Meiji Onsen

Meiji Onsen brings together rustic tatami rooms, iron-rich spring water, and waterfall sound in Oku-Tateshina. Reached via a single-lane road above Mishaka Pond — the lake that Higashiyama Kaii painted, and a threshold in itself — Meiji Onsen sits in a gorge where Oshidori Kakushi Falls is audible from the bath.

The guest who walks the last stretch in winter, hearing the sound of cars dissolve into snow and river, understands immediately what this inn is for.

With 13 guest rooms, Meiji Onsen operates at a compact scale that keeps the stay close to the room, bath, and table. The bathing programme uses mineral spring water, while the available bath format depends on the selected room and operating schedule.

Meals lean toward regional Japanese cooking rather than a formally staged kaiseki sequence, with exact dishes and serving location changing by plan and season.