【Kyoto】Let’s go to Oohara. Enjoy the most authentic miso pot & natural hot spring.

Oohara, 20 mins away from downtown Kyoto by car.
It is a place with less tourists and without shopping mall.
You might feel like the time stops while walking on the street.
I came here twice.
First time, I was here to work for a month and second time, I was here to travel.
When I was working here, I really like the ambience of the homestay and the community.
However, as a worker, I can’t enjoy all the services and gourmets like other travelers or tourists.
Therefore, after one and a half years, I planned a trip to this place that I love and stayed before.

There is a little bit inconvenience to go to Oohara with the public transportation.
You can only reach there by bus, because it’s not in the urban area, there is no MRT subway, 100 Yen loop bus.
There are several departure locations for buses to Oohara:
Kyoto Station, Shijo Karasuma Station , Kokusai-Kaikan Station, Hankyu -Kawaramachi Station, Hankyu Demachiyanagi Station.
Oohara is the last station of the route, so you can sleep after getting on the bus.
On the way to Oohara, you will see the landscape change from city to countryside, crowded people and high buildings change to fewer people and shorter buildings.

This time I visited Oohara was to go back to my previous work place, Oohara no Sato.
I came here to take a hot springs bath and eat the most famous miso pot.
Since I worked here, I realized that this is the birthplace of miso pot.

When I arrived Oohara, I went to Oohara no Sato directly.
Oohara is a hot spring homestay which accommodate the tourists to stay overnight.
If you are here for only a day, they do provide the hot springs and catering services.
On the way to the homestay, you will pass by a river and fields that are full of vegetables and some stores.
There are really few foreigners here, mostly are Japanese tourists from other states.
They come here by car, so you will not see many people along the way.

When you found this sign, you are near to Oohara no Sato.

You will see a menu for the day trip placed in front of the door as below:

The cost is for 1 pax, included hot spring and set of meal.
The meals on the menu from the top to bottom are,
collagen miso pot, spicy miso pot, signature miso pot, Kyochi Chicken Sukiyaki.
You can request to enjoy the hot spring first or to have the meal first.
The cost on the menu is for afternoon.
If you want to have dinner, the available seats are according to the guests of staying on the day.
They will give priority to those who make reservation first.
In addition, they will charge another 1000yen if you order the same menu at night.

It was a snowy winter when I came, a kerosene heater was placed in the lobby.
I was so happy to get warm from it in the winter.
Before I came to Oohara, I made a reservation online.
When I arrived, the staff will confirm my reservation with my name and orders, then they will ask me to lock my important belongings in the lockers.
Then, I can take a hot spring bath!
Don’t forget to wash your body before you get into the hot spring in Japan.
When I got into the bathroom, a girl was already inside.
After she left, I could enjoy the hot spring alone.
Oohara no Sato’s hot spring is separated by male and female in two sections.
Each section has an indoor pool and two outdoor open air pools.
In the winter, we have to have the courageous to walk naked to the outdoor pool.
The outdoor pools, one of them is a normal pool, another is the most famous Goemonburo / cauldron bath.

You are not allowed to take videos and photos, please do not bring your phone to the hot spring.
According to Oohara no Sato website:
Goemonburo or cauldron bath is a type of traditional Japanese bath in which a “cauldron” filled with water is heated over direct fire.
In consideration for guests, the bath is maintained at a constant temperature via a circulator system.
You may enjoy the nature and the beautiful scenery while taking a relaxing baths in our open air goemonburo.

Goemon is the Japanese “Robin Hood”. He was a ninja who stole money and gold from rich people and gave it to poor people.
One day, Goemon tried to assassinate Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
He was captured and sentenced to death, thrown alive in boiling oil into an iron cauldron, along with his younger son.
This matter was widely spread, later generations also evolve cooking kill into a form of hot spring bathing.
Although this hot spring bathing method is famous, it is rare to use at home.
Therefore, many people come here to take this Goemon hot springs.
After taking the bath, I changed my cloth and prepared to have my meal.

When I got into the dining room, the staff has already set up the meal and utensils.
Every set of meals included vegetable plate, soup, meat and tsukemono (a kind of pickled vegetable).
If there are 2 pax and above, the portion of the vegetable and meat will become larger, will use a larger pot.
And 2 pots will be provided if there are 4 pax and above.

Rice and hot/cold water are placed at the self-service area.
We also can make a extra order for more vegetable and meat, even a bottle of cold beer.

Oohara no Sato has a sister shop opposite, they are owned by the same owner.
Oohara no Sato is the same owner as the sister shop opposite, who runs the restaurant.
Behind of the restaurant is the place to marinade miso.
This miso is completely handmade, no mechanical is used, and there are no chemical additives.
Natural miso with natural fragrant are definitely worth trying out!
The miso is not only for dining. It also sells to tourist, so you even can enjoy the taste of Oohara at home.
While dining in Oohara no Sato, you may try the different years miso, white miso and spicy miso with rice or as a dip.

I think miso is very similar to coffee , the longer the time to marinade and bake, the stronger the taste.
Otherwise, the shorter the time, the more pure the taste.

I was eating the delicious miso pot while watching the snow scene outside the window, I really enjoyed it.
Oohara is a place where you can enjoy even if you are traveling alone.

Travel information
Oohara no Sato(click here for reservation)
Operation Time: 1130-2100 (for hot spring and have meal, last order on 1800)
Google map: click here for map
Address: 〒601-1248 京都府京都市左京区大原草生町41

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