Although a fair amount of time has already passed, over the long weekend of July 14th and 15th, the three of us—Monja, Keisuke, and myself—pedaled our way to hibi in Inabu, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.
To the town of Inabu, with which we have various ties
Just like the INABU BASE PROJECT that Yuya was recently involved with, we have various connections to the town of Inabu and the people who live there. We also have a long-standing relationship with the Matsushima couple, who operate first-hand, a furniture workshop using domestic timber, and Hitotoki, which serves meals centered around seasonal vegetables.
hibi is a private lodging facility that the Matsushimas launched this spring.
I had been following their progress on social media from last spring until completion, and since hearing it was finished, I had been looking for a chance to visit. That opportunity finally arrived.
first-hand / Hitotoki / hibi
https://first-hand.jp/
“A furniture workshop where you can stay”: hibi
The building is a renovated folk house over 100 years old. While it looks modern as it appears on the old Inabu highway surrounded by historic structures, once you step inside, you can feel its history, as the building's foundation—its beams and pillars—remains intact.
The first floor features guest rooms and a lounge area, while the basement houses Mr. Matsushima’s furniture workshop. Naturally, the furniture on display was crafted there, making it truly a "furniture workshop where you can stay" that also doubles as a showroom.
The comfortable guest rooms, filled with the scent of wood, fully soothe your tired body.
The lounge area, a place for relaxation, is also equipped with bicycle racks—a thoughtful detail that we cyclists truly appreciate.
You can wash away the sweat and dust at Hotel Okadaya’s hot spring, and fill your empty stomach at Tsutaya Sushi & Japanese Cuisine, as recommended by Mr. Matsushima, to end a perfect day.
Breakfast on the second day at Hitotoki
And the second day began with a delicious breakfast at Hitotoki.
For the record, the breakfast menu consisted of bread from kiln, which opened in Inabu this spring, sausages from Yama no Ham Kobo GOBAR, tomato juice from Kobayashi Farm in Neba Village, along with a seasonal vegetable salad and coffee. Not only was the flavor exceptional, but the portions were also very satisfying.
Staying in Inabu: Close yet far
This time, we made hibi our destination; we rode out from Nagoya and returned by using the Akechi Railway and the JR Chuo Line with our bikes in bags. While those with strong legs could certainly cycle round-trip from Nagoya, we recommend taking your time to enjoy the ride, soaking in the town of Inabu, and heading back to Nagoya the next day using different routes or methods.
Staying in the town of Inabu, which feels close yet far, far yet close, proved to be both a casual and a very luxurious experience. You can set various routes and feel the shifting seasons amidst the nature.
Regardless, the stay at hibi was so comfortable that I find myself wanting to go back again soon.
And for that next time, my head is already spinning with all sorts of fantasies about which route to take. If you are interested or want to see it for yourself, please check the facility details below.
first-hand / Hitotoki / hibi
https://first-hand.jp/
Route info you might be interested in
I’m also sharing our outbound route, so check it out if you’re curious.
For lunch, we had the ginger pork set meal at Fujiyoshi in Kami-Yahagi.
By the way, on the second day, we went to Yama no Ham Kobo GOBAR, where we had breakfast at Hitotoki, and bought sausages for that day's lunch and for dinner once we got home. The venison Gibier Wurst was the best.
Distance: approx. 97km / Elevation Gain: approx. 1900m