Wasure no Sato Gajoen

An extraordinary escape to recharge Attentive yet unobtrusive service and a richly textured setting create a comforting, understated luxury A place you’ll want to return to again and again

I was finally able to visit, and I arrived with high expectations.In conclusion, this Accommodation far exceeded them.The grounds felt like a small village.The front desk area was open and seamlessly connected with nature.It had rained before check-in that day, but luckily the sun came out right as we arrived. Raindrops fell from the thatched roof and sparkled beautifully. I had seen on YouTube that “rain is actually a good thing here,” and it truly is.There were lots of tadpoles in the pond next to the front desk. A staff member told me, “This season there are tadpoles, so we can’t clean the pond.” The staff felt like part of nature too—almost like villagers in this little world—and it was such a joy.When I asked whether the fruit growing on one of the trees could be eaten, they said, “Every year when it bears fruit, birds quickly eat it all up—but this year they haven’t touched it at all. It must taste bad this year. They know best.” It made me feel like a traveler chatting with villagers, and it was genuinely exciting.Sitting by the irori hearth watching the chickens, observing wild birds, and gazing at droplets falling from leaves and the thatched roof—I felt deeply relaxed.I also tried chicken sashimi for the first time in my life! I was nervous at first, but it was far more delicious than I imagined—clean-tasting with no odor at all like supermarket chicken, yet still rich in flavor. The Kagoshima-style course meal was wonderful.The cute little gift at checkout made me especially happy as someone who loves plants. I took it home and displayed it until it eventually dried out.This may have been simple politeness, but after checkout they complimented my hair pinned up with a kanzashi hairpin. When I mentioned that I often use one because I usually wear kimono, they said they would have loved to see me in kimono as well. Their warm hospitality moved me right to the very end.If only it were closer so I could return more easily… That’s how much I came to love this Accommodation—I even regret how far away it is.I will definitely come again—next time surely in kimono.Thank you very much.