As the Maître de Maison at Asaba Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn located in the Shizuoka Prefecture two hours south of Tokyo by bullet train, Misa Asaba is part of a 543-year-old family legacy.

A historic building that was once the home of a mining magnate is now open for business as an upscale guesthouse here.

After losing her parents in a car accident, a little girl named Okko moves to the countryside to live with her grandmother, who runs a traditional Japanese inn. While she’s learning to operate ...