A place where the air of the river blends softly with the scent of the earth.
About an hour and a half by car from Nagoya.
As the mountains cast deeper shadows and the sound of the river draws near,
the air slowly begins to take on the character of the satoyama.
Quietly tucked away in the hills of Gujo, Gifu,
stands Higenos — a small, private sauna villa for one group per day.
Between the river and the mountains.
In this gentle boundary where nature and everyday life melt into one,
you may find yourself quietly reconnecting with your own sense of nature.
A quiet retreat breathing between the river and the mountains.
Seasonal light and wind flow gently into the room through the wide opening.
Warm light connects the room to the sauna and softly leads you toward the riverside.
A place where the boundary between nature and everyday life quietly dissolves.
Higenos is a small sauna villa designed so that
the satoyama landscape and the rhythms of human life
can breathe almost in unison.
The sound of the river flowing just beyond a single wall.
The light of the mountains filling the windows.
A simple, honest structure of wood and steel.
Each element is a gentle device,
set in place to let nature and daily life blend softly together.
Inside and terrace, garden and riverbank—
the boundaries are thin,
and everything connects as one continuous place to simply be.
The Kurusu River flowing just beyond the terrace.
A riverside space where the water feels like part of the garden.
A seamless space where indoors and outdoors breathe together.
Moving between the heat of the sauna and the cold of the river.
The silence of a closed room.
The murmuring of the river outside.
Between the heat of the sauna and the chill of the clear stream,
a quiet space of pause begins to form.
Within that pause, the sauna becomes a tea room,
a small chamber of Zen—
a place that exists, simply, to be here.
At Higenos, the sauna is not an activity.
It is a space—and a moment—born from the meeting
of opposing elements.
HARVIA electric stove providing steady and gentle heat.
Ten seconds from sauna to river — an immediate plunge into clear, cold water.
A moment of release, wrapped in open air and the sound of flowing water.
Meals at Higenos are not provided.
Instead, we offer the tools and the setting
to savor the slow, unhurried act of making food.
You prepare ingredients in the kitchen,
then step outside to breathe the open air
and bring a small fire to life.
In the quiet rhythm of tending the flame,
your meal begins to take shape—naturally,
without hurry.
The preparing.
The time spent beside the fire.
The conversations that unfold.
All of these moments together
become what “dining” means at Higenos.
A night where cooking becomes one of the joys of the journey.
A meal begins the moment you start tending the fire.
Open air and firelight gently warm the tone of the conversation.
Local ingredients can be found just five minutes away—at the supermarket, roadside station, or morning market.
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①Yamato Riverside Town Pio — Supermarket (5min by car)
Tel. 0575-88-0055
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②Michi-no-Eki Kokin-Denju no Sato Yamato — Local goods & hot spring (7min)
Tel. 0575-88-2525
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③Gujo Shunsaikan Morning Market — Local vegetables & game meat (7 min)
Tel. 0575-88-4373
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Norari, Kurari — Living Gently with Nature
The serow—an old inhabitant of this land and the origin of our name—
wanders at its own pace, moving between the forest and the riverbank.
Its quiet way of living—never in a rush, always with nature—
reflects the very spirit we cherish here.
Just as the serow drifts through the trees,
we hope guests, too, will settle into the gentle rhythm of this place.
Higenos was born from that simple wish:
a small retreat where life can unfold at its own pace.
The serow, the original inhabitant of this land, and the creature from which Higenos takes its name.
Facility Information
Access
GIFUGUJO-SHIMAKI, YAMATOCHO 1312-1
Important Notes
Check-in / Check-out
Check-in
15:00 ~ 20:00
Check-out
~11:00
Policy
Cancellation Policy
Children's Policy
Bed sharing policy
Facilities & Services
Room Facilities & Amenities
Amenities / Facilities / Bathroom
Facilities & Services
Food Facility / Pool・Spa / Transport
Facility Precautions
About Check-out Cleaning
Higenos is a private villa created to share the rhythm of satoyama living. To welcome the next guests comfortably, we kindly ask for a small amount of care before our staff begins cleaning. Before check-out, please take a moment to: ・Wash any dishes and cooking utensils you used ・Separate trash into the provided bins ・Return furniture and items to their original places ・Make sure fires are fully extinguished and turn off lights and air conditioning No deep cleaning is required. We simply ask that you leave the space as you would when leaving your own home — with a little care and consideration.
Parking Information
Free on-site parking is available for up to two cars. Please note that the access road is partially narrow. Large vehicles (camper vans, etc.) should be confirmed in advance.
Amenities
We provide the following basic amenities for your stay: ・Shampoo & conditioner (O SKIN&HAIR / WOLFMAN) ・Body soap & facial cleanser ・Towels ・Hair dryer & skincare lotion To reduce environmental impact, we kindly ask guests to bring their own toothbrush whenever possible. However, a simple toothbrush is available for guests who may forget to bring one.
Dining
Higenos does not provide meals. Instead, we offer a quiet satoyama setting where you can enjoy preparing your own food at your own pace. Guests are welcome to use the fully equipped kitchen and the outdoor BBQ area, both free of charge. During the colder months, a kotatsu is set up on the terrace, allowing you to enjoy hot pot dishes or simple outdoor cooking while staying warm. A local supermarket and morning market offering regional ingredients are located about 5 minutes by car. ◼️About the Microwave & Rice Cooker There is no microwave or rice cooker in the villa. However, we are happy to assist with reheating cooked rice or thawing ingredients upon request. Please feel free to let us know in advance or during your stay.
Sauna
Higenos offers a private sauna available at any time during your stay. The sauna is equipped with a HARVIA CILINDRO 6 electric heater, providing stable heat and allowing you to enjoy consistent löyly without the fluctuations of a wood-burning stove. As the sauna is located outdoors and opens to the surrounding nature, please bring swimwear to wear during sauna use. ◼️Cold Plunge & Outdoor Relaxation Next to the sauna deck, you will find: ・An outdoor bathtub that can be used with both warm and cold water ・An outdoor shower ・A natural cold plunge fed by river water A small path also leads directly down to the river, allowing you to cool off in the natural stream (water levels may vary depending on the season).
Sauna Amenities
The following sauna amenities are provided for your comfort: ・Sauna ponchos × 4 ・Sauna hats × 4 ・Sauna bath towels × 4 ・Outdoor sandals × 4 ・Sauna aroma oils (4 types) ・Infinity chairs × 4 All items are available free of charge during your stay.
BBQ & Campfire
BBQ facilities, a fire pit, and firewood are available free of charge during your stay. The following equipment is provided: ・BBQ grill ・Charcoal, grill net, iron plate, pots ・Tongs and fire starter burner ・Basic cutlery and utensils Please bring your own food ingredients and preferred seasonings.
Number of Guests & Children
Higenos is a one-group-per-day private villa with a maximum capacity of 4 guests. The villa is designed primarily for quiet, adult-oriented stays, but families are also welcome. As the property is surrounded by nature, including a river and uneven ground, we kindly ask that young children are supervised at all times. If you are a family of five or more, please contact us in advance to discuss how children will be counted toward the guest capacity.
Pets Policy
We’re sorry, but pets are not allowed at Higenos. Please note that a Shiba Inu named Kojiro lives on the property with the owner’s family. Kojiro is gentle, calm, and friendly. He does not enter guest-only areas, but you may occasionally see him wandering near the garden or BBQ space. We appreciate your understanding.
Smoking Policy
Smoking is not permitted indoors or on the covered terrace. If you wish to smoke, please use the designated smoking area next to the deck. If smoking is found to have occurred indoors, we may charge for odor removal and restoration costs. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping the space comfortable for all guests.
Quiet Hours at Night
Please be mindful that local residents live nearby. After 8:00 PM, we kindly ask that you keep noise to a minimum in outdoor areas, including the BBQ space and riverside. Enjoying conversations or watching movies indoors is perfectly fine, but please refrain from using loud speakers late at night. Thank you for helping us maintain a peaceful environment for everyone.
Insects & Wildlife
Higenos is surrounded by mountain and riverside nature. Depending on the season, insects and small wild animals may appear around the property. We provide mosquito coils and insect repellent, but if you are sensitive to insects, please take this into consideration before booking. Thank you for your understanding of the natural environment.
Winter Facilities & Snow Tires
During autumn and winter, we provide the following amenities to ensure a comfortable stay even by the river: ◼️Indoor ・Air conditioning ・Dyson Hot + Cool heater ◼️Terrace ・Kotatsu (heated table) ・Heated carpet From approximately December to March, roads in the area may be icy or snow-covered. For your safety, please arrive with winter tires or appropriate winter driving equipment. Thank you for preparing accordingly and traveling safely.
If You Do Not Receive the Booking Confirmation Email
The confirmation email may be filtered into your spam or junk folder. Please check your email settings in advance to ensure that messages can be received. If you still do not receive the email, please contact us via Higenos Official LINE: https://lin.ee/ycnPoqk We’ll be happy to assist you.
Inquiries
For any questions or requests, please send us a message via the Higenos Official LINE, available through the link in our profile. We usually respond within 12 hours, though response times may vary depending on circumstances.
