Moricho Ryokan

🧖A century-old heritage inn with a sauna built inside a registered earthen storehouse

Akita · Moricho Ryokan

1

A heritage ryokan reborn

• 🏛️The former Moricho Ryokan, founded in the Meiji era and run until 2006 as an inn for the port town of Funakawa, was renovated and reopened in 2024.
• 📜The two-story wooden, Western-style building dates from the early Showa era; the main building, annex and earthen storehouse are each Registered Tangible Cultural Properties of Japan.
• 🌊Set right by Funakawa Port, a long-time shipping hub, it aims to be a base for traveling as if you lived in Oga.

2

Kura sauna and main-building sauna

• 🧖NAMOMI SAUNA KURA turns an entire heritage storehouse into a sauna with Aomori hiba wood, a Finnish stove and Oga 'kanaishi' stones for self-loyly.
• 💧Wooden-tub cold plunges are fed by the famous Taki-no-Kashira spring water, with rest areas on the storehouse's second floor and in the garden (swimwear or a poncho required outdoors; rentals available).
• 🔄Guests use the two saunas on an alternating men/women schedule from 15:00-22:00 and 6:00-9:00, and free Aufguss sessions by certified heat masters are held on event days.

3

Five room types

• 🛏️The Suite HANARE annex (60㎡, 1 room) has two connected rooms, a private kitchen and its own toilet, and sleeps up to four with extra futons.
• 🪟Other options: Standard Twins with a hiroen sunroom (21-27㎡, 6 rooms), Compact Twins on the annex ground floor (19㎡, 2 rooms), a queen-bed Superior (12㎡, 1 room) and a 10-bed dormitory.
• 🧺Sauna hats, loungewear, towels and mineral water are provided, plus a humidifier and padded hanten jacket in winter.

4

Akita flavors at the table

• 🍱The 'Moricho Gozen' dinner draws on Akita's fermentation, mountain vegetables and seaweed, served from 18:00 in the garden-view lounge (book a dinner plan or call ahead).
• 🍚Breakfast from 8:00 in the lounge is a Japanese meal with specially grown Oga Akitakomachi rice and miso from Moroi Jozo, a 10-minute walk away; request it by 18:00 two days before.
• 🏮On other nights, staff recommend local seafood restaurants and izakaya within walking distance (many close on Sundays, so booking is advised).

5

Lounges and the Mori Aogaeru bar

• 🍶Check-in is at the ground-floor lounge to the left of the entrance, which also houses the bar Mori Aogaeru serving Akita sake and craft beer.
• 📚The second-floor lounge linking the main building and HANARE has shelves of books on local culture, nature and travel that you can carry anywhere in the inn.
• 🤝Staff work behind the bar and connect travelers with local residents.

6

Growing garden and kamado cooking

• 🪨The stone garden by artist Hiroshi Fuji rearranges the site's original stones in a 'growing garden' that changes over time.
• 🔥A Showa-retro tiled kamado stove on the HANARE ground floor lets you cook rice in a hagama pot over firewood (reservation required).
• 🛁Instead of a large bath, a private family bath (unit bath) on the main building's ground floor can be booked by the hour through staff.

7

Location and access

• 🚃A 1-minute walk from JR Oga Station, in an old shopping street of butchers, sweet shops and izakaya.
• 👹Oga is home to the Namahage tradition on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, with Japanese Geopark scenery for fishing, swimming, cycling and paragliding from Mt. Kanpu.
• 🕒Check-in 15:00, check-out 10:00.

3

Five room types

• 🛏️The Suite HANARE annex (60㎡, 1 room) has two connected rooms, a private kitchen and its own toilet, and sleeps up to four with extra futons.
• 🪟Other options: Standard Twins with a hiroen sunroom (21-27㎡, 6 rooms), Compact Twins on the annex ground floor (19㎡, 2 rooms), a queen-bed Superior (12㎡, 1 room) and a 10-bed dormitory.
• 🧺Sauna hats, loungewear, towels and mineral water are provided, plus a humidifier and padded hanten jacket in winter.

4

Akita flavors at the table

• 🍱The 'Moricho Gozen' dinner draws on Akita's fermentation, mountain vegetables and seaweed, served from 18:00 in the garden-view lounge (book a dinner plan or call ahead).
• 🍚Breakfast from 8:00 in the lounge is a Japanese meal with specially grown Oga Akitakomachi rice and miso from Moroi Jozo, a 10-minute walk away; request it by 18:00 two days before.
• 🏮On other nights, staff recommend local seafood restaurants and izakaya within walking distance (many close on Sundays, so booking is advised).

Show more (5 more)▾

Stay inside a cultural property and enjoy a storehouse sauna, Akita sake and everyday life in Oga. Note there is no hot spring, large bath or elevator, and apart from the suite, rooms have no toilet, sink or bath, so shared facilities are used.

#OgaRyokan#AkitaRyokan#SaunaRyokan#HeritageStay#OgaStation#Namahage#MorichoRyokan

* This introduction was compiled from information published by each property (official website and similar sources), so some details may differ from what you find on the day. It is AI-assisted and can contain errors — please check the official website and the details shown at booking before you reserve.

From onsen etiquette to check-in — the things worth knowing first.

What are the check-in and check-out times at Moricho Ryokan?

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out is by 10:00.

Where is Moricho Ryokan located?

It is in Oga. Address: 82 Sakaecho, Funagawa, Funagawaｍinato.

What is the cancellation and refund policy?

Free-cancellation deadlines vary by rate plan and are shown with each room. Cancelling before the deadline gives a full refund.