Ueda, Nagano, Japan｜松茸山 別所和苑

2023/09/19 (Monday) 12:00 Full course reservation for 2 people ■Transfer and parking lot I visited from outside the prefecture by car! I had read reviews that the road to Bessho Waen was steep in the mountains, so I was worried about driving, so I requested a shuttle. If you are staying at a Bessho Onsen accommodation, you can request a shuttle from the facility, but this time we requested a shuttle from Bessho Onsen Station. (Pick-up and drop-off is around 11:45) When I searched for parking lots around Bessho Onsen, the nearest parking lot came up as the Kanko Dai-ni Parking Lot, but there are also parking lots at the station. Since my elderly father was with me, I was worried that it would be a bit far to walk from the nearby parking lot (tourist parking lot 2) to the station in the intense heat, but when I actually went there, there was a parking lot at the station as well. There was a parking lot, which was very helpful. (This parking lot was for people who use the tourist information center inside the station, so it may not be possible originally...>< I think the second tourist parking lot would be the best unless it's extremely hot.) ■Crowd status/temperature/atmosphere When we arrived, there was only one other group of guests besides us, and they had left on the way, so it was almost a private place. I came here on Monday after the 3-day holiday ( ˶ˆ ˆ˶ ) The seat I was shown to was a corner seat at the very back, so it was very comfortable and had great views both to the front and to the left. It was a hot day, around 35 degrees, but Bessho Waen is located in the red pine mountains, so it was very cool. There is no air conditioner, but the windows are open and the breeze passing through the red pines is very pleasant. There are red pines growing outside the window, and you can see the city beyond. The scenery was beautiful, it was quiet and I could hear the sounds of insects and birds, and it was a refreshing experience. I'm happy to be able to relax and enjoy matsutake mushrooms. When choosing my first matsutake hut, I was torn between other matsutake huts, but I made the right decision by choosing this one, which is the only one built in the middle of a mountain of red pine trees! ■Cooking The meal is a full course meal for two people. After the matsutake mushroom sushi is served first, an impressive matsutake hot pot is served from the beginning, and the excitement rises. Grilled matsutake mushrooms are made by splitting a whole mushroom with your own hands and grilling it. I thoroughly enjoyed the matsutake mushrooms with my eyes, nose, and tongue. I expected the portions to be a lot for me, who doesn't eat much, and my elderly father, but since the matsutake mushroom rice and matsutake tempura can be packed and taken home, I thoroughly enjoyed them. ■Facilities/toilets This is a store where you take off your shoes at the entrance. The seats were of the type where you sit on low chairs. It seems that the facility's interior and restrooms have been updated this year. Beautiful wood is used throughout. The toilet is a temporary toilet of the sitting type, but it was kept neatly and cleanly and did not disrupt the atmosphere. It was the cleanest temporary toilet I've ever seen. ■Atmosphere and customer service of store staff The person who came to pick me up and drop me off seemed casual and friendly. He gave us directions along the way and told us a lot about the red pine forest. After arriving at Bessho Waen, the staff inside the store guided us to our seats and served us our food. Although the atmosphere was very polite and formal, I got the impression that there was a sense of friendliness in some places. There were some reviews from before last year that pointed out bad aspects of the staff, but the customer service did not make me feel that way at all. I was able to enjoy the food and the space with peace of mind. ■Accounting Payment is by cash only. If you are usually cashless, you should have cash on hand. ■Overview I chose Bessho Waen for my first matsutake hut and I'm really glad I did. My father, who had always dreamed of eating matsutake mushrooms, was very happy to be able to enjoy matsutake mushrooms prepared in a variety of ways. In addition to the food, I had a wonderful time thanks to the customer service of the staff and the nature of Akamatsu. thank you very much. My father lives in Hokkaido and said he would like to come back, so I would like to use him again next year. ■Memo Since it was our first time, we ordered the full course (19,000 yen including tax), but a regular customer who came by the wrong place on the way home added grilled matsutake mushrooms (market price) to the B course (9,000 yen including tax). They were ordered. It's true that the full course meal was a bit large, so I think it's a good idea to try something like that.

I visited on October 21, 2023 and ordered the full course for 19,000 yen and the E course for 17,000 yen. We started with an appetizer of matsutake sushi, then enjoyed chawan mushi, dobin mushi, tempura, hot pot, matsutake rice, matsutake silver steamed, grilled matsutake, udon, and ice cream for dessert. Grilled matsutake mushrooms are fragrant and a great value item. It was like a mountain hut, but it was beautiful, and I enjoyed the food and the scenery while looking out at Ueda City from the window seat. The road is narrow and there are cliffs, so you need to be careful, but I plan to come again next year.

Place large blooming matsutake mushrooms on top of the charcoal fire and wait for them to start sweating. Dehydration is important. The water is moderately removed to condense the flavor and aroma. While the texture is still nice and crunchy, scoop it off the heat, squeeze out a squeeze of sudachi, add a little salt, When you eat it, the scent of wood and forest fills your mouth, and its crunchy texture makes you feel grateful for the blessings of autumn, which has finally arrived after the intense heat. After climbing over a dirt mountain road that is not paved with concrete, I run up the final slope and say, ``Are you serious? But I came all this way for the matsutake mushrooms!'' and arrive at the shop, which has a wonderful view overlooking the city of Ueda from the top of the mountain. Surrounded by red pines, the red pines grow even inside the shop, as if they were the breadwinners supporting the hut. The matsutake hotpot is a hot pot of chicken, vegetables, and tofu, and not only does the flavor of the matsutake come through well, but the green onions, Chinese cabbage, and other ingredients are delicious and well-prepared. Can I add matsutake mushrooms when making a reservation? When I asked him about it, he said, ``It depends on the harvest at that time and the amount reserved for the next day, so I can't make a guarantee, but if it's available, I'll let you know.'' When I visited him on the day, he said, With a big smile on his face, he said, "Look here. You can also add matsutake mushrooms!" The matsutake mushrooms look amazing, and the price is reasonable (if you search online, you'll find that they're reasonably priced). Choose well-shaped matsutake mushrooms and use them for grilled matsutake. Even if it's such a difficult road, you'll come for this taste. “Find a matsutake mushroom and jump into the mountains.” Fujiwara family