Sleeping in the countryside in Japan, surrounded by wild nature, is possible. The village of Tanekura is a small rustic hamlet perched in the Japanese Alps. Tanekura Inn, located in Gifu Prefecture, could be your dream destination, just 40 minutes from Takayama. Like other villages in this region, this town has remained authentic and retains the lush greenery of its mountains and terraced rice fields.
Tanekura Village in the Heart of the Japanese Alps
After taking two trains from Nagoya, I arrived at Tanekura Inn. And once I had left my belongings in my room, I took a walk to discover the village composed of barely 20 inhabitants and to enjoy the sunset. The village is beautiful, surrounded by rice fields, mountains, and a panoramic view over the nearby valleys.
The houses in Tanekura Village are traditional, mainly wooden. The inhabitants mainly work in the fields or in the forest surrounding the village. Take a walk in this village to listen to and see nature. Admiring the landscape is an incredibly relaxing way to spend your afternoon.
Tanekura Inn: An Old Japanese House Over a Hundred Years Old
The building of this inn was a family house in the Negasore region a hundred years ago, but the building was relocated and renovated in Tanakura, only a few kilometers from its original location, to make a hotel. The house is beautiful and has views from all sides of the surrounding hills and forests.
You need to stay at Tanekura Inn to really understand what it is like to live in Japan’s ancient and pristine countryside. A place where you can take your time, relax, and soak in the peaceful atmosphere. You will leave feeling refreshed and awakened.
There are no grocery stores or konbini nearby. Spending your time here is really about getting closer to nature and enjoying a quiet stay.
Sleep at Tanekura Inn: A Gorgeous Experience In Nature
The house was built using the traditional construction methods of this region. Tanekura Inn has been renovated, so the house is suitable for accommodation. Nevertheless, it felt homey because they managed to keep the spirit and the atmosphere of the house intact, even after renovation and relocation.
There is a dining space where guests can have dinner and breakfast. There is even an irori, a traditional Japanese sunken hearth used for cooking. Every room has large windows that overlook the countryside and the mountains. Upstairs, there are 4 bedrooms, some of which have tatami mats and others have beds.
Tanekura Inn also has three annexes, two of which are private accommodations for 4-5 people. The third house is used for a soba-making workshop, which you can join by registering in advance.
All common areas are on the ground floor. There is even a spacious room with an incredibly high ceiling. All the materials used in decoration are chic and elegant. I really liked the dark wood used throughout the house.
The Views from my Room and the Bathroom
My room was beautiful and simple. The decorations were delicate. Beautiful, fresh tatami covered the ground, and I had an exceptional view of the valley.
The relaxation and bathroom areas are located on the right side of the building. The bathroom is just beautiful. The cypress wood bathtub was elegant and natural. All these spaces are shared but not mixed by gender.
Like traditional Japanese baths, first wash, rub, then rinse by sitting on a small wooden chair in front of the shower. Once rinsed, you can soak in a bathtub, facing the natural landscape.
Dinner and Breakfast at Tanekura Inn
All of the meals were well prepared with local and seasonal products. The chef took special care to avoid using animal proteins and sugar so as to have a healthy meal. Everything is based on products like rice, millet, tofu, wild vegetables (sansai), buckwheat, and soy. The staff explained all the vegetables and dishes to help me understand Japanese food and local gastronomy.
I discovered new, unexpected flavors during my meal, for example, different kinds of tofu, mountain vegetables such as kogomi, and warabi. I even had the chance to taste a river fish (iwana), which had been grilled on the fire, in the irori: too good.
Appetizer was composed of two rice balls with red ginger on top and local vegetables with tofu (shiraae). And the following dish was made up of all kinds of wild vegetables, such as kogomi and udon… also several kinds of tofu.
Now it is time for vegetable tempuras (little bamboos, sansai, shiitake…) and a bowl of soba.
And the final act consisted of river fish with white rice and a dessert made with tofu (similar to panacotta), apple and peach jam, and coconut. Absolutely delicious.
The next morning, in the same manner as dinner, breakfast follows the same line. A pure delight! It filled me with energy to begin my day. After eating, I went back to Hida Furukuwa for a tour of the city.
Wide View Hida: The Trip Starts in the Train
From Tokyo, take the Tokaido Shinkansen to Nagoya for 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Then take JR Limited Express Wide View Hida, a train which connects Nagoya with Hida Furukawa for 2 hours and 30 minutes. The train is spacious and has wide windows for observing the scenery. During this journey, a voice announces important things to see, like castles, beautiful rivers, and more, which is quite uncommon.
Train to Sakakami
From Hida Furakawa, I took another train to the nearest station of Tanekura Inn, Sakakami Station. During the 20-minute train ride, I had the chance to see beautiful valleys, so keep your eyes open. To get to the hotel, the staff can pick you up depending on your train schedule. Alternatively, take a taxi from Hida Furukawa Station (about 7,000 yen one way).
Tanekura Inn
ESTABLISHMENT- 37-2 Miyagawachō Tanekura, Hida, Gifu 509-4402, Japan
- ★★★★☆
Sponsored by Hida City
Original article written in June 2017
Translated by Aika Ikeda
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