Forest Auberge Hoshizaki Kirara
Reserve a one-group country auberge for seasonal Soni cooking, a private room and a mountain-side night.
Verified site photographs are being prepared.Discover Forest Auberge Hoshizaki Kirara
Forest Auberge Hoshizaki Kirara is a tiny lodging-and-dining house in Konagao, on the eastern side of Nara Prefecture. The operator describes the property as a husband-and-wife-run auberge at about 550 metres above sea level. It has one guest room for up to four people, reserved for one group per day. That scale makes this a planned overnight stay rather than a walk-in restaurant stop: contact the hosts before travelling and confirm whether a meal-only visit is being accepted.
A stay built around one reservation
Nara Prefecture lists one room with a maximum capacity of four, and the operator says it hosts one group a day. The official booking route is by telephone, not an online availability calendar. The operator publishes check-in at 16:00 and check-out at 11:00; the prefectural guide agrees. Ask about the current room plan, number of guests, meal inclusions, cancellation terms, children and any dietary needs before paying.
Seasonal cooking from the surrounding countryside
The operator describes its dinner as French-based satoyama cuisine using seasonal Nara ingredients, Soni vegetables and game. Its farm-to-table page says some produce is grown by the hosts and other ingredients come from trusted local growers. Breakfast is described as freshly baked bread with newly harvested garden vegetables, locally made fruit jam and yogurt, plus coffee or tea. These are descriptions of the offering, not a fixed menu: confirm what will be served and whether dinner or breakfast is included in your booking.
A room with changing mountain views
There is one guest room and an adjoining bath, with the operator describing views of Soni's mountains from the dining, sleeping and bathing spaces. Night skies, early-morning cloud and winter snow are weather-dependent possibilities, not guaranteed sights. A JR Central feature reports that the room can be arranged for up to four guests, while the prefecture gives the same maximum. Ask the hosts which bedding is available for your group and whether the room setup suits your needs.
Reach the address, then verify the last leg
The address is 658-1 Konagao, Soni Village. The village tourism association lists six parking spaces, while the prefectural directory warns that the final approach climbs a narrow village road; ask the hosts for current directions and parking availability. Public transport needs date-specific planning: the village association describes rail-and-bus routes from both Kintetsu Haibara and Kintetsu Nabari, and Mie Kotsu lists the Konagaobashi stop on a separate route from the Nabari side. Visit Nara's older itinerary describes a seasonal connection via Soni Kogen Farm and Konagaobashi with an approximately 20-minute walk; third-party maps estimate about 12 minutes from Konagaobashi. These routes and estimates are not interchangeable or verified door-to-door directions. As of 20 October 2026, the Soni Tourism Association warns of weekday 8:40–17:00 road restrictions on the Nabari–Soni route during October construction, with limited passage windows; check the live notice before using that approach. Confirm the actual stop, operating date, final return and walk to the property with the bus operator and inn before booking around transit.
Confirm the current price and dining access
The Nara Prefecture auberge directory gives a reference of ¥38,500 per guest for one night with two meals, based on two people sharing a room. The operator says payment details are provided by telephone, so treat the prefectural figure as a reference rather than a quote for your date or party. The prefecture says dinner-only visits are by consultation. Soni Tourism Association publishes lunch hours of 11:30–15:00 (last entry 13:00) and dinner hours of 17:30–21:30 (last entry 19:30), while Visit Nara's 2025 listing also mentions advance-reserved lunch and dinner. The current operator site requires phone reservations and centres its visitor information on overnight stays; ask whether meal-only dining is being accepted on your date, and do not arrive without a confirmed booking.
Plan around closure and the rural setting
The operator, prefecture and village tourism association list Wednesday as the regular closing day. The operator asks prospective guests to call 0745-88-9155 and leave a voicemail if the call is not answered. Its English-language site provides basic property and reservation information and publicly lists morinoaubergekirara@gmail.com, but that does not confirm live English-speaking assistance. Confirm the reservation by return call or email, including arrival time, meal schedule, total price, access, dietary requests and emergency contact. No public step-free access, allergy accommodation, or walk-in meal service has been verified.
What to look for
One private room for up to four guests
Soni produce in French-based satoyama cooking
A rural overnight stay with views that change by weather and season
Photo notes
The operator and Visit Nara show property and meal photographs, but MyNara has no licence to reuse them. No independent photograph has been cleared. Ask permission before photographing hosts, interiors or other guests.
Make a day of it
Explore guides close to this map point, then check the actual route before travelling. Distances below are straight lines, not walking distances or travel times; map points may not be entrances.
Sources & editorial status
Original MyNara draft based on the linked sources. Sources reviewed 20 October 2026. Opening arrangements, prices and offers may change; use the operator's current information before travelling.
- Forest Auberge Hoshizaki Kirara — current operator overview and phone booking
- Operator English page — property, phone and email enquiry details
- Kirara — dinner and farm-to-table description
- Kirara — room and landscape description
- Nara Prefecture — room count, capacity, closure, schedule and reference price
- Official Nara Travel Guide — venue entry and Soni itinerary/access context
- Soni Village Tourism Association — restaurant hours, weekly closure and six parking spaces
- Soni Tourism Association — regional rail, bus and car access; dated October roadwork notice
- Soni Tourism Association — current roadwork alerts for the Nabari–Soni road
- Mie Kotsu — Konagaobashi stop and date-specific service search
- Official Nara Travel Guide — Soni Highland itinerary and bus/walk connection
- Soni Village Tourism Association — property listing and car park statement
- JR Central — editorial profile of the auberge and room arrangement