Reviews of 山の宿大樽風呂のたけのこ

Adventure

The owner really took a lot of trouble to be hospitable. We got lost on the way and arrived late, we were greeted with junglebell music( it was xmas eve!). He also prepared a lovely relaxing hot tub. The property is at the very end of a 4km single track road. Right next to the accommodation is a sacred water spring. There is a shrine and ancient garden, a really peaceful spot bathed in midday sun. We went for walks along the ancient village routes through tall trees and small streams, very quite, peaceful and gave time for personal reflextion. On one of the days we drove down to the coast and did the short but stunning National Natural Monument Onigajo Cliff. In Kumanoshi there are supermarkets to stock up in. Best way to find this place is from Kumanoshi, head north on the road no 34 for about 3km, take the right hand split onto the 156 and then turn sharp right after about 4km at the sign post to Oma Shrine and Mizutaishi. Follow this road for a further 2+ km and keep to the right hand fork, as you enter the village there is a wooden sign leaning against the junction with the house name and an arrow right. Take this turn, drive the single track road until it finishes, the house is up here. There are buildings on the right and left of the road. Google maps do not show it in the right place. Try to arrive in daylight!

You should be aware that the facilities here are basic, no running hot water, limited cooking facilities and no luxury items. Everything works and although not pristine clean it was clean enough. There are shops about 8km away you need to bring everything with you. There are plenty of clean towels, plates etc. Really it's a lovely quiet place to spend time and we cooked meals very happily there, just be prepared and think ahead.

This is a tricky review, as the property is not as described but had we known that we would not have book - AND TO MISS STAYING HERE WOULD BE TERRIBLE. The property is for adventurous spirits only. It's up a mountain in forest. It's hand made tacked together with whatever he can find by the owner. It looks like a shack and yet it is warm and comfortable (if a little weirdly set out with a random step in middle of dining room/bedroom exit that we kept tripping on). The bathroom is a walk down a dirt track past some falling down greenhouses, (don't try it at night), but once you are there it's kitted out with a giant woodden barrel onsen with fresh mountain water heated but wood fire. The forest is gorgeous and as we explored we encountered many birds, deer and a baby snake. The owner is wonderful and drove to town to pick us up and drop us off as we did not have a car. So glad we stayed. It was highlight of our 3 week japan trip.

The property is not only not as close to town as listed, in fact it's about 8km further up the mountain, but the owner also informed us that google maps (which gives property location and directions on booking.com) directs you to wrong place. As mentioned we did not have car and were on biking holiday and would never have been able to find or get to property and without owner offering to pick us up, would have been lost on mountain at night with no phone or internet service as range does not reach out of tow.