Yama Mizuki Urara Tsutaya

Meals are served in the simply-set dining room furnished with traditional, low-slung tables and guests are treated to banquets of kaiseki cuisine only using ingredients found in Kisoji. Breakfast can be served in a cypress 'bento box', made fresh with seasonal specialties. With stunning views of the mountains, you'll also find a large onsen bath in the main area, well known for its positive effects on the skin and muscles.

The rooms have a subtlety and warmth to them with their tatami floors, sliding screen doors and roll-out futons to sleep on (although there are western-style rooms and beds as well). They are truly classically Japanese and you'll also find low lacquered tables and large wooden baths – open-air for the ultimate view. Striking mountain vistas can also be enjoyed through the wide windows and you're unlikely to ever tire of them.

There are a number of hiking routes close to the ryokan, including the journey to Nojiri where you can spot asiatic black bears and the famous Magome. And nothing beats a swim in the river after a day of exploring Atera Gorge! Otherwise, enjoy watching various Japanese crafting techniques including a form of woodturning known as rokuro-zaiku and the making of traditional washi paper, visit local museums housed in former inns, or visit the fascinating ruins of Tsumago Castle.