BYAKU Narai

This was a place and an Accommodation I’d wanted to visit for a long time, but since it doesn’t have an Onsen, it ultimately dropped off my shortlist. For some reason, this time I just really wanted to go, so we decided to stay.When choosing our Room, since we don’t like moving around too much, we looked at Rooms in the main building (Toshiyoshiya), where the front desk, restaurant, large public bath, and bar are all on the same premises. Since it was a special occasion, we chose Room 102 facing the Narai-juku street. The Room is on the second floor, so you don’t end up making eye contact with tourists walking by—and you can enjoy people-watching instead. We were also surprised at how close you can see the sugidama hanging under the eaves and how large it is.Because it’s an old wooden building, during the day you can hear passersby and check-in conversations, but at night it becomes quiet. It didn’t bother me. Also, since the stairs are steep in an old-fashioned way, elderly guests or those with mobility issues may find them a bit concerning.There were only four bottles of water in the Room, but there’s tea and juice in a freezer next to the front desk that you’re free to take back to your Room.I love Onsen baths, but since there isn’t one here this time I soaked in the large public bath filled with spring water. It was about 30 minutes after check-in and no one else was there—so it felt like having it all to ourselves. It was wonderful! The in-room bath also had bath additives such as sake lees that made it enjoyable.Dinner featured locally sourced ingredients; everything was thoughtfully prepared and delicious. We’re a couple around retirement age (late 50s/early 60s), and the portion size felt just right.By chance our stay overlapped with Chin Shrine’s annual grand festival as well, so we were able to watch part of it and really enjoyed ourselves.We’d also like to visit Narai-juku during its usual days too—so when we return again someday, we look forward to staying with you again.

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.