Maruya is a minshuku in Otsumago, on the old Nakasendo road between the post towns of Tsumago and Magome in Nagano. It says it has hosted travelers on the Nakasendo since 1789, and calls itself an inn of memories made around the irori hearth. Before you book, three things matter: there is no instant booking, only a request form the inn answers; check-in ends at 17:00; and there is no set menu, as the okami (the landlady) plans each meal by season.
Maruya in Tsumago at a glance
| Item | Official information |
|---|---|
| Address | Otsumago, Nagiso-machi, Kiso-gun, Nagano 399-5302 |
| Type | Minshuku, open since 1789; irori hearth room |
| Capacity | 29 guests; sliding doors open up for large groups |
| Check-in / out | 15:00–17:00 / by 10:00 |
| Meals | Breakfast 7:00–8:00, dinner 18:00–19:00, in the dining hall |
| Bath | Men’s and women’s baths, one tub for two people each |
| Booking | Request form, confirmed by the inn’s reply |
| Parking | Free, about 15 cars, in front of the inn |
| Dogs | Not accepted for now |
From the official site, read October 21, 2026.
How booking works at Maruya
Is there an online booking system?
No. The reservation page has a form, in Japanese, that works as an inquiry: you send your dates and details, and the stay is confirmed when the inn replies. The page warns that email replies can be slow, and asks guests in a hurry to phone 0264-57-3117 (+81-264-57-3117 from abroad). The same page shows an availability calendar with dates marked “Full” or “Close”; it does not explain the marks, so treat it as a guide and wait for the reply.
Does Maruya have an English website?
No. The site is in Japanese, apart from the name “Maruya” and one price notice. A browser translation tool helps with the form. For general questions there is a contact form; the site does not list an email address.
Rooms and the irori at Maruya
The official pages do not list room types, sizes or the number of rooms. They say the house holds 29 guests, and that opening the sliding fusuma doors between rooms makes space for large groups. Toothbrushes, towels, yukata, shampoo and conditioner, body soap and a hair dryer are provided, and Wi-Fi is free, with the password given at reception.
Shared spaces include the irori hearth room, a rest area on the 2nd floor and an old kura storehouse opened as a lounge. For another traditional house stay in the mountains, see our Shirakawa-go farmhouse stay guide.
Meals at Maruya
What is dinner like?
The inn cooks with rice it grows itself. There is no printed menu: the okami decides the dishes from what she buys and what is in season. Dinner runs from 18:00 to 19:00 and breakfast from 7:00 to 8:00, both in the dining hall, not in your room.
Can the inn handle allergies or a special diet?
The Q&A page says that if you tell the inn when you book, it will do what it can. It also invites guests from abroad to ask freely, since food cultures differ by country. Vegan, vegetarian and halal meals are not mentioned, so say exactly what you cannot eat in your request.
The bath at Maruya
There is a men’s bath and a women’s bath, each with one tub for two people. The bathhouse was renovated in June 2020 and stands apart from the main house: you reach it through the garden.
The official pages do not give bath hours, a private-use option, whether the water is a hot spring, or a tattoo rule. Ask in your request if any of these matter to you.
Prices, children and rules at Maruya
| Plan (per person, per night) | Price, tax included |
|---|---|
| Dinner and breakfast, adult, 2 or more guests | 13,200 yen |
| Dinner and breakfast, adult, 1 guest | 14,300 yen |
| Dinner only, adult | 12,100 yen |
| Breakfast only, adult | 11,000 yen |
| Room only, adult | 9,900 yen |
| Child from 5 (dinner and breakfast) | 11,000 yen |
| Child under 5 (dinner and breakfast) | 8,800 yen |
From the plan page, read October 21, 2026. The adult rate applies from age 12.
What about the accommodation tax?
Nagano Prefecture began charging an accommodation tax on stays from June 1, 2026. Per its official page, it is 200 yen per person per night for the first three years and 300 yen after that; stays under 6,000 yen per person (room only, before tax) are exempt. The inn’s own pages give different amounts, so confirm the figure at check-in.
What is the cancellation policy?
The official pages do not give one. Ask about cancellation fees in your request and keep the inn’s reply. Our hotel cancellation guide explains the terms Japanese inns use.
How do I pay?
Payment methods are not stated on the official pages. Ask the inn when it confirms your stay.
Can I bring a dog?
Not for now: the Q&A page says the inn has stopped taking dogs for the time being. Our guide to pet fees at Japanese hotels lists places that do.
Getting to Maruya in Otsumago
By train: take the JR Chuo Line to Nagiso Station, then a bus to Otsumago or a taxi. The official pages do not give bus times, a walking time from Tsumago, or a pickup service, so check the bus before you set out and arrive by 17:00.
By car: leave the Chuo Expressway at Nakatsugawa IC, then follow Route 19 and Prefectural Road 256 to Otsumago. Free parking for about 15 cars is in front of the inn. See the access page for the map.
What foreign guests should know before staying at Maruya
- The booking is not confirmed until the inn replies; if you are short on time, phone instead.
- Check-in closes at 17:00, so plan the Nakasendo walk around it.
- Meals are in a shared hall and the menu is a surprise; list allergies in your request.
- The bath is across the garden and shared by gender, one small tub each.
- Payment methods are not listed; ask how to pay, and about the accommodation tax, when the inn replies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book Maruya in Tsumago?
What time is check-in at Maruya?
How much does Maruya cost per night?
What is the cancellation policy at Maruya?
Can I bring my dog to Maruya?
Bottom line (2026): Maruya is a minshuku in Otsumago, between Tsumago and Magome, open since 1789, with an irori hearth, home-grown rice and meals chosen by the okami. Book through the request form and wait for the reply, arrive by 17:00, and ask about cancellation and payment before you go.
Sources
Every fact on this page is from Maruya’s official pages: home (Japanese), plans and rooms, meals, facilities, access, Q&A and the reservation page, and from Nagano Prefecture’s accommodation tax page. All were read on October 21, 2026. Prices and rules change; check the official site before you book.
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