Tabi-shiro Guest House in Nagano – A Place You’ll Want To Come Home To

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Tabi-shiro is a guest house located near Matsumoto Castle. It is a lodging where staff will warmly greet you with “welcome home.” In a sightseeing area filled with nature like Kamikochi, Mount Yari, and Azumino, why not try staying here?

Written by

Miho Moriya

Tokyo,Japan

MATCHA editor and freelance writer. Born, raised, and currently living in Tokyo. Have visited over 30 countries and lived in four different prefectures. I have traveled to almost all 47 prefectures in Japan! I try to create articles that help convey the charms of a destination through words and pictures. I love forests, temples, and camels.

Once you take off your shoes in the entryway and enter the room, a communal space will be spread out before you. There is a sofa, kitchen, counter, and, after going up a step, tatami chairs where you can stretch out your legs. Please choose a spot that matches your mood.

When guests return to the guest house, Mr. Osawa and the staff will greet them with a warm “welcome home” and a smile. It’s almost as if you’ve returned home.

A Counter That Transforms Into a Bar at Night

At night, the counter will transform into a bar. After checking in, you will be given a paper with “1DRINK” written on it, allowing you to receive one drink for free when presented at the bar.

Please look over the menu as the drinks that can be ordered with the ticket are printed inside.

The person that will be making your drinks will be Mr. Osawa. He will stand behind the bar counter and serve delicious cocktails and drinks while conversing with his guests.

One thing you can look forward to seeing are people connecting with those they have met for the first time and getting along.

The experience of becoming friendly with someone through conversations of your travels is the true charm of a guest house. Please try conversing with everyone with questions like “What did you do today?” and “Where are you going tomorrow?” You may discover some best-kept secret spots that you hadn’t noticed before.

The Sakura Tonic, which can be ordered with your drink ticket, is a beautiful, cherry-colored cocktail just as its name implies. It is characterized by the sweet and sour taste of cherry liqueur. This drink is immensely popular with international tourists.

A Spacious Kitchen

In the kitchen is a dining table where you can have your meals. There is also cookware, including frying pans and knives, tableware, such as plates, cups, and spoons, and even a full selection of seasonings and condiments, making it possible for you to cook as well.

You can also leave your food in the refrigerator by writing your name on it.

Nagano is known for fruits, especially its apples and grapes. It would be a great idea to purchase some fruit and bring them back to the guest house to eat. You are also freely able to make your own coffee and black tea to drink here too.

An Interior Filled With Imagination

The interior in the communal space is filled with small articles that are retro and have warmth to them. Practically all of these items were purchased from secondhand stores or taken from demolition sites of business facilities no longer in use.

Mr. Osawa excitedly said, “Now, I’m thinking it’d be nice if we could do something like sell stuff here, so I’ve been collecting things!” Just what will be sold here is something to look forward to in the future.

The curve on the sofa side of the wall represents the mountains that can be seen from Matsumoto. “I want to introduce Matsumoto, where I was born and raised, to travelers,” commented Mr. Osawa, who is determined to share the charms of his hometown.

Lodging Space

Rooms available include women-only or gender neutral dormitories as well as private rooms for up to three persons per room.

Wood Grain Dormitories

There are two dormitories; one that is women-only and for up to six people, and one that is gender neutral for up to eight people. They are priced at 3500 to 3800 yen (plus tax) for one person per night. Each bed also comes with an electrical outlet, reading light, and clothes hangers.

The doors also lock, so only those staying in the same room are able to enter that space. But, for those that are worried about the safety of their belongings, there are also private lockers available in the hallway.

Private Traditional Japanese Rooms

The private rooms are Japanese-style rooms with tatami (straw flooring), fusuma (sliding screens), and shoji (paper sliding doors).

Lodging is available for one person per night starting from 6800 yen. For two people it starts at 9000 yen and three people starts at 12000 yen. All prices listed include tax. If two people are staying in the room, the room is also furnished with a table and tatami chairs. Please lay out your futon (a Japanese-style mattress) when you are ready to go to sleep.

You will be provided with a sheet that will give written instructions on how to use the air-conditioning and how to lay out your futon. Those who have never laid out a futon before need not worry.
Additionally, a tabi-shiro original neighborhood map is also provided in English. It is a nice, and very helpful item to have for a stroll through town.

A Simple, Clean Shower Room

Shower rooms, toilets, and washroom areas are provided on the first floor in a gender neutral space and on the second floor as a women-only space. The spaces are complete with amenities such as shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and contact solution as well as toner and moisturizing emulsion for skincare users.

A traditional public bath house is also located nearby and may be great to visit for those who would like to soak in a bathtub.

Something that those staying two nights or more will enjoy is an area for drying laundry. Guests are able to dry their laundry here. Of course, you are also able to use the laundry and drying machines in the morning or at night.

Enjoy Locally Made Bread for Breakfast

Guests can order the Breakfast Set (butter toast, a drink, and apple jam) in the morning for 300 yen (plus tax). The toast is purchased from a popular bakery in the neighborhood. When you add an additional 50 yen, you can change your plain toast to honey butter toast instead.

The delicious smell of butter will fill the air when bringing the toast to your mouth. With an outside that is crispy and a chewy inside, it is certainly the representative of delicious bread. The fact that it comes with jam made from local specialty apples is also delightful.

A Place You’ll Want to Come Home to

The wood-burning stove in the communal space. Travelers can be seen having pleasant conversations while sitting in chairs near the stove during the cold seasons. (Photo courtesy of: tabi-shiro).

The staff members stated, “We make sure to actively talk to each guest in the communal space so that they aren’t lonely. However, there are also some who enjoy being by themselves, so we also think about that guest’s character and the state of their surroundings so we can provide support so that everyone can enjoy themselves.”

Photo courtesy of: tabi-shiro

Just as the staff stated, Mr. Osawa and the staff became mediators to the travelers and, at night, they talked in a harmonious atmosphere with every one of the guests.

It may have be because there are so many natural places to visit among the numerous sightseeing spots in Matsumoto, like Kamikochi or Azumino, that there seem to be many quiet travelers staying at the guest house.

Even after checking out, the staff will brightly send you off with a “take care and be safe.” It’ll make you want to return once more.

Tabi-shiro is a place where you can stay while enjoying peace of mind as if it were your own home. Once you stay a night, without a doubt, you will feel as if you have been familiar with the land of Matsumoto forever.

Wouldn't you like to make tabi-shiro your home away from home too?

Made in cooperation with: tabi-shiro

Inn, sauna and gelato tabi-shiro

1-3-6 Josei, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture 390-0875

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Written by

Miho Moriya

Tokyo,Japan

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