BYAKU Narai

I first learned about this Accommodation a few years ago, and finally had the chance to stay this time. It blends seamlessly into the Narai streetscape, with a presence that lets you feel its history. When you step inside, the garden’s plants welcome you, allowing you to fully sense the season. The Room offers modern comfort while preserving traces of the past, making it an easy and relaxing space to spend time in. My father, an architect, also praised it highly—saying that renovating a building of this caliber while intentionally leaving parts as they were is an incredible concept.Perhaps thanks to the spring water used for the bath, my skin felt smoother and seemed to pair perfectly with skincare; my skin looked great the next morning.The meals were also outstanding for their generous use of ingredients from Shinshu. The menu was abstract in a way that sparked imagination, and even wondering what would come next was part of the fun. I ordered the non-alcohol pairing, and the creator’s skill was remarkable—I would recommend it even to those who mainly drink alcohol. There was plenty of food, but because everything was fresh and high quality, it didn’t feel heavy at all. Breakfast too was seasoned so that the umami of dashi and ingredients soaked right in—I ended up eating a lot. Every dish was deeply nourishing and brought out each ingredient’s appeal to its fullest.Also, all staff members were wonderful—always smiling and fluent in English.Even understatedly put: 100 out of 100. It became a wonderful trip where I could fully feel history, value, and human warmth.Thank you very much.

I stayed in a Room in the annex, facing the main street of Ueharaya. The Room, renovated with exposed beams and a black-based design, was chic and modern. It even had a wooden dripper and a Timemore grinder, so I could relax with coffee in a rare lacquer cup while watching videos on my mobile projector (there is no TV). At the main building restaurant—renovated from a former sake brewery and miso storehouse—the dinner was outstanding: rare venison oyaki, carp shinjo, premium beef cooked to perfection, and local vegetables that were richly flavored and very sweet. The strawberry dessert topped with mint jelly was served on a beautiful plate decorated with lacquer on glass—truly an exceptional dinner to enjoy not only by taste but also by sight. The dining staff were young, but an English-fluent male staff member assisted international guests, and the other female staff kindly said they were “still learning,” which made everyone feel attentive and welcoming—I found myself wanting to cheer them on. Choosing this Accommodation for my trip to Narai-juku was absolutely the right decision. Thank you very much.