Nagataki

This was one of our favorite stays in Japan! It was such a unique experience and one we'll never forget. You stay in your own private "house" on the property with access to their Onsen. The property is so carefully curated--the garden grounds alone are worth the visit. The service was perfect--they were warm, attentive, and went above and beyond. The food was exceptional. We had a few traditional meals before our stay here, and this one definitely felt the most special. (At one point during the meal, I asked about a chestnut that was served because I was curious about how it was cooked. It was a small accent on the plate, not a main part of the course, and when I asked about it, I learned that it took 4 days to prepare!) The house was clean and well-kept, but it is a special historical property. In a way, it felt a little like "glamping" but I only say that to try and mentally prepare guests for a "non-typical" hotel experience. It is definitely a top-notch stay! The area is so special as well. We felt it was the perfect balance to some of our city experiences. We only had a full day in the area (which was worth it) but we also could have spent two. If you can, I highly recommend the hike/walk from Magome to Tsumago. It was much more stunning than the brochures could describe and stays beautiful the entire way. It's not difficult, just long!

We stayed here for one night. It’s lovely place. The staff is very friendly and speak good English. There are a couple of old Japanese homes and an old outside onsen with a beautiful view. Our home was very cozy. We had dinner snd breakfast inside our own home. They bring you all the different courses of an extensive Kaiseki dinner. We had a vegetarian option and it was all do delicious. They can bring you to the Magome - Tsumago trail and we did a lovely trail to the castle ruins. We had a great stay. Highly recommended!!

Nagataki is a compound of several "hundreds of years old" typical houses connected through walkable paths and integrated with nature. You can truly feel the "old" and "nature" vibe all across the property. The houses being old can get really cold during the winter even with the heaters turned on, so be prepared with warm layers and pajamas so you can have a pleasant night. You get your own private restroom and bathroom with a soaking tub along with all the amenities you might need. You can also use the public bath (separate women from men), which was a delight and the walk across the property was really invigorating. You also get yukatas you can wear on your room and around the property that makes the experience even better. When you book half board (which I highly encourage you do), you get breakfast and dinner (kaiseki style) served directly on your 'old house / room', and the food is 5 star Michelin grade, honestly the best food we ever had in all our 3 weeks in japan!!! You have to try it!!! And they cook using local ingredients ＜3 The service was incredible, Masaya was very attentive to our needs and gave us really good advice for the Nakasendo Trail and how to move around the towns and back. They also offer a shuttle service from and to the Nakatsugawa station (I suggest you contact them prior to arrival to schedule the pick up, otherwise there are plenty of taxis outside the station at a very reasonable price so either way works). Highly recommend this Ryokan!

Lovely authentic ryokan, really enjoyed our stay here!