Hatago Tawaraya is an old Japanese house in Magome-juku, the 43rd post town of the Nakasendo road in Nakatsugawa, Gifu, rented as a whole to one group a day. It sits halfway up the town’s slope and calls itself a place to spend a day as an Edo-period traveler. It is not Tawaraya Ryokan in Kyoto; this is a separate house run by Magomekan Co., Ltd. Before you book, three things matter: no staff stay on site, so you check in at the Magomekan counter; meals are not included and must be reserved ahead; and the cypress bath is not a hot spring.
Hatago Tawaraya at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | 4303 Magome, Nakatsugawa, Gifu |
| Type | Old house rented whole, one group a day |
| Guests | Up to 8 |
| Size | 249 m² on two floors, non-smoking |
| Staff | None on site; reception at the Magomekan counter |
| Checkout | 11:00 |
| Bath | Kiso hinoki cypress bath, not a hot spring |
| Meals | Room only; dinner and breakfast are reserved options |
| Price | From 80,000 yen per night for two guests, room only |
From the official site and booking page, read October 21, 2026.
Getting to Hatago Tawaraya in Magome-juku
How do I get to Magome-juku?
The inn offers a free shuttle from JR Nakatsugawa Station, reserved in advance through a form when you book. The Kitaena Kotsu bus on the Magome line takes about 25 minutes from Nakatsugawa Station to the Magome-juku stop, and Magomekan is right in front of it. Since March 1, 2026, a highway bus stop near the entrance of Magome-juku links the town with Busta Shinjuku in Tokyo, about 4 hours 22 minutes away.
Can I drive and park?
By car, the house is about 3 to 5 minutes from the Misaka smart interchange, which opened on September 13, 2025 and is for ETC cards only; Nagoya is about 1 hour 13 minutes away. Guests park free at the Magome-juku A-1 lot next to Magomekan. From there it is about 300 m uphill to the house, and the booking page lists free transport and luggage help.
Where do I check in?
There are no staff staying at the house. The booking page places reception at the counter of Magomekan, the operator’s shop by the bus stop. The official pages differ on the check-in time, so ask the inn which time applies to you. Checkout is 11:00.
Inside the house at Hatago Tawaraya
The house covers 249 m² on two floors, with tatami rooms, bedrooms upstairs and a living and dining room of about 30 mats. The theme is simplicity: the inn left out extra furniture so the rooms feel quiet. There are eight sets of futons, and a toilet with a bidet seat on each floor.
What is in the kitchen and living area?
A kitchen, refrigerator, coffee capsule machine, microwave, toaster, TV, air conditioning and heating, and free Wi-Fi. An AED is on the ground floor. The stairs are not barrier-free.
Is the house cold in winter?
The booking page says the house has many open ceilings and gets cold in winter, so pack warm layers. Adult tanzen robes are provided; there are none for children.
The hinoki bath at Hatago Tawaraya
What kind of bath is it?
A bath made entirely of natural Kiso hinoki cypress, facing the mountains. The booking page states that it is not a hot spring. Since the house is rented whole, the bath is for your group only, and the official pages give no set hours for it.
Can I use it with a tattoo?
The official pages do not mention tattoos. The bath is private to your group, but if it matters to you, ask the inn before you book. Our tattoo and onsen guide explains what to ask.
Toothbrushes with paste, hairbrushes, body towels, cotton swabs, shampoo, body soap, face towels and bath towels are provided.
Meals at Hatago Tawaraya
Where do I eat dinner and breakfast?
Stays are room only, and meals are options that must be reserved in advance. Dinner is a creative kaiseki at Magomeya, the operator’s restaurant, with Shinshu beef, Mino Yubunezawa salmon and vegetables from its own farm, from 17:00; breakfast there is from 7:00. You can also have meals delivered to the house: a Tawaraya bento for dinner, delivered 17:00 to 19:00, and sandwiches with salad for breakfast, delivered 7:00 to 9:00. The official pages differ on how many days ahead to reserve, so book meals together with your stay.
Is there food for children or special diets?
A children’s menu is offered. The official pages do not mention allergies or special diets, so ask the inn directly. Magomeya also serves lunch from 11:00 to 14:30 and is closed on Wednesdays.
Prices, children and house rules at Hatago Tawaraya
The room-only Simple Stay plan starts at 80,000 yen per night for two guests, with no meals, for two to eight guests. The official pages do not say whether this includes tax. A 5 percent winter early-booking offer, for the official site only, is shown on the booking page.
What do children cost?
| Age | Rate |
|---|---|
| 6–12 | 100% of the adult rate, with bedding |
| 4–5, with bedding | 30% of the adult rate |
| 4–5, no bedding | Free |
| 0–3 | Free |
From the booking page and terms of stay, read October 21, 2026.
Groups of only minors or high school students cannot stay.
What is the cancellation policy?
The terms of stay and the booking page give different cancellation rules, so read the rule shown for your plan before you pay and keep a copy. Our hotel cancellation guide covers what to check.
How do I pay?
The official pages do not list accepted cards, and the payment details differ between them, so confirm how and when you pay as you book.
What are the house rules?
The whole house is non-smoking, and pets are not allowed, though service dogs are; see our guide to pets in Japanese hotels. Only registered guests may use the house, and noise and musical instruments are not allowed. If more people stay than you declared, the terms say you must leave at once and pay a penalty of twice the fee.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Hatago Tawaraya
- The official website is in Japanese only; the English button on its booking page leads to the English booking page.
- No one from the inn is at the house, so sort out questions and meals before you arrive.
- Reserve the free shuttle from Nakatsugawa Station when you book.
- Expect a 300 m uphill walk from the parking lot, with stairs inside the house.
- The site has a page on Before the Dawn, the novel by Shimazaki Toson that opens on this stretch of the Kiso road.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hatago Tawaraya the same as Tawaraya Ryokan in Kyoto?
How many people can stay at Hatago Tawaraya?
Is the bath at Hatago Tawaraya a hot spring?
Are meals included at Hatago Tawaraya?
What time is check-in at Hatago Tawaraya?
Bottom line (2026): Hatago Tawaraya is a whole old house in Magome-juku for one group of up to eight, with a private Kiso cypress bath that is not a hot spring. There are no staff on site and meals are optional, so reserve meals and the station shuttle when you book, and confirm check-in and cancellation details with the inn.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Hatago Tawaraya’s official pages: home (Japanese), lodging, bath, restaurant, information and reservations, and the official English booking page. All were read on October 21, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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