Horse Village Uma no Yado

The landlady is cheerful and loves a chat, and the owner bred Narita Brian, which makes this a fun place for horse racing fans. The horses at the neighboring ranch aren't affiliated with the inn. It's also a nice stop for Uma Musume fans. The 15,000 yen price is cash only and includes two meals, with seafood robatayaki and sashimi. Available through October. Toilets with washlets and the baths are shared.

The scenery around the place was lovely, and seeing the mother horse with her foal really soothed me. We stayed one night on September 23, 2024, in a very quiet room in a separate building where the accommodation and meals were served. The futon was fluffy and so comfortable, and the bath and toilet were spotless. I loved the local ingredients in every dish. The owner grilled fish for us and explained how it was prepared, and it was delicious. I understand why people keep returning and saying, “I’m home!” Thank you so much!

There aren't any convenience stores or shops within walking distance, so bring snacks with you if you'll want some. The extra 1,000 yen recently added for heating and environmental maintenance is worth factoring into your budget. Getting here also takes planning: although Jalan and other travel sites list Ogibushi Station as five minutes away and mention a shuttle, that section of the Hidaka Main Line, from Mukawa to Samani including Ogibushi Station, was discontinued in April 2021. The area is now reachable only by car, motorbike, or Dounan bus. I chose this pension as part of my Uma Musume panel pilgrimage. It is a little expensive, but I found the experience worth it. The guest rooms and dining room are in separate buildings. When I arrived, the landlady was making dinner; she wasn't at the guest building, but you can let her know at the dining room across the street and she'll come greet you. The room is simple, with a bed, desk, chair, heater, tissues, and a choice of bath towels. The wooden building feels warm, though, and as you'd expect at a pension, the living room, washroom, toilet, and bath are shared. The landlady was friendly and easy to talk to, and made me feel comfortable, almost like my own mother. The food was my main reason for coming, and it was delicious. The landlady carefully chooses fresh seafood and vegetables. The servings looked modest in the photos, but I was more than satisfied. Breakfast is on the second floor, with fresh vegetables and a view of the Hokkaido morning scenery. Around dawn you can see the horses. I didn't ask whether it was okay to get closer, so I can't say. The inn takes COVID-19 prevention measures very seriously. They might feel uncomfortable to some people, but I'm used to them and didn't find them a drawback. Privately run inns and pensions are fighting to stay open these days, as other reviewers have said. I enjoyed this place so much that I'd come back to Hokkaido just to stay here.

I first came to see the horses, but now I love relaxing at the inn, taking in the ranch scenery and the smell of the pasture. I've stayed here many times, and the welcome is so warm that I always end up saying, “Mom, I'm back!” The dishes are all carefully made with local ingredients, and you can really taste how good the ingredients are. I've stayed in a lot of places, but nowhere else serves food this delicious. I'm impressed every time, and I'll be back.