the window. I still shudder remembering how I picked up a tissue to blow my nose and nearly put a stink bug to it. When I slid the shoji screen by the window to close the partition, another one appeared right in front of me. It felt like a house of tricks. I kept worrying about the walls and checking tissue boxes and hidden spots, until I called the front desk to ask what could be done. The person who answered was a foreigner speaking slightly broken Japanese. They said there were unusually many stink bugs this year, that spraying was the only way to kill them, and that seeing 10 was unusual and terrible. I understood that prevention might be hard, but no one apologized. I couldn’t sleep well because I was worried about bugs, and expected someone to follow up the next day. There was no response, not even an apology. We killed 11 and checked again in the morning, but found no more. I’m disappointed that a thorough check beforehand might have spared us from paying nearly 80,000 yen for two people and acting like stink bug exterminators. Even if the infestation couldn’t be avoided, I feel an apology was the least they could offer. For anyone staying in a cottage, check the sink all the way to the back, the entire tissue box, and behind the shoji screens as soon as you arrive. Some bugs can come up from the gravel, so look carefully. If you check again after an hour and find nothing, it’s highly likely there won’t be any until morning. The message from a front desk call didn’t seem to reach all the staff, so tell someone in person too. Despite this incident, I really do think it’s a wonderful inn, with excellent food, scenery, and rooms. The staff’s hospitality also struck me as very good. I hope they keep these points in mind so future guests can have a comfortable stay.

I felt how much the staff cared about Uchiko Town, and came away with only positive impressions of their service. I’d definitely like to stay again. The meals were excellent, especially the way Uchiko traditional candles were presented at dinner. I also liked the location and the design throughout the inn. The dining area overlooking the garden was my favorite, though it can only host two groups at a time, so I skipped dining there as a solo traveler. I did get to relax over tea during the day.

The staff were so welcoming, and the facilities, views, and food were all wonderful. I had my best holiday ever, and would love to come back for my anniversary.

I go to the day spa pretty often. It’s quite pricey, though maybe that’s part of the appeal ♪ People from outside town can get a discount if they buy a multi-ride ticket!