The bedrooms inside Hinata’ s cabins are tailored for couples. Beds are aligned with east-facing windows, allowing guests to watch the sunrise without getting out of bed. The outdoor deck maximizes privacy while offering panoramic views of the valley.( Matt Harrington, courtesy of Hinata Retreat)
Falls, Hartnett Plumbing in Colrain, and Pantermehl Land Clearing Inc. in Ashfield. The couple and their three children moved into in a bungalow on the property. The main house became a place for the staff, and the barns turned into storage.
Exactly one year after they bought the property, they opened the first phase of Hinata Retreat with 12 cabins.“ Quite a few of the first guests were from the Berkshires,” says Jeff. They worked in phases, and this October 1, they will reach their goal of 28 cabins being fully online( and take a welldeserved break). In the future, they’ re looking at possibly adding another 10 to 20 cabins.
Every cabin is 500 square feet, with a look that’ s dark, cozy, and calming. Each has a kitchenette, as well as a fireplace, a private hot tub on the deck, an indoor soaking tub, and a king-sized bed. An“ activity cabinet” in each cabin includes items like yoga mats, games, puzzles, even coloring books. The emphasis is on warmth, romance, and retreatlike comfort.
Also on the grounds is a newly built massage cabin and two wellness decks: one for yoga and meditation; the other with two saunas, two hot tubs, and outdoor showers.“ Hinata” is a Japanese word that means“ toward the sun.” The cabins not only offer a secluded experience, all face east toward the Berkshire East Mountain Resort area, in view of the sunrise over Mount Institute. It takes your breath away. In the winter, Berkshire East’ s ski slopes are lit at night. In the fall, there’ s a burst of fall foliage colors. In the spring and summer, it’ s full-on greenery. And on any clear night, the stars come out in full force.
The cabins can be reached by three roads on the property. The first 12 cabins( one of which I stayed overnight) run along a meadow with Mount Institute and the Berkshire East Mountain Resort in full view. The next group of nine cabins are situated partially in the woods. And along the third road are seven cabins fully immersed in the woods, for people who want even more seclusion.
The target market for Hinata Retreat is 30- to 65-year-old couples, many of whom come from Boston, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Philadelphia, and even Maine. Hinata offers a guest portal with information on hiking trails, local attractions, wildlife, as well as a means to make dining reservations, on-site market details, cabin functionality guides, and more.
70 // BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE Fall 2026