A new lodging experience that connects guests and staff, starting with the accommodation facility "Waterside Lodge"

What is Morikuni's "Waterside Lodge"?

Mizugiwa no Lodge is a lodge-style accommodation located on the banks of Meguro River, the source of the Shimanto River in Ehime Prefecture. It is a place surrounded by rich nature, with deep forests and clear streams, close to Nametoko Gorge, which is also designated as a national park. Taking advantage of the rich natural environment, you can enjoy a variety of activities such as canyoning in the summer, night tours to enjoy the forest at night, and natural indigo dyeing experiences.

There are a total of 10 guest rooms. The limited space allows for deep interaction with each guest. This waterside lodge offers a completely new lodging experience with the use of audio guides .

"Special Thanks Ticket" is an unprecedented initiative

This initiative is probably unique in the world. The hotel staff act as storytellers, telling guests about the charms of the area through their own stories . This hotel proposes a new relationship that goes beyond the traditional framework of guests and staff.

The experience begins the moment you book the hotel: Once you've completed the booking, you'll receive a link that leads to an audio guide telling the stories of the five staff members at the waterside lodge.

When you actually visit the site, you will be given a card called a "Special Thanks Ticket" when you check in. When you scan the QR code on the card, you will be connected to the link to the story you received when you made your reservation, and the story that the staff tell you, which can only be experienced at this place, will start playing on the audio guide.

They tell you their thoughts on how to spend time at a lodge by the water, the culture of the land, and the stories you should hear. From this moment on, guests are no longer just tourists, but become part of this story and weave their own stories.

The other side of the staff at this waterside lodge

The staff at this waterfront lodge have another face besides the one you see at the front desk. What does that face look like?

They originally came to Mori no Kuni as travelers, just like the guests staying at this hotel. But before long, they were captivated by the place and decided to move there.

What was the trigger? How did it come about? What have you done since then?
Each of the guests asked different questions, but how would they describe their lives and activities in this forest? By listening to their words through the audio guide, you will learn about the area that fascinated them so much that they decided to move there, the hotel, and the staff.

After listening to the audio guide, you can actually meet the main character of the story you heard at the hotel and hear the rest of the story.

An initiative that circulates from guests to the hotel and then to staff

By listening to their stories on an audio guide, guests will be able to experience the waterside lodge from every angle, and their stay will feel more than just a hotel; it will also feel like staying at grandma's house in the countryside.

However, the experience doesn't end there. You can give the "Special Thank You Ticket" you received at check-in to the staff member who you feel most touched from the five staff members who spoke in the audio guide.

All guests staying at the hotel are given a ticket, even small children.
By having guests think carefully about which staff member's story was most interesting, who was kind to them, and who moved them, this initiative will encourage guests to take real action and become involved in the story of the waterside lodge.
In order for this experience to be successful, guests are required to think for themselves, but at the same time, a proactive accommodation experience should also be an opportunity to deepen the guest's own story .

The special thank you ticket returned to the staff becomes a 1,000 yen tip, which also serves as an incentive for the staff. From the hotel to the guests, and from the guests to the staff. Just like the deep workings of nature nurtured by the Shimanto River, the feelings born in this place circulate.

If you want to try this experience, or if you feel the same way, please come to the lodge on the waterfront. The forest dwellers will surely give you a detailed guide. To make the most of this experience, don't forget to listen to the audio guide beforehand .

[Waterside Lodge]
Nametoko Valley, Meguro, Matsuno-cho, Kitauwa-gun, Ehime Prefecture, 798-2106
TEL: 0895-43-0331

What is the audio guide "ON THE TRIP"?

The audio guide app ON THE TRIP is based on the theme of " turning every travel destination into a museum " and allows you to explore things that interest you on the spot at various travel destinations. Cultural properties such as shrines and temples, accommodations such as hotels, hot springs and art festivals. It even tells you about cultures such as Zen and sushi, and the history and background of the scenery in front of you with audio, text and photos.
*There are two types of guide playback: GPS-enabled automatic playback and manual playback.

Download the iOS app here

Download the Android app here

Audio guide "Lodge on the Waterfront"

Riverside lodge

Nametoko Valley, Meguro, Matsuno-cho, Kitauwa-gun, Ehime Prefecture 79...

Riverside Lodge is located on the banks of the Meguro River, the source of the Shimanto River, known as the last clear river in Japan. This lodge-style accommodation (10 rooms) will make you feel refreshed, like the water, and will make you want to live freely. The restaurant attached to Riverside Lodge, SELVAGGIO, is the only restaurant in Shikoku to receive three stars in the international sustainability rating "FOOD MADE GOOD" by the Japan Sustainable Restaurant Association. In 2023, the restaurant's food procurement methods were recognized and it won the highest award in the food procurement category, the "BEST Procurement Award," at the "FOOD MADE GOOD Japan Awards 2023."