Fiction book in which the character goes to live in a hotel to write a book

[Enot]

Hi,
I'm desperately looking for the book I've read some time ago. It's supposedly Japanese, although I'm not really sure anymore. There's a character that goes to live to a hotel (ryokan?) in nature for 2 or 3 months to write a book. There he meets some other character that possibly have an influence on him.
I'm sorry for these scarce details but that's all I've got! Thank you so much in advance!

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Around when was it published? Around when did you read it?
Author's gender?
Cover?