Dogo Onsen boasts an abundance of hot spring water

The “BETEI Oborogetsuya” is a hidden inn tucked away in the midst of the bustle of Dogo Onsen.It is a traveler-friendly inn that combines the elegance of pure Japanese style with the comfort of modern architecture.All of the seven guest rooms are suite-type rooms with an open-air bath.In addition, the inn has a hot spring building called “Ochaya,” which boasts the largest volume of hot spring water in Dogo Onsen, so you can enjoy the silky smooth waters of Dogo even more luxuriously.Here you will find a rock open-air bath and a cypress open-air bath.
The cuisine is a monthly changing menu specially prepared by the chef.The cuisine is Japanese cuisine that makes the best use of the rich flavors of Ehime’s mountains and seas, and is not only pleasing to the palate, but also to the eye.The chef’s casual but warm hospitality is also very heartwarming: “Warm food should be served hot, and cold food should be served cold.
In the lobby lounge, there is a free drink corner and a listening corner, and the esthetic salon “Moon Sleep” offers full-body oil treatments, providing a relaxing experience.This is an inn where you can open up your mind and body and enjoy a time of high quality and elegance.

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Ryokan with a long history

Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture faces the Sea of Japan in the north and the Chugoku Mountains in the south. It is also surrounded by the natural beauty of Lake Shinji and the Nakaumi Sea. Minamikan is located in this rich natural environment.

Kaibikan is a long-established ryotei ryokan (Japanese-style inn) founded in 1888, and is located on the shore of Lake Shinji in Matsue, which was once a castle town. Although the ryokan has been in business for more than 120 years, it has undergone renovations and is loved by many people for its comfort and the sense of dignity that only a long-established ryokan can provide.

Minamikan, an inn nestled on a lake

The most attractive thing about the Minamikan is its location, which is said to be ” an inn nestled by a lake. Located near Lake Shinji, the Minamikan offers a panoramic view of the lake from its rooms. Not only that, but you even feel as if you are actually on the lake. The sun sets, the clouds drift by, and you can experience the changing face of nature in a more profound way. No other ryokan will allow you to experience nature to this extent.

In 2021, the lakeside garden was ranked fourth in the nation bythe Journal of Japanese Gardening, an American magazine specializing in Japanese gardens. The garden’s ingenuity in making the most of nature while providing visitors with a sense of peace and tranquility has also been highly acclaimed overseas.

The garden is also known to have been loved by the royal family, cultural figures such as Toson Shimazaki, Taro Okamoto, and Ryunosuke Akutagawa, as well as political and financial figures and artists in the past. In particular, Toson Shimazaki is said to have stayed at the hotel until after his scheduled departure, and the “Toson’s Room” still remains as it was in those days.

Healing the Tired Body

Of course, it is not only the beauty of the scenery that relieves the fatigue of travelers. The hot springs and meals are also prepared with heartfelt hospitality to the delight of guests. The hot spring water is sodium calcium sulfate/chloride spring water.

The restaurant uses local seafood from the sea and mountains to satisfy the palates of visitors with seasonal dishes and local cuisine. One of the most popular dishes is “tai-meshi” (rice with sea bream), which has been a favorite since the establishment of the restaurant. This tai meshi has been a favorite dish since the establishment of the restaurant. The sea bream minced from a 1.5- to 2-kilogram class domestic sea bream is lavishly used as the sashimi portion. When dashi broth based on bonito flakes, which is said to be the lifeblood of tai meshi, is poured over it, the dish has a deep, yet light and elegant flavor. The tai-meshi that is made with such care and attention is unlike any other, and is a taste that can only be found here.

In this way, Minamikan is a place that should be visited at least once to get away from the busyness of daily life, and to experience and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Why not come and heal your body and soul after a long day of daily life?

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Feel the luxury of simplicity at “Satoumi Residence”.

Oarai Town, located in the center of the coastline of Ibaraki Prefecture, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is a port town known for Oarai Beach, which has been selected as one of the “100 Best Shore Sceneries of Japan” for its wonderful seaside scenery. In the middle of the Meiji period (1868-1912), the town was a place for “tio-touji,” a type of sea bathing for medical treatment, and was lively with inns built by people coming from Tokyo and other places to stay at. The inn that stands along the Oarai coast is “Rikai-tei Kinparo Hontei.
The “Satoumi House” was first opened in 1888 by Tousuke Ishii, who was engaged in the river steam business (water transportation) between Mito and Oarai, as “Kinnamaro,” a recreational inn where people could enjoy a therapeutic sea bath in a bath filled with seawater regardless of the season. The inn was reborn as “Rikaitei” in order to recreate the charm of “a recreational inn where one can deeply enjoy the taste of the sea,” which was once the goal of “Kinnamaro. The distance from the inn to the beach is approximately 30 meters. It is a wonder that the inn’s guests feel nostalgic and calm as they listen to the rhythm of the waves in the sea breeze in front of the ocean.

A place to stay that makes you want to come back again.

Nothing glamorous is placed in the inn. The inn is designed to be barefoot so that guests can feel as if they have returned to their own countryside or vacation home, valuing simplicity and coziness. All of the eight rooms are oceanfront, and not only are the views spectacular, but the rustic warmth of the wooden furniture and solid wood in every room is comfortable and calming, making you feel as if you want to stay there forever. There is nothing special about the inn, but the simplicity and rustic atmosphere created by “Satoumi Residence,” as if it were your own special time and place, creates a “place you will want to come back to.

The cuisine at the inn is also centered on dishes that offer a taste of “everyday life by the sea. The kitchen at “Satoumi House” is said to be very busy as it goes to a nearby fishmonger and vegetable market every day to stock up, and starts processing the ingredients in the afternoon. Meals served in a room with a view of the Oarai coast and the warmth of wood create a special yet cozy dining experience unique to “Satoumi Residence. The view of the sea can also be enjoyed in the baths, of which there are two types: a “wooden bath” and a “stone bath. Both baths use spring water from Mt. Oarai, the source of the sacred water of Oarai Isomae Shrine, which has a history of more than 1,000 years. The “wooden bath” has a relaxing space for guests to use after taking a bath, or to quench their thirst with a cup of herbal tea or juice while enjoying the view of the sea from the roof balcony.

Near the inn, there are spots to enjoy each of the four seasons. We recommend a visit to Hitachi-Kaihin Park, where nemophilas bloom in spring and kochias cover the entire area in autumn, and to the beach and aquarium in summer. If you visit the inn in winter, you can stay in your room and enjoy the fantastic atmosphere of the “air storm,” which is said to be seen on cold mornings. The inn offers both the pleasure of going out and the coziness that makes you want to go home as soon as possible.

NIHONMONO – 「にほん」の「ほんも…

地域に根付いたお稲荷さん「笠間稲荷神社」／茨城県笠間市 – NIHONMONO お稲荷さんとして親しまれる神社。 茨城県笠間市にある笠間稲荷神社は創建が651年と伝わり、約1360年の歴史を

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World-renowned service “Asaba”.

Shuzenji is known as the most historic hot spring resort on the Izu Peninsula. Founded more than 500 years ago in the Muromachi period (1336-1573), the Asaba Ryokan has been loved by many famous people throughout its history and is one of the most prestigious ryokan in Japan.
Asaba was the first ryokan in Japan to join the French association “Relais & Chateaux,” which only the most prestigious inns and restaurants in the world are allowed to join.
The hotel’s history dates back to the time when the ancestor of the Asaba family, Yakuro Yukitada Asaba, visited the area to establish the Soto sect of Buddhism at Shuzenji Temple, and the natural healing features such as bamboo groves and waterfalls in the grounds of approximately 10,000 tsubo (approximately 1.2 acres) and the elegance of the Japanese architecture that seems to blend with the landscape make visitors feel relaxed and enjoy themselves. The first thing that catches the eye upon entering the museum is the “Gekkeiden” Noh stage, which floats on a vast pond of 600 tsubo. Although it was moved to the inn in the late Meiji period (1868-1912), it is still in use as a Noh stage, and together with the regular performances of Noh, Kyogen, and other leading figures in the classical performing arts, it has become a symbol of the inn. Each room has a view of the Noh stage, making the inn a place to “enjoy the Japanese miyabi” where one can savor not only the history of the inn itself, but also the history of Japanese art.

The well-maintained interior of the inn is refreshing, and the quality of the furnishings is evident at a glance. In addition to historical Japanese artifacts, masterpieces by world-renowned artists and contemporary art are casually placed throughout the inn. The luxury of being able to appreciate them to your heart’s content is another of the museum’s attractions.

Seafood from Izu, a treasure trove of ingredients

In addition to the 15 guest rooms, there is a special “Tenko” room located in a separate building. Tenko” has an indoor bath and an open-air bath with free-flowing hot-spring water, and is a whopping 220 square meters in size. The terrace, veranda, and open-air bath offer a view of the entire garden, and the special space is both elegant and relaxing. Each of the other guest rooms also has its own view of the garden, and by choosing a different room each time you visit, you will be able to admire nature as it is at any given moment. There is a salon by the pond in the hotel, where you can relax with a cup of coffee and a good book, and enjoy a different aspect of the garden from that of your room.
The best part of the trip, the food, is also top-notch. Izu is a treasure trove of ingredients, blessed with Suruga Bay and a rich variety of traditional vegetables from the foothills of Mount Amagi. Asaba, which has an established reputation for its cuisine, assembles its menu based on the day’s catch, using mainly local ingredients. The kitchen is located near each room, and all meals are brought to the room. Hot food is served while it is still warm, and ingredients whose aroma is important are served at the most delicious time, according to the tempo of the meal. This kind of attention to detail ensures that the quality of the meal is of the highest order.

“Asaba” has been loved by customers for more than 500 years. There is a sense of beauty and hospitality that has been passed down from generation to generation.

NIHONMONO – 「にほん」の「ほんも…

名匠の技 歴史を感じる趣深い宿「沼津倶楽部」／静岡県沼津市 – NIHONMONO 伊豆半島の自然に囲まれたお宿 静岡県の東部に位置する沼津市は、伊豆半島のちょうど付け根の部分にあたる。日本一高

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Inn surrounded by the nature of Izu Peninsula

Numazu City, located in the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture, is just at the base of the Izu Peninsula. Surrounded by Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, and Suruga Bay, the deepest bay in Japan, Numazu is truly a treasure trove of nature. With a mild climate and sunny weather for more than half of the year, Numazu is also a famous tourist spot. A 10-minute drive from Numazu Station brings you to a quiet and peaceful place that makes it hard to believe that it was once an urban area. This is the Numazu Club, the best inn in Numazu.

It is said that in 1907, Zenbe Miwa, the second president of Mitsuwa Soap, leased about 3,000 tsubo of land from Numazu City and designed a beautiful building to hold tea ceremonies for a thousand people. In the fall of 2006, the aging building was renovated and a new wing designed by architect Akira Watanabe was added to the guesthouse to create the “Senbonmatsu Numazu Club The club was rebuilt as the “Senbonmatsu Numazu Club,” a members-only guesthouse.

The Japanese-style wing of Numazu Club, which has a long history, is registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan, and is a fantastic space that fascinates with the skills of master craftsmen. The interior of the building is a showroom of master craftsmen’s techniques, with a variety of wood species, including Yakusugi cedar, combined to create beautiful patterns with unique carving marks, as well as traditional handcrafted finishes such as the “Naguri finish” and the “Ajiro ceiling” and “Korimen ceiling,” which are made of thin planks of wood woven together. It is currently used as a restaurant and library.

Luxurious time to enjoy Numazu to the fullest

The building facing the Japanese-style building is famous as Akira Watanabe’s last work. The exterior walls are constructed using a technique called “HANZUKURI,” which consists of piling up sand and soil from the Fuji River, and the design incorporates the expression of nature. The roofs are lined with Yoshino cedar, and the grainy cross sections visible from the eaves of the guest rooms are unforgettable. The craftsmanship found throughout the rooms is also not to be missed. Each of the eight guest rooms offers a rich variety, including a maisonette-type room with a bedroom on the second floor, a calm Japanese-style room with a small room on the first floor overlooking the water table, and a Western-style suite with a living room space and separate bed space and a private open-air bath. All of them are comfortable spaces where traditional Japanese tradition and modernity are fused together.

The meals, one of the pleasures of traveling, are modern courses based on Japanese cuisine, such as wagyu beef from Tochigi and fresh seafood directly shipped from Numazu Port, with an emphasis on the awareness of “Hashiri, Shun, and Mezore” (running, seasonal, and lasting). In the historical sukiya-style building, guests are invited to indulge in a variety of carefully selected seasonal dishes. Near the inn, you will find Senbonmatsu Park with its many black pines, a monument to Wakayama Makisui, and a literary monument to Inoue Yasushi. With the course map in hand, it is recommended to take a stroll in the sea breeze while taking a walk in the forest, and to touch the footsteps of the literary figures who loved Numazu so much. We hope you will return to Numazu, where you will find an exquisite inn that will heal both your body and soul.

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Unexplored region Shirakawa “Takefue”

Shirakawa Onsen in Kumamoto is a small collection of onsen located to the north of Aso Kuju Park in Minami Oguni-machi. The water consists two of the three elements known as “bijin senshitsu” or elements creating beauty. Shirakawa water source is also located nearby, one of the top sources of quality spring water, making Shirakawa Onsen a very popular spot.

One of the traditional Japanese style ryokans in the area, Takefue is a hideaway known to very few. 12 guest rooms are scattered about the very large property with tens of thousands of bamboo trees.

The guest rooms are very serene, designed like traditional Japanese homes with different varieties of bamboo used throughout. The color tones and lighting are also carefully chosen to ensure that the view of the beautiful bamboo trees stand out. Bamboo is used for the furniture, décor and even the wine cooler. Every room has a Japanese style room, an “irori” or open hearth for dining, and a uniquely designed hot spring bath that has an expansive view of the bamboo forest. 8 of the independent guest rooms also have outdoor baths where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the bamboo trees.

Takefue also has their own pâtissier who makes the Baumkuchen served as a welcome sweet. The light sweetness and moist texture is a wonderful pairing with the stone ground coffee available in the room.

Dinner is served in the guest rooms by the “irori” and includes bounties from both the ocean and land. Fresh seafood is delivered from Beppu Peninsula and combined with Kumamoto Kuroge Wagyu to create an appetizing Japanese style “kaiseki” course dinner. For breakfast, enjoy rice cooked in a pot, eggs, local delicacy “gojiru” and fish grilled in the “irori”.

Beautiful outdoor bath surrounded by bamboo groves

There are 3 baths that can be reserved for private use as well as a special bath reserved for exclusive use by guests staying in the adjacent villa, Chikujo no Ma. It is a large outdoor bath measuring 7m x 5m with magnificent views of the grand bamboo trees which are lit up at night. Guests can enjoy a thoroughly relaxing moment in this expansive bath which also has a room with speakers and glass light fixtures, or even float in the hot spring using the inflatable boat.

There are special touches scattered all throughout as you wander the halls connecting the guest rooms, hot springs and spa. Enjoy the free ramune drinks or local ice cream which are free to guests. As they check out, guests also receive a complimentary copy of a book about this enduring ryokan along with the Baumkuchen served at arrival. Not only is Takefue a premier hot spring, it is definitely a ryokan that you will want to visit again.

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Suimeikan” brings healing to Gero

Gero Onsen, located in central Gifu Prefecture, was founded in the Heian period (794-1185) and was introduced by Hayashi Razan, a well-known Confucian scholar who served four shoguns, starting with Tokugawa Ieyasu, as one of the three best springs in Japan along with Arima and Kusatsu. The famous hot spring, which was visited by warlords such as Nobunaga Oda to heal battle wounds, became well known when it was introduced in Hayashi Razan’s book, and by the Edo period (1603-1867), it was visited by 30,000 hot-spring cures a year. With the opening of Gero Station on the JR Takayama Line in 1930, it became accessible from various directions by Shinkansen bullet trains to Nagoya or Toyama, and from there by limited express or local trains. The transportation infrastructure, including a direct bus service from Nagoya, has been improved, and the area has further developed as a hot spring resort. The slightly high alkaline simple hot spring is said to be colorless, clear, thick, and smooth on the skin, making it suitable for beauty and health promotion.

Suimeikan, which opened in Gero City, Gifu Prefecture, in 1932, is the representative ryokan of Gero Onsen. On its vast grounds of 10,000 square meters, the ryokan has three pavilions (Sansuikaku, Tobisenkaku, and Rinkawakaku), an indoor hot spring pool, and a gymnasium, and a total of 264 guest rooms. Each pavilion has three large baths : an open-air bath surrounded by greenery and huge rocks, a 24-hour bath overlooking the city, and a cypress-scented bath called “Shimodome-no-yu,” allowing guests to enjoy a variety of bathing experiences. Of course, private baths are also available for guests to relax and enjoy the famous hot spring water. The museum also has a large collection of works of high artistic value, including tile murals by living national treasure potter Takuo Kato and paintings by master artist Taikan Yokoyama, which are also highlights of the museum. A Noh stage supervised by the late Shoroku Sekine, a Noh performer of the Kanze school, one of the schools of Noh theater, is also located in the hotel, and visitors will be able to rediscover the charm of Japanese beauty through the elegance of this 90-year old ryokan.

Enjoy Japanese cuisine and architecture

Traditional Japanese cuisine based on the five tastes, five colors, and five directions can be enjoyed at the ryokan. The cuisine is based on the five tastes, five colors, and five ways of cooking. Chef Shingo Ikeda, who studied at Kyoto Cuisine Hanakagami, brings out the best of local seasonal ingredients such as fresh vegetables from farmers in partnership with the restaurant. Sommelier Takao Kani, who is also the head of the Gifu branch of the Japan Sommelier Association, selects wines to match the cuisine of the day, which will further enhance the flavors of both the food and the sake.

Seiranso,” a five-room detached house in the sukiya style, offers a peaceful and tranquil setting in which guests can look out over the well-kept Japanese garden and experience the changing of the seasons. The rooms are decorated with summer tatami mats and yoshizu, snow tatami mats and yukimi-shoji screens to match the changing of the seasons. The rooms on the first floor, Aoi no Ma and Yugao no Ma, are equipped with an open-air bath with natural hot spring water that allows you to enjoy the night sky all to yourself. In addition, the chef at “Seiranso” prepares special menus using ingredients carefully selected on the day. Here, too, the ultimate luxury awaits you, and this will be the moment when you will feel the greatest satisfaction in having chosen this inn.

The scale of the inn is said to be the largest in the Tokai region, and the hospitality that goes into every detail will surely add a page of satisfaction to your travel album.

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Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura, an inn steeped in tradition and aesthetics

Senboku City, located in the eastern part of Akita Prefecture, is rich in nature, with Lake Tazawa, Nyuto Onsen, and Akita Komagatake. Kakunodate, also known as “little Kyoto,” has a different and elegant atmosphere. The streets are lined with blackboard walls, thatched-roof samurai residences, and in spring, weeping cherry trees in full bloom cover the town.

Fifteen minutes by car from the center of Kakunodate, through the peaceful countryside, you will arrive at Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura. This is the site where the Tozawa clan, which ruled the area, built Kadoya Castle in Jokyu 2, some 800 years ago. Kakunodate Sanso Wabizakura,” a 200-year-old old private house that was moved from Tategeshi (now Shizukuishi Town, Iwate Prefecture), is an inn with dignity and serenity befitting its historical location. With no buildings around, the chirping of birds and the gentle sound of trees swaying in the wind are the only sounds that soothe the body and soul after a long journey. There is also a shrine for marriage built on the grounds, modeled after the Izumo Taisha Shrine, and a leisurely stroll through the lushly landscaped garden is another enjoyable experience.

Healing with Akita ingredients and luxurious hot springs

The food is designed by Hiromitsu Nozaki, former executive chef of the Michelin-starred “Wentokuyama” in Minami-Azabu, Tokyo. Akita, with its rich natural environment, is a treasure trove of ingredients, including fish, meat, and vegetables. Together with head chef Yoshiharu Yabe, who has inherited Mr. Nozaki’s mastery of “healthy and delicious cuisine,” he creates monthly menus from a repertoire of 700 different items, according to the season’s ingredients. The dining room has a private room with a view of the outside, where you can enjoy creative Japanese cuisine tastefully arranged against the beautiful scenery, accompanied by Akita’s local sake, which will make you want to drink more and more. The taste of the food is well-known, and you will be satisfied with the tasteful and luxurious time you spend at the hotel.

There are 10 guest rooms in total, all of which are equipped with a half-open-air bath filled with hot spring water. While the semi-open-air baths in the rooms offer a beautiful view, the private open-air baths, which require reservations, are a must-see. Reservations are made upon check-in, and the baths can be used for 30 minutes free of charge. The liberating feeling of soaking in the baths while enjoying the view of the peaceful satoyama is exceptional. The alkaline simple spring water is soft and mild, and is often referred to as “hot water for beautiful skin.

No matter which type of room you choose, Japanese-style room, Japanese-Western-style room, or Japanese-Western-style room with dining area, you can enjoy this luxurious bath and the peaceful view of the mountain greenery. We also recommend that you step out onto the terrace attached to your room. During the daytime, you can enjoy the peaceful scenery of the satoyama, and at night you can enjoy the star-filled sky. There is no better place to spend a relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The inn is the embodiment of the word “heal,” and has a mysterious charm that will make you want to return again. The longer you stay, the more you will feel that not only your body but also your mind will be healed. If you can spare a little time for yourself, please visit Wabi Sakura at least once. There is a healing time waiting for you there, to gently soothe your exhausted body and mind.

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Yatate Pass, which straddles the border between Odate City, Akita Prefecture and Hirakawa City, Aomori Prefecture, was once a major production area for natural Akita cedar. Unlike artificially planted Akita cedars, natural Akita cedars are not pruned or thinned and grow in their natural state. This results in slower growth and narrower annual rings. As a result, Akita cedar is strong, making it an excellent material for crafts and building materials. From National Route 7, which passes through the Yatate Pass, one enters a narrow path leading to the Nikkei Onsen Hot Springs, and from there, the forest continues to grow. Just as the narrowing and darkening road becomes a little disconcerting, a calm Japanese-style inn appears in front of us.

NIKKEI ONSEN” reborn again in Akita

Founded in 1893, “Hikage Onsen” has long been a favorite hot spring of the locals, called “the sacred spring of the three-day turnaround,” where a three-day stay in the hot spring will make even the worst of one’s problems better. Although not a magnificent facility, many Odate residents frequented the onsen because of its hot water. However, due to the effects of the Great East Japan Earthquake and the aging of the building, it closed its business in 2014. Many people regretted the closure of the famous hot spring, and it finally reopened in October 2017. While retaining the atmosphere of a former therapeutic bathhouse, the hotel has been reborn as an inn where guests can spend luxurious time while enjoying the quietness of the forest, with a total of 28 rooms, including Japanese and Western-style junior suites and special rooms with hot spring baths, not all of which are the same type. Of course, you can enjoy the food and hot spring baths not only overnight but also on a day trip.

Healing the body and soul with hot springs and local cuisine

The aroma of sulfur is already in the air when you enter the atrium lobby. The hot spring at Nikkei Onsen is a sulfur-containing carbon dioxide-sodium chloride hot spring. The hot water, which has long been believed to be effective against skin ailments, is rich in salt and strong. The space made of Akita cedar gives off a limpid atmosphere. Sitting on a chair in the lobby filled with the warmth of wood without excessive decoration, the place also feels like a forest of yatate. After checking in, it is customary at Nikkei Onsen to make reservations at one of the four private hot springs. Anbei Yukko “, ” Urukeruke Yukko “, and ” Takimino Yukko ” are all private open-air baths that overlook the beautiful surrounding trees. Each bathtub is overflowing with sulfur spring water containing carbonic acid spring water. The water is a bit hot, but so strong that it seems to reach every bone in your body. The feeling of openness after getting out of the baths is also a feeling that can only be experienced at a famous bathhouse. The private bath ” Menke Yukko” in the indoor bath is a sulfur spring with thick, nigori-tinged water. It is called “medicinal hot water for beautiful skin,” and the thick, smooth water is pleasant to the touch. The slightly warm temperature makes it the perfect hot spring for a long, leisurely soak. After getting out of the bath, it is also exceptionally pleasant to cool down with an ice cream and drink available only for guests in the lobby.

Dinner is not spectacular, but the local cuisine using organic, pesticide-free local vegetables will soothe both the palate and the soul. Hinai jidori chicken, grilled river fish, Akita beef, water spinach, and the famous Akita kiritanpo nabe soup. You will be reminded once again that Akita is a food kingdom with an abundance of mountain produce. As I drifted off to sleep, the darkness had melted away, and the sky was filled with stars. Surrounded by Akita cedars, Nikkei Onsen offers a bliss that cannot be experienced in the city.

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A hotel in the midst of snow country

Nishiwagi town in Waga ward is located between Kitagami City, Iwate and Yokote City, Akita Prefecture. It is located in the high basin embraced by the Ou Mountains. It is a place surrounded by rich nature covered by wild beech forests and the source of Waga River. It is a genuine ”snow country” that is officially designated by the government for its heavy snowfall, with the average annual snowfall exceeding 10 meters. Due to these severe climatic conditions and the grace of snow, forests, water and living things flourish in the natural state.
Yukawa Onsen which is famous for the abundance of hot spring water, has been cherished by the people of both Akita and Iwate prefectures since the old days, as a retreat for people to gather. ”Yamado” is tucked away in the mountains a little away from this Onsen area, and is a healing resort with the concept of ”retreat” and ”LOHAS (Lifestyles Of Health and Sustainability)” suited for people who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the day to day life, embrace yourself, or spend time with a loved one.

Hospitality of Yamado

Yamado places importance on providing a space that satisfies all of the 6 senses defined in Buddhism. They present everything that can be experienced ”seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching, and consciousness”. The interior of the building expresses ”retreat” and ”LOHAS”, extending a modern space that is in harmony with the surrounding nature where you can feel the warmth of wood. The guestrooms are equipped with semi-outdoor private baths with free-flowing hot springs, and guests may bath whenever they want. Guests can spend time on the terrace or enjoy music in their room.

You can also enjoy select cuisine at the restaurant ”Fukuzenbo”. The signature mountain vegetable and mushroom that the head chef himself picked from the mountain, vegetables that are grown in their own farm, ”Yamado Farm”, and chicken that they raised themselves. They are all cooked to prepare an astonishing cuisine using Platinum pork and Iwate beef.
”There are plenty of delicious ingredients that are at its peak, and ingredients that you can only get at a certain season. We prepare food using traditional techniques, and also techniques that we developed and accumulated over the years, using the natural resources and local ingredients that have been here from the old times.” (Yoshie Kotaka, Yamado)
There are countless ingredients that they recommend but in particular ”nishi warabi”, which is a specialty of Nishi Waga-cho, and other mountain vegetables that melt in your mouth and captivate people.

Enjoying Iwate

”Iwate is a prefecture about the same size as Shikoku which includes 4 prefectures. There are many places to visit such as the coast, south and inland. It is too large to visit in a day. So we recommend taking the time and spending a few days .” (Yoshie Kotaka, Yamado)
When you visit during the winter, you will feel both the quiet world covered in snow and the warmth of the life you live, while in the spring when the snow thaws, you will see the mountain filled with flowers and hear the lively chirping of birds. This is a hotel where you can thoroughly enjoy your visit to Iwate, a place that offers the vast nature and hospitality that will fulfill your 6 senses. You will never tire of the experience, no matter how often you visit.

The post “Yukawa Onsen Yamado” Enjoying Iwate with your 6 senses first appeared on NIHONMONO.