Soba and Sake Oyado HIYAMA

We chose this Onsen Accommodation because it had the highest Review rating among Onsen Accommodations within a three-hour drive from our home in Yokohama. When I parked my car in the wooded parking area, the owner appeared out of nowhere and said, “You shouldn’t come in such a nice car—you might scratch it.” His playful comment made us laugh. As with any place, visiting an Accommodation for the first time can be nerve-racking, so we truly appreciated how you put my husband and me at ease the moment we arrived. After stepping inside, we were further comforted by the warm welcome from the proprietress—it was genuinely moving. The flowers placed throughout, the beautifully maintained garden, and even the sound of birdsong were all wonderful. Above all, the food was outstanding. Both dinner and breakfast featured many ingredients harvested at home—everything was fresh, and we could really enjoy the natural flavors. The dashi was also thoughtfully tailored to each dish, and we could feel how much care went into every detail. The bath was spacious as well, with excellent water. This is an Accommodation I sincerely want to return to. Thank you very much to everyone on staff.

We stayed here to celebrate my girlfriend’s birthday. I was looking for a Ryokan that felt truly special—something you can’t experience on an ordinary trip—and the moment I saw this wonderful place, surrounded by beautifully maintained greenery and limited to only three parties per day, I fell in love.After reading the details, I learned that each Room comes with its own private dining area, Onsen, and exclusive garden. Depending on what you prioritize, you can choose a Room with features not found in the others.We stayed in “Korin.” What was especially great about Korin was having a dedicated dining table, which meant we could relax in the Room right up until mealtime. Korin has its own dining table; it seems another Room has a built-in semi-open-air bath, and another includes a living room.Above all else, the kaiseki cuisine here is exceptionally delicious. The dishes—made generously with morning-harvested vegetables grown by Mr. Hiyama, mushrooms from Tochigi Prefecture, meat, and river fish—were better than any course meal I’ve had; Mr. Hiyama’s kaiseki is simply the best.Usually at a Ryokan I get too full to finish everything, but it was so good that we ate every last bite of both dinner and breakfast! (I even finished an entire pot of rice cooked in a clay pot at breakfast.)I looked forward to each dish coming out from the menu list every time, and being served freshly prepared food made me very happy.The Onsen is prepared for each Room only for your use (no other guests), so it was very clean—and more than spacious enough for two people. We were completely satisfied.Needless to say, the interior of the Room was beautiful. Cleaning was meticulous; there wasn’t even a speck of dust anywhere. It was so spotless that even as guests we felt we should be careful to keep it pristine.Between the lovely design and fresh air inside—and especially the Simmons bed—the comfort level was outstanding. We wanted to stay forever.The hospitality from everyone at the Ryokan also felt wonderful. The proprietress who took care of us from check-in through check-out was delightful to talk with and explained each dish carefully—just listening made it clear how delicious everything would be.They also accommodated dislikes and dietary preferences flexibly, which helped us greatly.This Ryokan was so exceptional that I honestly wonder if we’ll ever find one better in the future. Rather than simply wanting to stay again someday, it felt like “a place we want to come home to.”