Natsuse Forest Onsen

Tucked away in the serene forests of Akita Prefecture, Natsuse Onsen Miyakowasure feels like it belongs to another world. This is not a place you stumble upon. You must seek it. And when you do, the reward is a peaceful retreat unlike any other.

The journey itself is part of the experience. As you leave the town behind, winding roads take you deeper into the forest. The trees begin to close in around you, not in a suffocating way, but like a gentle embrace. Everything slows down. The outside world fades. By the time you arrive at Miyakowasure, time feels different. Calmer. Softer.

Miyakowasure means “to forget the capital.” A fitting name for an inn that seems designed to help you let go of stress, of noise, of anything not essential. Here, nestled beside a quietly flowing river, is a traditional Japanese ryokan that holds only a few rooms. The number of guests is kept intentionally low. This is not a place for crowds or selfies. It is for those who want to rest.

The building itself is simple and elegant. Wooden beams, paper screens, tatami floors. The rooms overlook the forest, and you can hear the river from your futon. Sliding open a window in the early morning lets in the scent of cedar and moss, and the sound of birds greeting the sun. There is no TV in the room, and you won’t miss it.

What sets Miyakowasure apart is its deep sense of privacy. The onsen baths here are entirely private. Each guest room comes with its own open-air bath, fed by natural hot spring waters. You can bathe at any time, alone or with a loved one, under the trees or under the stars. The water is soft and gently warming. The view is quiet and green. In the bath, there is nothing you need to do. Just soak. Breathe. Listen.

Meals are served in-room, and they are exquisite. Each dish is crafted with care, featuring ingredients grown or foraged nearby. In the spring, mountain vegetables. In summer, fresh river fish. Autumn brings mushrooms and chestnuts. In winter, hot pots and snow-viewing. Everything is seasonal, everything is subtle. Nothing shouts for attention. The food, like the inn itself, whispers.

The staff are kind and nearly invisible. They appear when needed, then vanish again. It feels as if the entire ryokan is gently supporting you without ever intruding. There is a rare kind of hospitality here, one that respects your desire for space and quiet.

Natsuse Onsen Miyakowasure is not famous in the way that some hot spring resorts are. It is not flashy, not trendy. But that is its charm. It exists in a different rhythm. It welcomes those who need rest, not entertainment. Those who seek stillness, not spectacle.

To stay here is to remember what it feels like to slow down. To wake up not to an alarm, but to light filtering through shoji screens. To fall asleep not with a phone in hand, but with the sound of water and wind. To spend time with someone important in a space that honors that togetherness.

Even after you leave, something of the forest stays with you. You will remember the silence, the softness of the air, the feeling of being hidden away in a world that still knows how to be gentle.

Natsuse Onsen Miyakowasure is not just a place. It is a pause. And sometimes, a pause is exactly what we need.