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The rooms at Hoshi Onsen feel like stepping into a quiet, carefully composed world where everything has a purpose. It’s about atmosphere, simplicity, and harmony with nature. Instead of carpet or wood, the room is covered with tatami mats - woven rice straw that feels softly springy under your feet and has a wonderful scent.
The space is open and uncluttered. Furniture is kept low to the ground, creating a calm sense of balance. In one corner you’ll find the tokonoma, a small decorative alcove that displays a hanging scroll with calligraphy , alongside a simple flower arrangement.
The room is arranged for futon sleeping. During the day, the futon is stored away. In the evening, staff quietly lay out thick futon mattresses, crisp white bedding, and soft duvets directly on the tatami.
Large sliding doors (shōji) made of wood and translucent paper filter daylight into the room. These open onto a view of the surrounding forest, where moss, stone, water, and shaped trees create a living painting.
You’ll find a yukata (light cotton robe) neatly folded, ready to wear throughout the ryokan, including on the walk to the baths. There’s also a small tea set—green tea, cups, a kettle and the wonderful old phone.
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Tatami mats are traditional Japanese floor mats made from natural materials. The core is made of tightly packed rice straw (or sometimes modern compressed materials), and the surface is woven from soft rush grass called igusa. They are designed to be walked on barefoot or in socks and have a slightly springy, comfortable feel. Tatami help regulate indoor humidity, stay cool in summer, and retain warmth in winter. Their subtle, natural scent is often one of the first sensory impressions people notice in a traditional Japanese room.
Tatami mats also define the layout of a room—traditional rooms are often measured by the number of tatami mats they contain rather than by square meters or feet. A typical tatami size is 90cm x 180cm.
