{"id":1729,"date":"2025-12-18T14:01:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T05:01:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/?post_type=r-journal&#038;p=1729"},"modified":"2026-04-23T19:57:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T10:57:08","slug":"tokamachi-report-yukinoya","status":"publish","type":"r-journal","link":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/r-journal\/tokamachi-report-yukinoya\/","title":{"rendered":"[Tokamachi] 150-Year-Old Traditional House Yukinoya-Furusawa Traditional Stay &amp; Stunning Rice Terraces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This time, I\u2019d like to introduce a stay at a traditional inn in Tokamachi, Niigata\u2014the&nbsp;<strong>150-year-old kominka \u201cYukino-ya Furusawa-tei,\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;which I visited in late July, right in the height of summer. Revived through the passion of its host, Mr. Ibi, and his ties with the local community, this house offers a chance to experience what it truly means to \u201ctravel as if living there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My stay began with an early-morning trek to match the summer heat, followed by a quiet evening at the inn, and continued into the next day with a morning walk and breakfast. In this article, I\u2019ll share that flow of a day just as I experienced it.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"recommend-post-cards\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card\">\n                <div class=\"recommend-post-card__container\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__eyecatch\">\n                                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_5213-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Yukinoya-Furusawa Traditional Stay\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__content\">\n                        <p class=\"recommend-post-card__title\">\n                            Yukinoya-Furusawa Traditional Stay                        <\/p>\n                        <a class=\"recommend-post-card__link btn-brand\" href=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/ryokan\/yukinoya\/\">\n                            View Details                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n\n\n    <div class=\"r-journal-author\">\n        <div class=\"r-journal__wrap\">\n            <figure class=\"r-journal-author__pic\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-3-283x300-1.webp\" alt=\"\u6cb3\u4e0a\u30e9\u30ea\u30fc\u30b5\"\/>\n            <\/figure>\n            <div class=\"r-journal-author__meta\">\n                <p class=\"r-journal-author__position\">\u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793e Hinotori<\/p>\n                <p class=\"r-journal-author__name\">\n                    <span>\u6cb3\u4e0a\u30e9\u30ea\u30fc\u30b5<\/span>\n                <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            <button class=\"r-journal-author__open\"><\/button>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"r-journal-author__detail\">\n            <p class=\"intro_esc\">Larisa Kawakami<br \/>\r\nHello! I\u2019m a university student currently living in Taiwan. As I travel around Japan, I look forward to encountering not only the people and the land, but also the everyday ways of life that have taken root in each place.<\/p>\n            <a class=\"url\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/a>\n            <button class=\"r-journal-author__close\"><\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-1\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_A_Trekking_Adventure_That_Begins_with_a_Word_in_the_Early_Morning\"><\/span>1. A Trekking Adventure That Begins with a Word in the Early Morning<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00056-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25316\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<em>It\u2019s going to be hot today, so let\u2019s head out before seven.<\/em>\u201d<br>That single phrase woke me up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was midsummer in Tokamachi, Niigata. Before settling into the old kominka inn, Yukino-ya, we set out on foot to get a feel for the land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<em>Let\u2019s go at a comfortable pace.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hearing those words eased my shoulders a little. With our host and guide, Mr. Ibi, leading the way, the trekking began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Trekking%EF%BD%9CWalking_through_the_Satoyama_with_Scents_Sounds_and_Touch\"><\/span>2. Trekking\uff5cWalking through the Satoyama with Scents, Sounds, and Touch<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09569-2-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25317\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We started from Hokuhoku Oshima Station on the Hokuetsu Express. In the peak of summer heat, the key is to head out early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00075-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25318\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09582-2-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25319\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the first small shrine, we pressed our hands together to pray for safety before entering the mountain. Along the path stood wooden posts once used for&nbsp;<em>hazakake<\/em>\u2014the traditional way of hanging rice to dry. Traces of everyday life remain quietly etched into the landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09640-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25321\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stepping onto the old unpaved road, I felt the spring of soil under my feet. Rubbing a branch of&nbsp;<em>kuromoji<\/em>&nbsp;beneath the dappled sunlight released a refreshing scent onto my fingertips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As we entered the beech forest, the air turned cool. Listening to stories about how the leaves and soil hold water, my pace naturally began to slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09663-3-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25322\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00097-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25323\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-3\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Story_That_Stayed_with_Me\"><\/span>A Story That Stayed with Me<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What struck me was the fact that, although this area isn\u2019t at a particularly high elevation, a primeval beech forest spreads out here. The reason, I was told, is the heavy snowfall\u2014causing the beeches to \u201cmistake it for highlands\u201d and take root.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When their leaves fall, they turn into humus\uff0drich forest soil, that soaks up rain like a sponge and slowly releases it back into the ground. That process nurtures groundwater, which in turn supports farming and the ecosystem. Hearing that these trees quietly store water and sustain life without anyone noticing truly left me in awe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09743-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25324\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we reached the summit, the view opened up and the trees rustled all at once with the wind. I could feel the breeze and the fresh air flowing straight into my tired body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Time for a break. From Mr. Ibi\u2019s backpack came a kettle set and some&nbsp;<em>sasadango<\/em>&nbsp;(bamboo-leaf rice cakes). Right there, he boiled water and brewed kuromoji tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHere, have some kuromoji herbal tea,\u201d he offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09713-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25325\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So that\u2019s why he picked those branches earlier. The refreshing taste cooled me down and eased away the sweat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since I love aromatherapy and herbal teas, I was delighted by this kind of \u201creal\u201d experience\u2014something I\u2019d never had the chance to try back home in Taiwan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09843-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25326\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The heat that day was relentless, so we turned back halfway and drove to the scenic terraced rice fields of Hoshit\u014dge. Honestly, I had already reached my physical limit, so I was relieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From Hokuhoku Oshima Station, it\u2019s about a three-and-a-half-hour walk to Hoshit\u014dge Tanada. If you\u2019re confident in your stamina, give it a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When we arrived at Hoshit\u014dge, we first stopped to offer a prayer at the small Jiz\u014d statue\u2014thankful for our safe journey and for the blessings of nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09853-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25327\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What I Learned from Mr. Ibi<br>\u201cThese terraced rice fields can only be preserved because people continue to care for them,\u201d he told me. \u201cBut with the aging population, it\u2019s becoming harder to keep them going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the&nbsp;<em>mizukagami<\/em>&nbsp;season, when the water-filled paddies reflect the sky, visitors increase dramatically. Yet the work of maintaining both the landscape and the fields themselves falls on the shoulders of local residents. Behind the \u201cfree-to-see scenery\u201d lies the community\u2019s effort and struggle. Part of the tour fee is donated back to the village, which I thought was a meaningful way to make the experience more than just sightseeing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-4\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Reflections\"><\/span><strong>Reflections<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I heard many things that ordinary tourism would never reveal. Even when I visit other places now, I find myself imagining the stories behind the scenery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Personally, since I don\u2019t do well with heat, I would recommend coming outside of summer. But if you enjoy hiking, you\u2019ll likely find summer rewarding too. In the end, what struck me most wasn\u2019t the view itself but Mr. Ibi\u2019s words. There\u2019s a weight in the \u201creal thing\u201d that photos or videos can\u2019t capture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-5\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Packing_Notes_Summer_Satoyama\"><\/span>Packing Notes (Summer Satoyama)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Insect repellent \/ sunscreen \/ light long sleeves and pants<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hiking shoes \/ rain gear \/ towel \/ at least 500ml of water<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Salt tablets or candies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u203b From July to September, expect early morning starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"spot-details\">Spot Details<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Name:<\/strong>&nbsp;Hokuhoku \u014cshima Station<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Address:<\/strong>&nbsp;Shimo-tatsu, \u014cshima-ku, J\u014detsu City, Niigata Prefecture<br><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/SudvCDNywFE5qF1v6\">https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/SudvCDNywFE5qF1v6<br><\/a><strong>Access:<\/strong>&nbsp;About 20 minutes from Tokamachi Station via the Hokuhoku Line<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"recommend-post-cards\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card\">\n                <div class=\"recommend-post-card__container\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__eyecatch\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC09843-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Hoshitoge Rice Terraces\">\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__content\">\n                       <p class=\"recommend-post-card__title\">\n                            Hoshitoge Rice Terraces                        <\/p>\n                        <a class=\"recommend-post-card__link btn-brand\" href=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/spot\/hoshitoge-terraced-ricefields\/\">\n                            View Details                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-6\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Evening_at_the_Inn%EF%BD%9CFrom_%E2%80%9CStaying%E2%80%9D_to_%E2%80%9CLiving%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>3. Evening at the Inn\uff5cFrom \u201cStaying\u201d to \u201cLiving\u201d<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00019-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25328\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yukino-ya welcomes only one group per day. Upon arrival, we gathered in the dining room, where traces of a traditional irori (hearth) remain, and listened carefully to the history of the house and tips for making the most of our stay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For me, it was my first time staying in a traditional house in the snow country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09983-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25329\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09943-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25330\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09940-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25331\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The check-in included about 30 minutes of explanation, which honestly surprised me. The host guided us through the house almost like a museum tour\u2014covering the building\u2019s structure, its history, and even how to use the traditional tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It wasn\u2019t just about staying there; I felt I was meant to take something away from this experience. I also noticed clever adaptations unique to life in the snow country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00162-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25332\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take, for example,<strong>the&nbsp;<em>gangi<\/em><\/strong>.&nbsp;<strong>Gangi<\/strong>&nbsp;is a covered walkway found in snowy regions like Tokamachi. It turns what would normally be a veranda into a passageway, letting people move around safely even under meters of snow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Tokamachi, where snow can exceed three meters, the area that would normally be a veranda is transformed into a covered walkway. It\u2019s a living example of the ingenuity developed to cope with heavy snowfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00034-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25333\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09924-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25334\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even in the small loft above the living room, I heard an unforgettable story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOriginally, there were no stairs here\u2014only a removable ladder. It\u2019s said to have been a measure against&nbsp;<em>yobai<\/em>.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Yobai<\/em>? My mind immediately filled with question marks. Yobai literally means \u201cnight crawling\u201d and refers to a traditional practice in some rural areas of Japan where young men would visit women\u2019s homes at night, often secretly, as part of courtship.It was fascinating to get a glimpse into Japanese culture this way. I think hearing stories like this from Mr. Ibi is one of the greatest values of staying at this inn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Throughout the house, there are many tools and items that people used in the past. I\u2019ll leave those as a surprise for visitors\u2014searching for them is part of the fun, so I won\u2019t go into detail here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00030-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25335\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00053-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25336\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the evening, we used the&nbsp;<strong>irori<\/strong>, a traditional sunken hearth, to cook sukiyaki with ingredients we had bought at a local supermarket. It was my first time using an irori, and I was excited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We cooked Niigata rice in a&nbsp;<strong>donabe<\/strong>&nbsp;(earthenware pot) and then transferred it to an&nbsp;<strong>ohitsu<\/strong>&nbsp;(wooden rice container). I learned for the first time why this is done. Simply put, moving the rice stops the residual heat in the pot from over-steaming it, the wood absorbs excess moisture to prevent sogginess, and the wooden surface helps maintain just the right humidity so the rice stays tasty even after it cools. The grains remain firm and delicious, perfect even for making onigiri (rice ball).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Transferring rice to an ohitsu is a uniquely Japanese method, used not only in traditional inns but also in households and sushi restaurants. It keeps the rice at an ideal texture and flavor far better than just \u201ckeeping it warm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fragrance of rice cooked in a donabe, the steam rising from the ohitsu, the texture of the dishes in hand\u2014it all felt so alive. Despite the house\u2019s historical charm, the water areas are clean and well-maintained, making the stay comfortable and safe for women as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09945-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25337\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey didn\u2019t buy any new dishes\u2014everything here has been passed down from this house and the local community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hearing that, the tiny chips and scratches on the bowls suddenly felt endearing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC09892-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25338\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I soaked in the bathtub, washing away the fatigue from the trekking. The bathroom and toilet were clean and well-maintained, making the stay comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00284-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25339\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last surprise awaited at the entrance\u2014it was very small, requiring everyone to bow their head to enter. When we were leaving, Mr. Ibi opened it fully to show us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis tiny entrance carries the meaning: \u2018Bow your head when you enter.\u2019 Actually, it can open completely.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until the very end, this house kept astonishing me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-7\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Morning_Walk%EF%BD%9CA_Deep_Breath_at_Matsuo_Shrine\"><\/span>4. Morning Walk\uff5cA Deep Breath at Matsuo Shrine<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00078-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25340\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next morning, we walked just a minute from the inn to&nbsp;<strong>Matsuo Shrine<\/strong>. Honestly, getting up early was tough, but as we entered the cedar forest, the cool air and the scent of the trees immediately woke me up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Along the stone-paved steps stood the&nbsp;<strong>Meoto-sugi<\/strong>, or \u201cMarried Cedars\u201d\u2014two cedar trees said to be over 500 years old, growing side by side. Looking up, I had to crane my neck to take in their sheer size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After passing the shrine, the view opened up to rice fields, with the sound of the wind and birdsong all around. At our feet, plants like&nbsp;<strong>my\u014dga<\/strong>&nbsp;(a type of Japanese ginger) and&nbsp;<strong>sansh\u014d<\/strong>&nbsp;(Japanese pepper) grew naturally\u2014ingredients used in local cooking\u2014and tiny frogs hopped about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The morning air, so fresh and alive, filled my body in a way I could only experience by coming here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-8\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Breakfast%EF%BD%9CFlavors_Crafted_by_Hands_in_the_Kitchen\"><\/span>5. Breakfast\uff5cFlavors Crafted by Hands in the Kitchen<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00134-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25341\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00147-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25342\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00157-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25343\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the walk, a local woman stood in the kitchen to prepare breakfast. We picked&nbsp;<strong>shiso<\/strong>&nbsp;(Japanese perilla) from the backyard and helped out together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is another example of the charm of having only one group per day\u2014the hosts do so much just for us, and it really made me feel the connection between people and the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-9\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Impression_of_the_Host_Mother\"><\/span>Impression of the Host Mother<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She doesn\u2019t live at the inn full-time, yet she comes all the way to cook for us. Truly, she felt like a \u201cJapanese mother.\u201d I felt both a sense of wonder\u2014<em>why would she go to such lengths?<\/em>\u2014and warmth at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00208-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25344\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00207-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25345\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">and added it to the&nbsp;<strong>hiyajiru<\/strong>&nbsp;(a cold miso soup), the aroma rising from the bowl somehow connected back to the forest we had just walked through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was my first time trying hiyajiru, but my body reacted immediately\u2014<em>delicious!<\/em>&nbsp;I honestly thought, next time, I want to bring my friends from Taiwan here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"rtoc-10\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Ending_Thoughts%EF%BD%9CId_Love_to_Visit_Again_in_Another_Season\"><\/span>6. Ending Thoughts\uff5cI\u2019d Love to Visit Again in Another Season<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC00262-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-25346\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mr. Ibi\u2019s wish to \u201cpreserve the pure parts of this region\u201d came through in every aspect of our stay. I think that\u2019s the true charm of staying in a traditional&nbsp;<strong>kominka<\/strong>\u2014a historic Japanese house, often over a hundred years old, with wooden architecture and traditional features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quiet mornings, the glow of the fire, the scent of the fields, the fragrance of the cedar forest\u2014though my stay was short, I truly felt like I was&nbsp;<em>living<\/em>&nbsp;there. The summer waves of rice and the white stillness of winter must show completely different faces of the same place. I\u2019ll definitely come back, in another season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Spot:&nbsp;<\/strong>Yukino-ya Furusawa-tei<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Address:<\/strong>&nbsp;170 An\u2019y\u014dji, T\u014dkamachi, Niigata 949-8562, Japan<br><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/97WGSvUfHtngvKVcA\">Google Maps Link<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Access:<\/strong>&nbsp;Joetsu Shinkansen to&nbsp;<strong>Echigo-Yuzawa Station<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2192 Hokuhoku Line to&nbsp;<strong>T\u014dkamachi Station<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2192 Approximately 15 minutes by car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Taxi arrangement<\/strong>&nbsp;is possible from Echigo-Yuzawa Station for an additional fee (approximately 40 minutes by car).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Complimentary shuttle service<\/strong>&nbsp;is available from T\u014dkamachi Station.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Parking:<\/strong>&nbsp;Free dedicated parking available.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"recommend-post-cards\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card\">\n                <div class=\"recommend-post-card__container\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__eyecatch\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/DSC09843-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Hoshitoge Rice Terraces\">\n                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__content\">\n                       <p class=\"recommend-post-card__title\">\n                            Hoshitoge Rice Terraces                        <\/p>\n                        <a class=\"recommend-post-card__link btn-brand\" href=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/spot\/hoshitoge-terraced-ricefields\/\">\n                            View Details                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n\n\n    <div class=\"recommend-post-cards\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card\">\n                <div class=\"recommend-post-card__container\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__eyecatch\">\n                                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/IMG_5213-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"Yukinoya-Furusawa Traditional Stay\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__content\">\n                        <p class=\"recommend-post-card__title\">\n                            Yukinoya-Furusawa Traditional Stay                        <\/p>\n                        <a class=\"recommend-post-card__link btn-brand\" href=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/ryokan\/yukinoya\/\">\n                            View Details                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Written by Larisa Kawakami<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Translation: Ryokanbook Editorial Team<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This time, I\u2019d like to introduce a stay at a traditional inn in Tokamachi, Niigata\u2014the&nbsp;150-year-old kominka \u201cYukino-ya Furusawa-tei,\u201d&nbsp;which I visited in late July, right in the height of summer. Revived through the passion of its host, Mr. Ibi, and his ties with the local community, this house offers a chance to experience what it truly means to \u201ctravel as if living there.\u201d My stay began with an early-morning trek to match the summer heat, followed by a quiet evening at the inn, and continued into the next day with a morning walk and breakfast. In this article, I\u2019ll share that flow of a day just as I experienced it. 1. A Trekking Adventure That Begins with a Word in the Early Morning \u201cIt\u2019s going to be hot today, so let\u2019s head out before seven.\u201dThat single phrase woke me up. It was midsummer in Tokamachi, Niigata. Before settling into the old kominka inn, Yukino-ya, we set out on foot to get a feel for the land. \u201cLet\u2019s go at a comfortable pace.\u201d Hearing those words eased my s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3404,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"blog_author_id":1701},"area":[3],"r-journal-category":[143],"r-journal-tag":[144,162,147,148],"class_list":["post-1729","r-journal","type-r-journal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-tokamachi","r-journal-category-model-course","r-journal-tag-1-night-trip","r-journal-tag-experience-nature","r-journal-tag-extreme-experiences","r-journal-tag-guided-tours"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal\/1729","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/r-journal"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3404"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1729"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area?post=1729"},{"taxonomy":"r-journal-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal-category?post=1729"},{"taxonomy":"r-journal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal-tag?post=1729"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}