Keshiki no Oyado Metasequoia no Mori

A log cabin near the Metasequoia Tree-Lined Avenue, for one group per day

Keshiki no Oyado Metasequoia no Mori is a whole-house rental in Makino-cho, Takashima, Shiga, standing just a short distance from the famous Metasequoia Tree-Lined Avenue. It is a 73-square-meter two-story log cabin that opened in 2022, taking only one group per day, with a maximum of 6 guests. It is run by the operator of Mishoan, a charcoal-grilled wagyu restaurant founded in 1964.

Because the whole cabin is yours for the day, there is no need to worry about other guests if the baby cries at night or the children run around. Being freed from the question of noise, which weighs on families with children more than anything else, is what this place offers above all. Preschool-age children, babies and toddlers are indeed welcome, and co-sleeping is allowed. Those children count toward the maximum of 6 guests, and a child for whom futon bedding is prepared counts as one adult.

Mini kitchen and microwave (depending on the plan)

The cabin has a mini kitchen, and a microwave is provided as well. Both, however, are listed as available only in part and by reservation, so whether you can use them varies by plan. When they are available you can prepare meals for your children or cook simple dishes, but whether the microwave can be used to warm baby food is not stated, so please confirm when booking if you need it. A refrigerator and an electric hot-water kettle (available to borrow) are also provided. There is a free self-service laundry corner too, so you can wash clothes when the children get them dirty, which suits stays of several nights or longer.

Dinner is a bring-your-own barbecue or hot pot, with equipment lent free of charge

On plans that include breakfast, breakfast is self-service, and dinner is built around ingredients you bring yourself; room-only plans are available as well. From May to October you cook a charcoal barbecue outdoors in the barbecue garden, and from November to April you enjoy a hot pot indoors, with the equipment lent free of charge in both cases. Since you choose the ingredients yourself, you can cater to your children's likes, dislikes and allergies - something a set kaiseki menu cannot offer.

Nearby sights and access

The Metasequoia Tree-Lined Avenue, which changes character with the seasons, is right nearby. A short drive brings you to Makino Kogen, the shores of Lake Biwa, Hakodateyama and Kodomo no Kuni, so there is no shortage of places for the family to spend the day. Check-in is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and checkout is at 10 a.m. Parking is free for 3 cars. It is about 6 minutes by car from Makino Station on the JR Kosei Line, about 1 hour from Kyoto and about 2 hours from Osaka or Nagoya, an easy distance to build into a family trip from the Kansai and Chukyo regions.

There is no communal bath or private-hire bath here; bathing is in the bathroom inside the cabin. The water is not onsen water, so if you are hoping for an onsen-ryokan-style stay, compare it with other options before choosing.