Miwa Hashiguchi, Local Guide ~ An Original Japan Travel Guide by Hoshino Resorts' Local Staff

Local Guide

Miwa Hashiguchi

Stay creators in Shinshu

A native of Kagoshima, he spent his first year on TaketomiIsland before moving to the snow country when Hoshino Resorts KAI Alps reopened. Although she is still not accustomed to the cold, she is always on the lookout for new ideas to make her stay in Shinshu more attractive, such as proposing a new pickle shop.

Hoshino Resorts KAI Alps: A hot spring inn where you can experience the luxurious countryside of Shinshu. Guest rooms and hot spring baths line both sides of the "gangi," an arcade in the snow country, and offer a spectacular view of the Alps and a river filled with melting snow. Warm up in the sunken kotatsu and enjoy a peaceful stay with the hospitality of the sunken hearth.

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Local Guide FAQ

What do you recommend (places, experiences, food) in the Omachi area of Nagano?: We recommend "Sosha Wakachi" in the center of Omachi City, about a 10-minute walk from Shinano-Omachi Station. In an old machiya-style townhouse building more than 100 years old, with retro furnishings, you can enjoy a Japanese lunch made with plenty of local Omachi seasonal ingredients. Also nearby is "Shionomichi Chojiya" where you can learn about the history of the salt road and "Izura" where you can find a wide variety of souvenirs, so be sure to start your Omachi sightseeing tour from here!

Please sneak in some hole-in-the-wall places that you know because you live there.: The Mima area, a 20-minute drive from the center of Omachi, is home to many fashionable cafes and workshops.
Among them, we recommend solosolo, a herb-dyeing studio located in the mountains of Mima. The works are made with clean water flowing from the Northern Alps and hand-dyed one by one. The works are carefully dyed using clean water from the Alps and firewood to boil the plants, and the colors are gentle, with a sense of nature's power that you will not find anywhere else.

Where did you travel to last year and with whom?: I traveled with my mother for the first time. The destinations were Beppu and Yufuin, two of the most famous hot spring resorts in my hometown of Kyushu. My mother and I spent a relaxing time in these hot spring towns that have long been loved by the Japanese people, with their historic streets, hot springs rich in spring water quality, and meals that make the best use of local products.

What do you do on your days off?: I used to be extremely bad at driving, but since coming to Alps, I have come to love driving. We go out without deciding on a particular destination while gazing at the majestic Northern Alps. I have also recently become addicted to visiting libraries and bookstores. When I see a book with an elaborate obi or binding, I can't help but pick it up.

Is there anything you always take with you on a trip?: A notebook and a book. Before I go on a trip, I have a notebook and a book that I have decided to use for the trip! Before I go on a trip, I take a notebook and a book that I have decided to read. It is surprisingly easy to remember when and where you read a book. Deciding on a favorite book is one of my preparations for a trip.