Tobira Onsen Myojinkan
Traditional mountain ryokan with thoughtful modern touches. Artisan stonework and local wood feature throughout. Calm, unhurried, deeply Japanese.
Visit the shared onsens late evening after dinner — you'll likely have them to yourself, especially Kuzan
Why It Matters
The only inn within the national park at this altitude. Relais & Châteaux member since 2008. Japan's first Green Key-certified inn. Three distinct communal onsen baths, each offering a different experience with the landscape. A KUSHI Macrobiotic-certified kitchen that doubles as a serious French natural cuisine restaurant.
Tobira Onsen Myojinkan is a classic Japanese ryokan that has been welcoming guests since 1931, sitting at 1,050 meters in the Yatsugatake Chushin-Kogen Quasi-National Park. It is the only inn within the park boundaries. Rooms are named after birds and flowers of the surrounding forest, and the three shared onsens—fed by naturally flowing alkaline spring water—are the real reason to come.
Where You'll Stay
12 room types available
Japanese Iyashi
Traditional tatami rooms ranging 59–94㎡, sleeping up to 5 guests. Two connected spaces separated by sliding doors. Private covered outdoor onsen bath — the roof means you can use it rain or shine. Mountain ridge and river views from the bath. Couples can request to swap the futon for a mattress (limited, book early).
Futon (up to 5) · 94 sqm
Otaka Bed
12 rooms in the Otaka Wing, 56㎡ including living room. Bed-type Western accommodation at the entry level of the property. Named after the falconry tradition of the Matsumoto Domain lord who would rest in Tobira's springs after hunting. Some rooms have audio systems for music and video.
King Hollywood Twin (Sealy) · 56 sqm
Satoyama Villa HONJIN
A separate off-site historic villa, 40 minutes (27km) by car from Myojinkan. Originally a Honjin — an official rest stop for the lord of the Matsumoto Domain during the Edo period. The current structure dates to 1913 (Taisho 2) and was designated a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan in 2021. Book directly at shigahonjin.jp.
Suite Zen-Shirakaba
The largest and most indulgent room at Myojinkan. That 160㎡ includes a 53㎡ terrace facing the forest directly. Private open-air onsen bath. Sealy bed. Designed around the idea of living inside timeless nature — windows frame the trees like a painting.
1 King (Sealy) · 160 sqm
Suite Zen-Toji (NEKOHAMA Room)
Popular with international guests. Combines tatami space with a panoramic in-room bath overlooking the forest. Built around the concept of 'Toji' — the traditional Japanese practice of medicinal hot spring immersion. Complimentary matcha from NEKOHAMA included.
1 King (Sealy) · 112 sqm
Suite Zen-Yuya
92㎡ including a 20㎡ terrace. Private open-air onsen bath. The morning forest views through the windows are the selling point — Tobira's trees fill the glass as soon as you wake up.
1 King (Sealy) · 92 sqm
Western Seiryu-an
Six rooms total: 4 at 60㎡ with half-open-air baths, 2 at 63㎡ with full open-air baths. Located closest to the river confluence — traditional feng shui considers this spot auspicious, where dragon deity energy gathers. Named for the blue dragon of Taoist tradition.
Twin · 63 sqm
Western Zen Spa Living
Added in spring 2021. The standout feature: a freestanding bathtub placed in the center of the living room, filled with onsen water. Inspired by mountain streams. No TV in the room by design — just the Sealy bed and the forest outside the window.
1 King · 70 sqmWestern Zen-Sasa
Corner room, 85㎡ with a half-open-air bath. Flooring is locally sourced natural wood. Walls and ceilings use traditional medicinal plant materials — Japanese knotweed, persimmon leaves, mugwort — for air-purification and antibacterial properties. Two-season forest views from both the living area and the bath.
1 King · 85 sqmWestern Zen-Taki
Another 85㎡ corner room, similar natural material construction to Zen-Sasa with locally sourced wood flooring and medicinal herb wall treatments. Half-open-air bath with forest views. Different outlook orientation from the Sasa room.
1 King · 85 sqmYamashina
Two traditional 70㎡ tatami rooms, favored by multi-generational families and close friend groups. These rooms have the longest history at Myojinkan — a noted intellectual stayed and wrote here for months at a stretch in the 1940s. The four-season forest views are unchanged since then.
Futon · 70 sqmZen Standard
60㎡ with a half-open-air onsen bath. The entry point to the Zen series — the forest views through the window and the Sealy bed are the core of it. Good value for the property.
1 King (Sealy) · 60 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
3 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
A signature experience at Myojinkan — champagne on the outdoor terrace under the forest canopy. Settle into comfortable outdoor sofas with a glass and the tree sounds around you.
Electric-assisted bike rides through the countryside roads and lush green landscapes around the property. Staff guide available for scenic viewpoint stops.
Walk the trails through the beech and oak forest surrounding the inn. Squirrels are common. The Usui River headwaters run alongside the property.
Fish for iwana (Japanese char) in the mountain stream running beside the inn. A distinctly nostalgic and low-key outdoor experience.
A library space with a Mac computer available. The first-floor terrace and the second-floor terrace (with river views) are designated quiet-reading spots.
Matsumoto City is 30 minutes away by the inn's shuttle. Matsumoto Castle, folk craft shopping, Shinshu soba restaurants, and the Nakamachi historic district are all easy half-day excursions.
Visit the inn's own farm where vegetables are grown for the French and Japanese restaurants. Harvest-fresh produce, no chemicals.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Wi-Fi available throughout the property.
Setsugekka, Hakuryu, and Kuzan — all fed by naturally flowing Tobira Onsen alkaline spring water. 24-hour access except Kuzan (closed 23:00–06:00). Daily cleaning breaks mid-morning/midday.
1F terrace for Japanese tea in fresh mountain air. 2F terrace positioned for river views — popular for quiet unwinding.
In-house library space with a Mac available for guest use. Quiet reading environment.
Large Japanese-style banquet room for families, groups, or corporate events. Microphone and projector available at no charge. Traditional Japanese music performances and workshops can be arranged.
In-lobby shop selling original souvenirs and local products from the Shinshu region and the inn.
Private parking available on site for all guests.
Complimentary private shuttle between Matsumoto Station and the inn. From station: 15:15 and 16:30. From inn: 09:30 and 11:00. Reserve 30 minutes before station arrival. Travel time 35–45 minutes.
Private pickup available from Matsumoto Airport or Tokyo Narita Airport on request.
BUILD YOUR TOBIRA ONSEN MYOJINKAN PLAN
Rooms, dining, spa, and resort experiences — organized into one trip plan.
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