Yogo, Shiga — Japan
A forest retreat in the mountains of Yogo
A private villa, satoyama cooking, and hands-on nature experiences, in a valley 90 minutes from Kyoto.
Stay — Premium
Villa: a whole forest house, just for you
Natural wood walls and floors, built by master shrine carpenters, standing alone in the quiet of the forest.
Villa welcomes just two parties a day. Gather around your own private fire circle, or look up at the stars from an outdoor bath scented with Kiso cypress. BBQ on the deck, then a relaxed 3:00 PM check-out the next day — every detail is arranged for an indulgent stay, embraced by the nature of Yogo.
- Private Kiso cypress outdoor bath
- Private fire circle
- BBQ deck
- Microbubble indoor bath
- Welcome drink of local sake or juice
This reservation page is in Japanese. Most browsers can translate it automatically — or call +81-749-86-4145 (9:00 AM–5:30 PM, closed Tuesdays) and we'll help.
Dine — In Your Villa or Cottage
Omi beef, delivered to your door
Shiga's celebrated Omi beef, cooked yourselves — by the fire circle in summer, as a hot pot in winter.
Ingredients are delivered straight to your villa or cottage, ready to cook at your own pace. The BBQ course comes with charcoal, a grill, tableware, and yakiniku sauce; the sukiyaki course comes with the pot, tableware, and vegetables. Just add the fire — or the stove.
Omi beef BBQ: 120g Omi beef, 80g pork loin, 100g chicken, mixed vegetables. A domestic-beef Basic Course is also available at ¥3,960/person.
Meal plans are booked together with your villa or cottage reservation — mention it when you book, or call +81-749-86-4145.
Eat
Satoyama Restaurant Palm
A countryside lunch spot built around local ingredients — from rice bowls to curry, noodles, and daily specials.
| Today's Set Meal (limited quantity) | ¥1,320 |
| Yogo Perilla Grilled Chicken Rice Bowl | ¥1,100 |
| Beef Rice Bowl | ¥880 |
| Curry, mild-spicy | ¥660 |
| Katsu Curry | ¥990 |
| Soy Sauce Ramen | ¥770 |
Menu changes by the day, and signage is in Japanese — most dishes are pictured, and staff are happy to help you choose.
Around Yogo
Beyond the retreat
Two more reasons to explore the valley — a lake steeped in legend, and a battlefield that helped decide the fate of Japan.
Lake Yogo
The Mirror Lake
A small, still lake just north of Lake Biwa — about 1.8km² and 6.4km around, with water 13m deep. Locals call it Kagami-ko, the Mirror Lake, for how calmly it reflects the surrounding hills. Legend holds it's home to a heavenly maiden's robe of feathers, a dragon god, and Princess Kikuishi. Walk the lakeside promenade, rent a bicycle at Yogo Station, or fish for smelt through the ice in winter, when migratory waterfowl also stop here.
More about Lake Yogo →
Sengoku History
The Battle of Shizugatake
In 1583, this valley was the site of a decisive battle between Hashiba (later Toyotomi) Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie — a turning point in the struggle to unify Japan. Shizugatake Sengoku Station, at the foot of the old Dogiyama Fort, brings it to life with a walkable 8-meter floor map, lit dioramas with audio guides, commander profiles, and life-size samurai for photos. Open daily, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
More about Shizugatake →There's more to see around the valley — shrines, a temple tied to the battle, seasonal wildflowers, and local cafés. See all nearby spots →
Experience
Hands-on nature experiences
Three hands-on programs from our year-round activity schedule — craft a bamboo lantern, cook rice over a fire you start yourself, or build a birdhouse to take home.
These are 3 of 14 programs running year-round. See the full activity schedule →
Guest Voices
What guests are saying
Translated from reviews left by Japanese guests on Jalan and Rakuten Travel.
A Special Time at the Villa's Outdoor Bath
We were moved by the wood-scented interior and the outdoor bath where you can soak while gazing at a sky full of stars. The staff were attentive and thoughtful — the perfect stay for our anniversary.
A Grown-Up Hideaway, Away From It All
The villa felt wonderfully private — we could relax without worrying about anyone else around. Little touches like the welcome drink made us feel genuinely looked after.
The Best Omi Beef We've Ever Cooked Ourselves
Everything was delivered right to our villa, charcoal and all — we just had to light the fire. Cooking Omi beef by the fire circle as the sun went down was one of the best meals we've had.
A Sukiyaki Dinner Worth the Trip
We had the Omi beef sukiyaki delivered to our room in November — rich, tender, and beautifully marbled. Cooking it ourselves at our own pace made the evening feel unhurried and special.
Our Kids Still Talk About the Fire-Starting
We tried the hangou rice cooking experience — starting a fire with flint and cooking rice over it ourselves. It took a few tries, but that made it more fun. Simple, hands-on, and something we can't do at home.
A Surprisingly Satisfying Way to Spend an Hour
Splitting firewood sounded simple, but it turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our stay. The staff explained everything clearly, even with our limited Japanese.
A Special Time at the Villa's Outdoor Bath
We were moved by the wood-scented interior and the outdoor bath where you can soak while gazing at a sky full of stars. The staff were attentive and thoughtful — the perfect stay for our anniversary.
A Grown-Up Hideaway, Away From It All
The villa felt wonderfully private — we could relax without worrying about anyone else around. Little touches like the welcome drink made us feel genuinely looked after.
The Best Omi Beef We've Ever Cooked Ourselves
Everything was delivered right to our villa, charcoal and all — we just had to light the fire. Cooking Omi beef by the fire circle as the sun went down was one of the best meals we've had.
A Sukiyaki Dinner Worth the Trip
We had the Omi beef sukiyaki delivered to our room in November — rich, tender, and beautifully marbled. Cooking it ourselves at our own pace made the evening feel unhurried and special.
Our Kids Still Talk About the Fire-Starting
We tried the hangou rice cooking experience — starting a fire with flint and cooking rice over it ourselves. It took a few tries, but that made it more fun. Simple, hands-on, and something we can't do at home.
A Surprisingly Satisfying Way to Spend an Hour
Splitting firewood sounded simple, but it turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of our stay. The staff explained everything clearly, even with our limited Japanese.
Access
Getting to Yogo
By car from Kyoto or Nagoya, or by train to JR Yogo Station with a short bus, taxi, or rental-cycle ride.
- Address
- 260 Nakanogo, Yogo-cho,
Nagahama, Shiga 529-0515 - Phone
- +81-749-86-4145
- Closed
- Tuesdays
- Parking
- Free, 50 spaces
By Car
| Kinomoto IC → site (Rte. 365) | ≈ 12 min |
| From Kyoto | ≈ 90 min |
| From Osaka | ≈ 110 min |
| From Nagoya | ≈ 70 min |
| From Tsuruga | ≈ 30 min |
Part of Route 365 may have winter closures (Dec–Mar); check conditions before you set out.
By Train
| Nearest station: JR Yogo (Hokuriku Line) | |
| From Kyoto | ≈ 80 min |
| From Nagoya | ≈ 70 min |
| From Kanazawa | ≈ 140 min |
From Yogo Station: local bus to "Forest Culture Exchange Center," or rent a bicycle at the station (¥500/day, e-bike ¥1,000/day).
Shuttle
Free transfer to/from Yogo Station for Villa, Cottage, and Forest Culture Exchange Center guests — reserve at least 2–3 days ahead.
Ready to visit?
Villa books up 6 months ahead of stay dates — earlier is better for peak seasons and weekends.
Our main website is in Japanese. This page covers what international guests ask us most — for anything else, your browser's translate feature works well, or just call.