Family hotels and homes in Ena

Our stay in Iwamura was absolutely incredible! The house was beautiful, Yuki and Anne so hospitable and kind, and the town a true gem.

When I booked the room, I thought it was located in the city of Gifu, since that’s what my search was for. I had previously taken a workshop in Seki, which is about half an hour from Gifu, so it seemed like a convenient option. It wasn’t until I arrived by train in Gifu and encountered a very confused taxi driver that I discovered the hotel was actually in Gifu Prefecture, near the town of Ena—almost 2.5 hours away. It was late, I was traveling alone, and the situation was stressful. Despite the language barrier, the hotel proprietress was incredibly kind and helpful. She explained that I needed to take a couple more trains to Ena, where I should be able to find a taxi for the final 30-minute ride to the hotel. I was anxious—Ena is quite remote, and I wasn’t sure what I’d do if there wasn’t a taxi available. Thankfully, there was, though the driver wasn’t familiar with the area, so I had to help navigate in the dark. The proprietress had kindly held dinner for me, even though I didn’t arrive until 7:45 PM. It was a traditional meal, where you grill small bites of chicken, beef, venison, fish, and vegetables over coals at your table. The onsen was open 24 hours, and I was grateful to unwind with a long soak after dinner. I hadn’t realized just how much was included in the booking: dinner, breakfast, access to the onsen, and even a yukata to take home—each a welcome surprise. Breakfast the next morning was a beautiful, traditional spread of pickled vegetables, poached tofu, grilled fish, rice, egg, and salad. Just steps from the inn is a trail leading to nearby castle ruins. I hiked up early in the morning before breakfast and found it peaceful and nearly empty, with only a few other hikers enjoying the serenity. The historic town is also conveniently close, and I was able to store my luggage at the hotel while exploring its charming shops and fine crafts.

The homestay is situated in a very quiet and beautiful neighborhood in the mountains. The property is surrounded by the forest and rice fields. It was really enjoyable for a few relaxing days in Japan. The kitchen was well equipped and we enjoyed cooking our meals here.

The lounge area was spacious, air-conditioned and well restored to allow a gathering place for my party to hangout and debrief the days activities. Sitting behind a cafe was fantastic allowing for seamless access and luggage hold, and extra bathrooms if needed

Quiet cute place with historical buildings in the area. You can walk around and enjoy the neighborhood. Real pretty at night time. If you pay attention, you might find some surprises.

We had trouble opening the lock but eventually got it ooen

A thoroughly lovely place, well off the beaten track. Excellent hot springs facilities. Excellent food. Wonderful place to pause and relax amid busy travels.

I liked that the bed and sheets were clean. The showers was big and spacious.

The dinner and the breakfast included was a great value. Delicious!!!