It was all perfect

Exceptional service from free pick up and drop off from the station, warm welcome with towels after the rain and brilliant tour of the property. Erica was a brilliant host, chatting with us over dinner and explaining the sake tasting. The whole building was beautiful with everything wooden, antique and lots of comfy seating and books to read. Super clean bathroom, hot water despite being in the middle of nowhere. Comfy beds and everything you could need in the room. Wish we could have stayed longer

Stayed in August 2025

Like anywhere in the country, there were some bugs.

The atmosphere, decoration, and architecture were amazing. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive. Curry dinner was also excellent.

Stayed in August 2025

The most gorgeous place, very quiet and peaceful. The view from the balcony was stunning, the interior was very cozy and authentic, full of wood and natural materials, the rooms felt very private. The hosts were very thoughtful and welcoming. And there was a cute cat too!

Stayed in August 2025

Stunning location, lovely staff, delicious food

Stayed in August 2025

The Hostel ist very nicely decorated and is extremely comfortable offering beutiful spaces for reading and hanging out. The terrace offers beautiful views of the garden, forest and mountains. The kitchen is open towards a common space that invites to share with the other (few) guests. The personnel is very friendly, polite and helpful and the sake tasting is a must!

Stayed in July 2025

Great location, truly in the mountains but in a beautiful house.

Stayed in July 2025

We loved the vibe of this beautifully situated guesthouse. It’s not a 5* hotel but it is genuine, authentic and really thoughtfully and comfortably equipped. The staff were fab and chatted generously about themselves and Japan and were really helpful with ongoing hiking not to mention cooking really delicious food. Also did the sake tasting which was really fun. Highly recommend

Stayed in July 2025

Our family room was hot through the night as directly under roof and not AC conditioned

Japanese atmosphere, nicely decorated, simple dinner and breakfast

Stayed in July 2025

Long hike up the mountain road from the train station, but that was our choice, so we can’t complain.

Beautiful setting, warm and accommodating hosts, gorgeous property.

Stayed in July 2025

Nothing

This was one of the most beautiful and welcoming places we stayed on our 3 week trip to Japan. The space is full of treasures, comfortable and comforting, welcoming to kids and adults and has everything you need for a mountain retreat. The meals, breakfast and dinner were delicious. The sake tasting was fun and so accessible. The view, in the morning and evenings especially, was spectacular. It’s very easy to do several walks with this as a base. Highly recommend.

Stayed in June 2025

Nothing

Hostel Yui-an is a beautfiul traditional farmhouse which the owners have lovingly and stylishly renovated. It's a gorgeous and relaxing place to stay amidst the stunning landscape of the Kiso valley. It's a perfect place to stay for hiking and walking the Nakasendo trail. The owners and staff are helpful and friendly.

Stayed in July 2025

We loved it all!

Hostel Yui-an was a wonderful place to stay. I’m so glad that we were able to spend two nights here, a truly unique and magical place.

Stayed in June 2025

nothing! Was amazing. Would not change a thing.

Beautiful space with so much thought and care put into it. It feels like I’m at home

Stayed in July 2025

Staff were so thoughtful and considerate. Home was charming, beautiful and a peaceful oasis. I only wish we had stayed more than one night!

Stayed in July 2025

We will always remember our magical stay at Yui-an. Thank you to the kind hosts and staff for creating such a warm, friendly and comfortable environment. The day we left we walked in the rain for hours and were in good spirits as we talked about the beautiful farmhouse, stunning landscape and fascinating conversations with fellow guests and staff the night before.

Stayed in June 2025

This is a must if you are hiking the Nakasendo trail. We arranged for the shuttle to pick us up at the train station. It was easy to arrange and very nice to take advantage of. The ambiance and vibe of this "hostel" is fantastic. If we had it to do all over again, we would have stayed all three nights in this place and taken the train to other portions of the trail. There is plenty of space with a couple of sitting rooms to hang out in. The food was great (if you make reservations). The staff was fantastic and very sociable. We also met one of the owners and she gave us the story of the place and about the renovations of this 200 year-old gem. If you love good craftsmanship, you will love this place.

Stayed in June 2025

The mountain location was beautiful, easy communication, very friendly and helpful staff.

Stayed in June 2025

Great location quiete ann in the nature. The staff is super nice!we’ll would stay one more night. Great breakfast and they also have a shuttle from nagiso station!

Stayed in June 2025

Nothing! It was perfect.

We loved everything! A magical place to end up after a day or two of hiking the Nakasendo Trail. I felt so lucky to spend a night here, and wish we had stayed longer … it’s hard to describe but trust me it was just so very special. Make sure to do the sake tasting!

Stayed in June 2025

Wish we would have stayed longer than one night.

The place is absolutely gorgeous. We saw monkeys in the trees while admiring their spectacular mountain and valley views. The love put into this building shows. You can feel it in every room. Our family of four stayed comfortably in one room with five comfortable futons on tatami. There are two toilet rooms, double sinks, and a shower/tub room that is shared with other guests. It is set up very well and was no problem sharing. There is also a washing machine/dryer if needed for ¥300. The curry dinner was delicious and they even offered a vegan stew that was gluten free for a member of our family. We enjoyed the 5 sake tasting served by Erica, who was delightful. All staff spoke English and could not have been nicer. Our son had an earache and needed medical attention and the owner did not stop trying to help until he found a hospital with an ENT to see us that day! The staff deserves more praise than I have words. We loved this stay. Highlight of our trip. Very relaxing, zen place to be after hiking the Nakasendo trail.

Stayed in June 2025

Nothing

This is a special and beautiful place run by a lovely couple and their staff. The dinner and breakfast were simple, hearty and delicious. They offer a shuttle from the train station so you can get there from Tsumago by taking the bus to Nagiso and then the shuttle. Just be sure and plan accordingly. It is well worth the effort to get to the place! Highly recommended!

Stayed in May 2025

It's stunning in EVERY detail. The staff is very friendly.

Stayed in June 2025

Nothing

We loved our two-night stay at this beautiful and well-decorated hostel. The area is peaceful with great views, and the staff made us feel very welcome. Highly recommend!

Stayed in May 2025

Staying at this ‘ryokan’ hostel was one of the most unique and memorable experiences of my travels. It beautifully combined the warm, serene ambiance of a traditional Japanese ryokan with the friendly, social spirit of a hostel. The building used to be an old farmer house which I believe around 200 years old or so and they did an exceptional job renovating the whole house! The shared areas were thoughtfully designed, blending old and modern Japanese aesthetics with a welcoming cozy vibe where guests could chat, read, or enjoy tea. The tatami mat rooms were spotlessly clean and offered a peaceful retreat after a day of exploring. Sleeping on the futon was surprisingly comfortable. The staff were outstanding—kind, attentive, and always willing to share local tips or explain cultural nuances. I felt genuinely cared for, as if I were a guest in someone’s home. Highly recommended for anyone looking to immerse themselves in Japanese culture while enjoying the comforts of a well-run hostel. I will absolutely return!

Stayed in May 2025