Matsumoto / NaganoTake a trip to a 100-year-old traditional house in Shiga, where the beauty of the satoyama remains: Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture

Satoyama villa Honjin is a renovated accommodation facility housed in the former main building of the Ozawa family. It was used by the feudal lord of the Matsumoto domain as a resting place during his visits to and from the feudal domain. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1908, and the present building was restored to its original condition in 1913. The earthen floor has a kamado (fireplace), and the living room has a 13-meter-high atrium with magnificent zelkova beams that attract the visitors' attention. We recommend relaxing by the sunken hearth.

There are three types of guest rooms, each with beds, baths, toilets, and mini kitchens, all comfortably equipped to accommodate guests while preserving the atmosphere of more than 100 years ago. The rooms are tastefully decorated with chests of drawers and blinds that were once stored in a warehouse, creating a wonderful fusion of the past and the present.

The Kamenoya Annex is a Western style detached house built on the grounds, with stained glass and other Western touches. In the morning, it is used as a breakfast venue for guests, and from 10:00 a.m., it opens to the public as a traditional coffee shop. With a selection of food, desserts, and drinks, it is a perfect place to take a break.

A stay at "Satoyama villa Honjin" is full of unique experiences like a room in which the lounge and bedroom are connected by a corridor, or a renovated room which was once used by a feudal lord. Enjoy a memorable stay in a nostalgic atmosphere.

The cycling tour around Shiga on an e-bike, an electrically assisted sports bike, is a great way to experience the nature and history of the satoyama. Starting and ending at the Satoyama villa Honjin, there are four different courses with varying durations and difficulty levels. The courses range from a leisurely beginner's tour to a full-fledged course that crosses mountain passes, allowing you to choose according to your strength and experience. Enjoy the exhilaration of riding an e-bike through the peaceful countryside, viewing the snow-capped Northern Alps, and riding through the satoyama.

This example is the "Shiga Historical Exploration" course, which starts from the Hofukuji Road to view the Northern Alps over the fields then follows the old Zenkoji road to Shiga Canyon. At the starting point, Satoyama villa Honjin, participants will be briefed on how to use the e-bikes.

From the signpost inscribed with Zenkoji/Kobo Daishi along the old Zenkoji road, a 5-minute ride up the mountain road will take you to Shiga Canyon. Huge mountainsides with exposed layering of sedimentary rock create a powerful sight. The Shiga basin is visible in the distance.

With an e-bike, you can comfortably tour the ups and downs of the satoyama. Custom-made tours to the spots of your choice are also available upon request at the time of reservation. Experience the comfort of the clean air and the breeze on your face as you enjoy the peaceful scenery.

"Hikariya" is a renovation of a prestigious merchant house Hikaruya, built in 1887. Spatial designer Kunikazu Takatori led the design planning for the renovation. The former main house with an attractive Japanese appearance, "Hikariya Higashi" offers Japanese cuisine. The restaurant is a Japanese-style room with tatami mats laid out in a relaxing atmosphere with high chairs and low tables. The vegetables and Koshihikari rice used in the cuisine are grown and harvested in the restaurant's own farm and paddy fields.

Marubako Zen, one of the lunch menu, is kaiseki dishes arranged in a three-tiered lunch box. The lower tier features tempura made from seasonal vegetables, while the middle tier is a colorful selection of vegetables, meat, and fish. The upper tier features sesame tofu and sashimi.

Only kaiseki dishes are available at night. For lunch, 3 types of kaiseki dishes and 3 types of set menus are available. The dishes are prepared with broth made from kombu (kelp) and bonito, and are lightly seasoned to bring out the natural flavors of the ingredients. Enjoy seasonal delicacies in an elegant Japanese-style room.

Toukouji Temple is a Shingon Buddhism temple that is said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 824-833, who enshrined a hand-crafted statue of Yakushi Nyorai here. The visitors can experience meditation, hand-copying of sutras and Buddhist images, sutra reading, and Homa rituals. The temple offers these programs in the hope that they will help visitors to reflect on themselves and open their hearts and minds. The time spent in the quietness of this mountain temple will surely be a special experience for you. Also not to be missed is the Ranma in the main hall, which was painted by Kano Baigen.

Visitors experience Gomagyo (Homa ritual), in which they light a fire in a furnace that resembles the mouth of a Buddha and throw offerings, gomagi, and wooden cards with wishes written on them into the fire to pray. Once the prayers begin, visitors sharpen their senses while feeling the flickering of the flames, the sound of wood crackling, and the aroma of smoke wafting through the air.

A meditation session is also recommended to open the mind and relax. After receiving explanations on proper sitting posture, eye contact, and hand signs, visitors are encouraged to repeat the breathing technique of inhaling through the nose and exhaling slowly through the mouth to regulate their minds. The meditation session can be held at any time, so please contact the center in advance.

Musubuichi is held every Friday in the Shiga branch office of the Matsumoto City Hall by local business owners in the Shiga area. With an emphasis on organic and local production for local consumption and waste reduction, the market features stores selling bento lunches and sandwiches made with local ingredients, organic coffee, vegetables, and other foods. One of the popular items is “roast pork bento" which features local organic vegetables and homemade roast pork made from free-range Azumino pork sold by "sabou Shiga". Their green kitchen car is a landmark of Musubuichi.

"Shi Mugi An" sells gluten-free fénétra and tarts made from rice flour, potato starch, and corn flour, as well as brownies and cookies. In consideration of the environment, all products are sold by weight, without individual wrapping.

Dai Musubuichi, a larger scale of the market, attracts many people and is held four times a year on Saturdays in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. As the concept of "Connecting people, goods, and smiles of Shiga" suggests, you can experience the joy of interacting with local people at Musubuichi.