Kifu no Sato

First, we would like to express our gratitude for the warm hospitality of the Accommodation. Thank you for your thoughtful care in even the smallest details.This was our first trip to Okayama Prefecture, and thanks to all the staff, we were able to enjoy a comfortable Onsen getaway.We now have one more Ryokan we would love to visit again.Thank you very much.

When we arrived at the Accommodation and saw the exterior, my first impression was, “an old Ryokan.” To be honest, it dampened my excitement a little. However, a staff member was waiting in the parking area and kindly explained everything even though we arrived early, and their warm manner quickly lifted our spirits. The welcome drink was chilled green tea with homemade yokan. The tea had a slightly unique flavor but was easy to drink and soothing, and the yokan had a gentle sweetness that was truly delicious. Our Room was No. 101 on the first floor. When we opened the door, we were greeted by the wonderful scent of fresh igusa (rush grass). When I mentioned it to a staff member, they told us it had been renovated about a year ago. The garden viewed from the private open-air bath felt as if it existed just for this Room; we visited in summer this time, but I’m sure it would be beautiful in every season. Soaking leisurely while looking out at the garden left us completely satisfied—and more than ready to return. Dinner was something we especially looked forward to. This time, it seemed the head chef created dishes themed around summer vegetables and corn: corn tofu, steamed corn shinjo dumplings, and corn rice. In between were dishes such as hamo (pike conger) dobin-mushi and an assorted platter including abalone sashimi—every dish gently seasoned and delicious. Not only was the food excellent, but the attendant serving our meal had perfect timing and plenty of conversation topics, making the evening very enjoyable. I don’t drink alcohol; they noticed I gave my aperitif to my wife and quietly said, “For you,” bringing me juice instead—I really appreciated that thoughtful gesture. When we went for an evening walk, there was a full moon in the sky; it shone so brightly that we couldn’t see many stars. Breakfast included black soybean tofu, simmered vegetables, mildly spicy meat miso, and perfectly fatty mackerel—but above all else what stood out was their “Pikamaru” rice; it was outstanding (of course thanks to the chef’s skill). After breakfast in the lobby you can enjoy complimentary delicious coffee. Every staff member greeted us naturally without being overbearing, which allowed us to relax throughout our stay. When the seasons change again, I’d love to come back just to see that garden from our Room once more.