Mingei Ryokan Fukashiso

The Accommodation has a wonderful atmosphere and offers satisfaction that exceeds the price.At the entrance, there was a vending machine selling rare flash-frozen soba you can enjoy as if freshly made, as well as Matsumoto Sanzoku-yaki.They escorted me to my Room on the second floor and even carried my luggage. When I left, it was raining, but they lent me an umbrella and saw me off.Inside, the building has an extraordinary, getaway-like ambiance, with calming lights placed throughout the corridors and other areas.The toilets and washbasins are shared, but they are clean.There is also a large public bath with alternating hours for men and women, and if available, you can use a private bath at no extra charge.The water temperature is on the lukewarm side.Breakfast included many kinds of small side dishes, a large-nameko miso soup, and curry that was light yet flavorful; I heard it uses Indian spices.Next time, I’d like to try dinner as well.

We stayed during the Obon holidays because the Accommodation had received high ratings on the Reservation site for its cuisine and hospitality. All staff served guests naturally with a genuine spirit of hospitality, and at dinner the proprietress visited each table to greet everyone. Every dish was delicious, and it truly lived up to its reputation.We also learned they have reached their 110th anniversary. A hanging scroll displayed the proprietress’s New Year’s resolution written this January 1st: “We aim to become the world’s most heartfelt Ryokan.”For our Room, we were upgraded beyond our Reservation, and because it was considered small, we were even assigned two Rooms—one for relaxing and one for sleeping.At check-out, the proprietress walked with us outside while chatting and stood to see us off until our car departed. It was an Accommodation with hospitality so attentive it almost made us feel undeserving.We left hoping that this history and tradition will continue for many years to come, along with lasting prosperity.