Sekitaitei Ishida

This Accommodation was full of thoughtful seasonal touches and warm hospitality. A hot-water bottle was prepared in the futon, and all the staff valued each conversation with care… The cherry blossoms were not yet in full bloom, but wild mountain cherry trees were starting to flower here and there around Achi Village, making it feel like stepping into a folktale. It truly refreshed my spirit!

As a big Kyogen fan, I chose to stay here because it has a Noh stage and the Room names are Kyogen plays—something I’d wanted to experience at least once. As soon as I parked at the impressive front gate drop-off area, a staff member came right away and moved my car to the side parking lot. Their modern Western-style uniform blended perfectly with this stylish Japanese Ryokan and looked wonderful. When you step inside the entrance—wow! There is a magnificent Noh stage complete with both the bridgeway and seating, an irresistible sight for any Kyogen lover. This time was during the Hina doll display season, so unfortunately I couldn’t watch Kyogen or Japanese taiko performances, but the Hina dolls were so beautiful that I found myself completely absorbed. In front of the Noh stage, we were welcomed with amazake soda and traditional sweets—perfect hospitality to mark the start of an extraordinary stay. The staff member assisting us was very charming, and their service was excellent. Whenever we passed other staff in the corridors, they greeted us brightly with “Hello,” in such a natural way—it felt genuinely pleasant. The Room was beautifully prepared and even had a garden view, plus a kotatsu table, so before dinner I could enjoy the Onsen and then relax under the kotatsu. I’d known how great Hirugami Onsen is for some time, and here too there were thoughtful touches like rocks arranged in the indoor bath, hot spring water flowing from its source, and an open-air bath as well—the silky water quality felt truly wonderful. There is also a relaxation space just outside the large public bath; sipping detox water while looking out at the garden was incredibly soothing. Both dinner and breakfast were carefully crafted—dinner had many dishes, and breakfast began with gentle rice porridge that was easy on the stomach—and everything was delicious. With only 17 Rooms across 3,000 tsubo of grounds (about 9,900 m²), I hardly ran into other guests in the corridors; even in the large public bath I often had it to myself, which made it easy to soak slowly and unwind. Although nights were still quite cold, they placed hot-water bottles in my bed during dinner time so I could sleep soundly until morning. The hospitality and cuisine were outstanding, and since both Onsen baths had such excellent water quality (I went four times!), it was truly satisfying in every way. For Kyogen fans especially—the fact that Rooms are named after Kyogen plays and there’s an actual Noh stage made me genuinely happy—this Accommodation is superb overall, so I definitely want to stay again. Next time, I would love to watch Kyogen on that Noh stage if possible.