Ichikokutochi Tateba Chaya — Attraction in Nagiso

Ichikokutochi Tateba Chaya is a peaceful and charming stop nestled along a famous hiking trail, about a third of the way through the journey. It’s the perfect place to pause, grab a drink, take a seat, and freshen up before continuing your hike.

The rest house is run by a kind and welcoming old man who greets every visitor warmly, adding to the comforting atmosphere. One of the most touching sights is the board inside, covered with heartfelt messages and welcomes from people all around the world. It’s a beautiful reminder of how many travelers have passed through and found solace in this little haven.

Beyond just a rest stop, this place serves as a great mental boost before tackling the uphill stretch of the trail that begins right after the teahouse. The building itself is said to be around 250 years old, carefully maintained by dedicated local volunteers who preserve its beauty and history. If you can, consider donating to help support this incredible place and the efforts to keep it running.

If you're on this hiking trail, don’t miss this stop—it’s more than just a place to rest; it’s a piece of history and a shared experience among travelers from all...

We stopped outside this delightful little tea house to take shelter, as there was a newly-brewing thunderstorm that we could hear in the distance. Torrential rain started, and the lovely old man offered us refuge inside the cabin to wait out the thunderstorm. I had a small conversation with him in Japanese about where we were from and where we were going, and he gave us food for free (there was a little donation box which we put some money into). He then gave us an umbrella each, and said we should follow him to Tsumago-juku. He helped navigate through the forest and helped us very much. As he took a different route to us, we returned the umbrellas (it had stopped raining by this point) and insisted on giving him money, but he politely refused. We were also amused to discover that it was the same cabin that Joanna Lumley had stopped at during her travel...

This is a rustic tea house with a little bit of seating and some complimentary tea and a few snacks (hard candies and cucumber spears when we were there). There is a voluntary donation box.

It was nice to sit for a few minutes talking to the volunteers at the tea house and seeing some other beleaguered hikers pop in.

There was a wood burning fire going. I saw a review that said it was impossible to stay long due to being smoked out. It may be bad for me but I've always loved the smell of wood smoke. 😅 And believe me, by the end of the day I was happy to still smell like the fire.

Definitely a must-stop, just to admire the old building and sit with a strangers for a...