十八樓

Due to unexpected trouble, my check-in was significantly delayed and I was about to give up on dinner, but they kindly prepared it for me without any fuss, which was a huge help.The food was delicious and full of Gifu flavors, the Room had a wonderful traditional atmosphere, and the Onsen was incredibly relaxing—everything was perfect! Next time, I’d love to stay and enjoy it at a more leisurely pace.

I chose Juhachiro because I had always wanted to see the traditional cormorant fishing, and they offer a boarding Plan. After working up a sweat on a walk around Kawaramachi, I refreshed in the large public bath, then had dinner from 5:30 pm. We gathered in the lobby at 7:15 pm and were guided to the viewing boat. The pier was just outside via the Accommodation’s private passageway, and it was incredibly convenient to board casually in the Accommodation’s yukata and slippers. After the cormorant fishing ended a little after 8:30 pm and we returned to the Accommodation, I enjoyed another soak in the large public bath—making it an unforgettable day. I truly felt this was a luxurious cormorant-fishing Plan that only an established Accommodation with over 160 years of history could arrange. The Room was generously sized, with two semi-double beds and a large dining table, and above all, the view of the Nagara River flowing directly below was beyond my expectations. Dinner was served in a private room: local dishes full of flavor such as Hida beef hot pot, salt-grilled ayu sweetfish, and simmered eel. Breakfast also offered an impressive variety—almost like a lunch buffet—and I was completely satisfied. Also, towels are stocked in the large public bath so you can use it anytime without hassle, and at the lobby lounge you can enjoy drinks and ice pops until 9:00 pm—such generous hospitality made me very happy (the Nagara River Onsen original-blend iced tea was delicious like nothing I’d tried before). Inside the building were displays such as shikishi boards from title matches for shogi masters, sealed-move papers, panels on cormorant fishing, and historical timelines; exploring inside was enjoyable as well. This time my purpose was cormorant fishing, but once renovations to Gifu Castle’s main keep are complete, this is an Accommodation I’d love to visit again for that reason too.