전국 × 선의 세계관이 느껴지는 숙소식사의 평가가 높은 호텔·료칸 - 2페이지

I hadn’t visited Arima Onsen for quite some time since the COVID-19 pandemic, but if I was going to return after so long, I wanted an exceptional place for both cuisine and Onsen—so I decided to splurge on this Accommodation. I had known the name Kinzan for years, but everything was far beyond my expectations, and my mother was absolutely delighted as well. This time we fully enjoyed the live conger eel kaiseki along with the Onsen, and if possible, we’d love to visit again during crab season.

This is a Japanese-style suite reached by stairs. As you enter, folk-art furniture sits on the wooden-floored entry area; open the vermilion-lacquered double-sided kumiko shoji framed by carefully crafted natural-wood pillars and rails, and you step into a tatami Room scented with fresh rush. Seasonal hanging scrolls and flowers, and a large low table complete the setting. From the wide north-facing window, you can see the river surface and the temple’s great roof. By the window are a box hibachi used as a table and a small rocking chair. At the back of the south-side wooden-floored area, it seems an extension has been added: a large, bright bath area (a thick, oversized hinoki cypress tub big enough for about four people to soak together, washing space, footbath, and washbasin). Through the glass door you can view mountain ridges; open it to step onto the veranda and feel the breeze. The water flows continuously 24/7 despite concerns about humidity affecting wooden construction. Everything is kept very clean and well maintained—an indulgent bathing experience. After finishing an excellent meal at a calm small dining room table facing the garden, we returned to find our futons laid out. A bed would be easier, but it would probably feel out of place in this Room. I adjusted the futon orientation to my preference. In addition to air conditioning there is also a gas fan heater, so it should stay warm even in winter. Renovation work seems to be progressing in stages, and I’m looking forward to seeing newly refurbished Rooms.

Despite being located in a lively part of town, the property felt like a different world—wrapped in serene tranquility. The cool breeze drifting through the reed doors and the pleasantly textured ajiro weaving, which I experienced for the first time, deeply moved me as part of Japan’s beautiful “summer setting.” Listening to the gentle sound of the shishi-odoshi echoing through the impeccably kept garden and spending time in the dignified tea room were truly luxurious moments that soothed my soul. The food and drinks were also exceptional—everything felt wonderfully satisfying to all five senses. Thank you sincerely for your thoughtful touches throughout. It became a wonderful summer memory, and my first visit back to Kyoto in a while was made even more special.

I visited this time as a birthday gift for my friend and myself, and it was a truly special place worthy of the occasion. Contemporary art is displayed throughout the property, reflecting the owner’s refined aesthetic and attention to detail. At the same time, the Room and Facility are very simple—nothing unnecessary—making it the perfect environment to savor Awaji Island’s slow, relaxed pace. What left the strongest impression was the cuisine centered around wood-fire cooking. Dinner was French yet wonderfully light, and their commitment to local production for local consumption came through in every dish. The young chef’s creative sensibility was outstanding—especially the sauces! In particular, an abalone liver sauce and a browned-butter sauce served with butterfish were exquisite; I kept dipping bread into them until the very last bite. Dessert was also a new experience: a melon soda made from fermented melon purée brought to a gently sparkling stage! Breakfast was equally superb, featuring enzyme brown rice aged for more than four days. The most moving dish was the clear soup. Even the fermented shrimp-, kelp-, and soy-sauce base used for it was homemade specifically for this meal. Throughout everything, their dedication to ingredients and natural use of fermentation made me feel energized from within. The sauna wasn’t overly hot, so even I—someone who isn’t great with saunas—could enjoy it comfortably, and that deep sense of release afterward felt like true meditation. All staff members were kind and friendly as well, so I felt at ease throughout my stay. Although it was an Accommodation stay, it felt like a retreat. My mind had been busy lately, but this visit helped me return to quietness in both heart and head—and regain my natural strength. It was a genuinely enriching stay.

It was a calm, adults-only Accommodation with a relaxing atmosphere. The attentive service, guest room, and bath facilities were all high quality, and we were very satisfied. The meals were not too much—just the right amount for seniors—and truly excellent. Finally, I sincerely appreciate your honest and considerate response when I mistakenly thought I was a Diamond member. Thank you very much.

We traveled with my elderly mother-in-law, and as on our previous stay, everything—such as preparing chairs—was arranged with extra care, allowing us to spend a very comfortable time. The meals were consistently excellent as well. Since we stay around the same time every year, we would appreciate it if you could consider adding a bit more variety to items such as the hassun. To all the staff, thank you very much for your help and thoughtful attention.

We visited this Accommodation for the first time in March after it received the strongest “Absolutely!” recommendation among several options, and it was the first time in a while that we felt completely satisfied in every respect. From the courteous and accurate communication during the Reservation process, to the atmosphere, use of space, staff professionalism, and cuisine—everything met our expectations. With an Accommodation of this caliber, I wasn’t particularly worried about the food, and I had already seen photos of the interior on the website so I assumed there would be no surprises. In the end, however, what matters most is “people.” With group stays, requests often cause inconvenience and there are usually one or two small oversights on the day—but here everything was perfect. This time we came as individuals. We returned both to confirm our impressions and to be moved all over again. The entrance—still fresh in my memory as a favorite—is spacious and quiet. It harmoniously blends cutting-edge design with traditional charm despite being complete opposites. Personally, it may be my favorite part. Our Room this time was more compact than last time but more than sufficient for one night. The open-air bath is also spacious and easy to use even though it has privacy screening. The private dining room felt almost too large for just two people. The timing of each course and the staff’s warm smiles made for a truly comfortable—and delicious—meal. Overall, what stayed with me is how rare this Facility is: an excellent balance of new and old, genuine warmth from people, and employees who approach their work with sincerity—all coming together in perfect harmony. Newer Accommodations with a full resort feel are wonderful in their own way as well; however, as an Onsen Accommodation, this is a place I can confidently recommend as a distinctly Japanese stay where timeless tradition is beautifully integrated. Thank you once again for taking such great care of us. We are truly grateful for a relaxing stay that healed both body and mind. Thank you very much.

The check-in staff were very welcoming, and our stay started off on a great note! The Room was spotless, and the dinner and breakfast were so delicious they truly impressed us—making it an amazing time. We will definitely be back. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.

I had a wonderfully relaxing stay at a comfortable pace. It was quiet and spotless throughout, and the Onsen was incredibly open and wonderful. Every meal was deeply delicious. The staff were also very pleasant and welcoming. I feel as if both my body and mind have been refreshed. I can hardly believe how reasonably priced it is. Thank you very much. I will definitely return.

Every dish reflected such care and was delicious, and the menu truly invigorated all five senses. In particular, the yogurt, honey, fruit, salad, and juice felt so pure that it was as if I could hear the ingredients themselves—I enjoyed it both physically and mentally! I’m looking forward to my next visit.

Remembering how delicious the food was when I previously visited with my daughter, my spouse and I returned this time. We arrived by car a little before 3:00 p.m., but many staff members greeted us with warm smiles, which was very reassuring. All of the staff were wonderful, and both the Facility and our Room were clean and comfortable. Dining in the stillness, with only the sound of evening cicadas in the background, each dish was thoughtfully crafted and looked as beautiful as it tasted. We were also delighted by an extra chef’s special that wasn’t on the menu—it felt truly heartfelt. As a history enthusiast, I signed up for the “Mystery-Solving Adventure: Discover History and Stories.” I didn’t feel much of a historical element, but solving puzzles while enjoying our meal was more than enjoyable. Even though we stayed at a great value using IKYU Earn Points, we were also given prizes, which made us feel almost undeserving. This is an Accommodation I would definitely recommend to others. I’d love to visit again in another season. Thank you for such a wonderful time.

I stayed for a total of two nights and was able to work comfortably. There was a desk and chair, and the chair was comfortable to sit in. From noon, there was a time when I could enjoy sweets, tea, coffee, and more, and from the evening there was a time when I could enjoy alcohol and snacks—making for a pleasant change of pace between work sessions.

I stayed with my mother, and we were satisfied with everything! The Room was spacious, bright, and spotless—almost too much for just the two of us. The bath was the perfect size and temperature. Bathing while listening to the morning birdsong was truly special. The meals I had been looking forward to most exceeded my expectations. Each dish was carefully prepared and delicious, and with the lovely atmosphere of the dining area, we had a wonderful time. We didn’t often see the Ryokan staff rushing around, but perhaps that’s part of their consideration so guests can relax in peace and quiet. If so, it’s impressively thorough. My mother especially loved it (as did I), so we would definitely like to stay again!

We visited to celebrate my father’s 80th birthday. It was a long drive from Yokohama to Nagano, but this was a wonderful Accommodation that truly made us glad we came. The in-room open-air bath was a little hot and needed some adjustment, but it was clean, spacious, and free of insects. The shampoo and conditioner also left our hair smooth and silky. (Some Ryokan at this level still leave your hair feeling rough.) All the staff who welcomed us were smiling, and during dinner the head chef served the main dish right at our table. Everything was delicious—made with local ingredients and carefully prepared with great attention to detail. On our way out, they even opened the souvenir shop in the main building earlier for us, so I was happy to be able to buy the souvenirs I wanted. My parents were very pleased as well, so we would love to visit again while they are still healthy.

We stayed on a last-minute Reservation with my elderly parents and my sister, four of us in total. We arrived a little before our scheduled 3:00 PM check-in, and we were delighted to be warmly welcomed by the Accommodation staff lined up to greet us. The Room we were shown to was old, but very clean and comfortable. We went to the Onsen first, but my mother unfortunately felt unwell from the hot bath and couldn’t make it to dinner at 5:30 PM. Even so, everyone was incredibly kind—preparing rice porridge for her and checking in on her even if they weren’t our assigned staff member. We were truly grateful for their thoughtful care. Thanks to that, she recovered by evening—enough to enjoy the Onsen again. Of course, the other three of us were still able to fully enjoy the delicious meal. We also only found out after arriving that it was the day of the Atami Fireworks Festival. My parents were able to watch comfortably from an open Room on an upper floor of the Accommodation, while my sister and I walked about 15 minutes to the beach and were guided to a guest-only viewing area right in front of us. It was an amazing experience. This was our first time staying here with a sudden Reservation, but we were deeply impressed by the heartfelt hospitality from such wonderful staff. Thank you very much. My mother says she would love to enjoy your delicious dinner next time as well, so we hope to visit again soon!

This was my long-admired Accommodation, and my first visit. I was truly able to relax in a space where all I could see from the Room was greenery, and all I could hear were the calls of cicadas. The two large public baths had slightly different temperatures between the indoor bath and the open-air bath, so even I, who am not fond of very hot water, could choose what suited me. The meals also featured seasonal ingredients beautifully and were absolutely delicious. I sincerely appreciate the staff’s thoughtful, unobtrusive hospitality. I would love to return in a different season.

The parking lot is less than a 1-minute walk from the Accommodation, but since we couldn’t bring the car right up to the entrance, the proprietress came to the car to pick up our luggage. Dinner was the Shige-no-Ya group dining Plan. The hot pot was served with their homemade broth instead of ponzu or other sauces, and it was very delicious. The soba rice porridge served at breakfast was also excellent. However, we chose a room with an open-air bath, and perhaps because it’s old, one tile had come off and there were stickers inside and quite a bit of dirty debris floating around, which was disappointing. There were several spots where things felt loose when touched, so I think they should be repaired before more tiles come off. My husband said both the Onsen and the garden were wonderful and he really liked them, but my daughter and I couldn’t use it because it felt unclean, which was unfortunate. All of the staff were easy to talk to, and they spoke to my daughter every time they saw her. Everyone was very friendly, which we appreciated!

We had a truly relaxing stay. We had planned our sightseeing itinerary in advance, and when we shared it with the staff, they adjusted our breakfast time, arranged taxis, and even prepared our Room to match our schedule. Thanks to that, we could return to the Room between outings to take a bath and change clothes—making it feel like we were relaxing at home. The person who looked after us interacted with us at just the right distance—always attentive without being intrusive—and respected our time. They quietly observed what we needed and responded naturally, which made us realize what genuine hospitality really is. The meals were also outstanding. With every dish, we could feel the care and thought put into preparing it for the guest. Everything was delicious, and we finished every bite. The tableware was charming as well—each piece unique—and beautifully paired with the food. The Room was the perfect size for two of us. Since this trip focused on sightseeing, we chose a Room with a hinoki bath rather than an open-air bath, and it was wonderfully soothing. Drink refills and towel replacements were handled thoroughly, and they even prepared sweet potatoes as a late-night snack—we enjoyed them very much. The message that came with them also felt warm and thoughtful. We were impressed by all the small touches as well—the Shuttle Service to night kagura performances, plus cushions and shoe bags thoughtfully provided. After seeing the CDs and books in the Room, we decided that next time we’d like to stay not only for sightseeing but also to spend an entire day relaxing in the Accommodation. Thank you for providing such a comfortable space and time. It was truly a wonderful Accommodation—one that makes us want to return right away. That said… I hope it doesn’t become too hard to get a Reservation (laugh).

Its kaleidoscopic beauty resonates deeply in the heart. Exquisitely prepared with sincere care, the cuisine is truly delicious. A beautiful garden that reflects the seasons—so captivating you could gaze at it forever. Elegant summer décor that lets you fully experience Kyoto’s traditional culture. Hanging scrolls, ikebana, and a beautifully arranged Room down to every detail. The head chef, attendants, the young proprietress, and the proprietress herself offer warm, attentive hospitality with genuine grace. Thinking that all of this beauty is an expression of love for each guest fills me with freshness and gratitude. At Kikkawa, you can feel the refined spirit of Kyoto—an appreciation for making everyday life beautiful and joyful. It began as an Accommodation I hoped to stay at at least once in my life; before I knew it, this was my 11th visit. A superb culinary Ryokan I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who truly loves Kyoto.

The cuisine was outstanding and truly moving. Each dish reflected careful selection of fresh local ingredients and meticulous preparation. Given the location, I expected excellent seafood, but the vegetables were beyond anything I imagined. This Accommodation is well worth going out of your way for.