Iya Onsen - Shikoku's Hidden Gem

Iya Onsen - Shikoku's Hidden Gem

Have you ever heard of the Iya Valley? This beautiful secluded valley, located in the heart of the island of Shikoku, is famous for its stunning nature, deep rocky gorges, ancient vine bridges, and many hot springs. This is truly a hidden gem and a perfect place if you want to relax surrounded by nature. I wholeheartedly recommend that you visit this place, and if you do, make sure to book a stay at the amazing Iya Onsen located there.

This great onsen has a location that is great both for enjoying the spectacular views of surrounding nature and for exploring many nearby attractions. Iya Onsen can be easily accessed from the Oboke station by a shuttle bus offered for free to the customers of the onsen who arrive by train there.

As you might have guessed it by its name, one of Iya Onsen's best features are its hot baths. The open-air hot baths are located at the bottom of the valley and accessed by a cable car from the hotel. The ride itself is amazing, but the best part is the hot baths themselves. There are three hot baths in total, two of which are swapped every other day between male and female, and a third private compartment which you need to reserve in advance. The hot spring water is free-flowing straight from the source, which is shown by the white mineral deposits floating in the bath making the water cloudy. This onsen is probably one of the most impressive ones I ever saw. That is mostly thanks to its great location at the bottom of a steep valley right next to the river. Also, there is an indoor hot bath at the hotel which you can use if you feel like it.

The rooms at the Iya Onsen are of high quality and great design that you would expect from a hotel like this one. Amenities include LDC TVs, high-quality BOSE audio players, massage chairs, free Wi-Fi, refrigerator, hairdryer, telephone, safe, toiletries, and other essential stuff. There are even yukata robes included. Most of the rooms have breathtaking views of the mountains and the valley, and some include open-air baths and even a foot bath. I really recommend that you get one of these premium rooms if you can. 

Breakfast and dinner can also be served here for you, and both are of high quality. Breakfast can be traditional Japanese, Western-style, or you can go to a breakfast buffet. For dinner I recommend you try one of the delicious traditional Kaiseki courses, to get the taste of traditional prepared local ingredients. Iya's local cuisine is grown and prepared by people who carry on their local heritage, including Genpei Imo potatoes which can only be found locally, thick and meaty shiitake mushrooms, wild mountain vegetables, buckwheat (soba) noodles, and local Iya tofu.

There are many amazing places you can visit in the Iya Valley that are only a short trip away from the Iya Onsen. First is the statue of the Peeing Boy which takes about 5 minutes on foot. Also, the famous vine bridge over the river is only 15 minutes by car, and the Hi-no-Ji “ひ” Valley is even closer. A few more famous locations you can visit in less than an hour by car are the Oboke Gorge, Ochiai Village, and the Double Vine Bridges in Oku-Iya. The Oboke Gorge was made over many years by the movement of the water wearing down the sandstone. See rock formations made of crystalline schist, a nationally designated natural monument, up close from the pleasure boat. Two vine bridges are located upstream on the Iya River. The two bridges made of vines are called the Men's Bridge and the Women's Bridge. The surrounding area is a panorama of natural beauty in every season. If you enjoy climbing mountains, Mt.Tsurugi is located about an hour and half from the hotel. At a height of 1995 meters, the peak offers an unparalleled view of a mystical sea of clouds, with the Kii Peninsula, Seto Inland Sea, and Ashizuri Peninsula in the distance. It has been known as a holy place for mountain worship since ancient times.

If you like what you see here, make sure to check out the website of Iya Onsen to learn more and book a stay here!

Kaneyoshi Ryokan - Ryokan in Downtown Osaka

Kaneyoshi Ryokan - Ryokan in Downtown Osaka

Are you planning a trip to the Kansai region? If you are, you are probably looking for a good and affordable place to stay which will enable you to easily visit all the interesting places in the area. One such hotel is the Kaneyoshi Ryokan; an urban-style affordable ryokan located in downtown Osaka, more specifically, in the famous Dotombori district. Kaneyoshi Ryokan enables you to conveniently explore this huge city and the whole Kansai region, while simultaneously having the luxury of staying in a traditional Japanese style rooms. The location is absolutely perfect as it enables you both great access to public transport, and gives you the opportunity to explore Dotombori on foot easily. There are many famous gourmet destinations located around the ryokan. Walking around the town and trying local gourmet food is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore Osaka. Food lovers will also like the fact that the Kuromon Market is located nearby. This famous market deals with a great variety of food including fish, meat, vegetables, and fruits. We could even say that the market supports all of the kitchens in Osaka. The market is also popular among foreign tourists. The location is very easy to find with lots of restaurants in the area. 

The rooms are traditional Ryokan style and provide traditional Japanese rooms with tatami flooring and futon bedding. These Japanese-style guest rooms offer a relaxing atmosphere and great views of the Dotombori riverside and canal. Amenities such as air conditioner, modular bath & bidet toilet, yukata, towels, bath towel, shampoo, conditioner,  tea set, television, telephone (in-house only), alarm clock, hairdryer are included. Also, the staff is really friendly and will help you with any issues you might have.

The hotel includes a large public bath where you can soothe away your travel fatigue in a traditional Japanese-style bath and stretch your legs and relax in the warm water. For me, it is perfect after a long day of sightseeing. This communal bath is open from 6 to 8 in the morning and 16 to midnight.  The front desk offers free luggage storage. An internet PC can be used in the lobby for free. Keep in mind that you leave your key with the front desk whenever you leave, and the front desks closes at 1 AM.

Kaneyoshi Ryokan offers Japanese-style breakfast which consists of dishes of fish and eggs, delicious rice, and miso soup. This tasty breakfast is served in the banquet hall and will give you strength for all-day sightseeing. Dinner is also offered and it is an elegant multi-course kaiseki meal served in your room or the dining hall.

Kaneyoshi Ryokan is located a 5-minute walk from downtown area Dotonbori, and a 10-minute drive from Tsutenkaku Tower. It is an hour away from Kansai International Airport by bus or train so it is easily accessible. The staff is extremely friendly and always happy to help and explain everything. The front desk is always tidy and ready for accepting guests. Various brochures and flyers are available and are useful for your stay while in Osaka.

This is certainly one of the most affordable and best Japanese-style hotels in Osaka. If you enjoy what you see here, I suggest that you visit their website and learn more about them.

Nishiyama Ryokan - Traditional hotel in Kyoto

 Nishiyama Ryokan - Traditional hotel in Kyoto

 

If you are a fan of Japan and Japanese culture, you will surely like to visit Kyoto at least once. When you decide to visit this beautiful city full of ancient buildings and monuments, I suggest that you book a stay in a traditional style hotel; a ryokan. One such place, located in the center of Kyoto, is the Nishiyama Ryokan. This small and affordable Japanese style hotel, know for its excellent hospitality and friendly staff, will welcome you with open arms. There are so many interesting things about this ryokan that make it stand out from the rest. First of all, its location is perfect. It is located in the central Kyoto area very close to the Kyoto Imperial Palace. There are many small restaurants and shops in the area that you can check out, all within a few minutes walk.    It is also conveniently located close to the Kyoto Shiyakusyo-mae subway station and several bus stops, which makes it easy to reach all the important spots in the city. One more thing that I really like about Nishiyama Ryokan is the fact that they are holding free Japanese Culture events like Tea Ceremony, Koto Concert, Calligraphy lessons, and workshops in their lobby almost every Friday. This is truly amazing since these events let you experience Japanese culture in the best possible way for free.

Nishiyama Ryokan offers several different room types, from authentic Japanese style rooms to spacious western-style family rooms. These rooms are quite cozy and have all you need during your stay there. The rooms are air-conditioned, have comfortable traditional futons, LCD TV, an attached bathroom, provided toiletries, and even yukata robes. They are also known for being extreme clean and well cared for. Also, if you have any issues, the friendly staff is eager to help in any way they can.

Nishiyama Ryokan features a nice traditional garden which is ideal if you want to relax from the rush of sightseeing all day. In the garden there is a beautiful clear-water pond and a wide variety of colorful flowers and greenery. One more thing that you can enjoy in this ryokan is a public bath with a natural waterfall. Keep in mind that men and women have separate bathing areas. I personally love to go to the hot bath after walking all day and just relax for an hour.

 After that, I love to grab a nice dinner, especially a traditional Japanese one. If you enjoy the same thing, you will be glad to hear that at Nishiyama Ryokan you can enjoy a wide variety of traditional Japanese meals made by an experienced Japanese chef. One of the meals that you can enjoy here is traditional Japanese Kaiseki cuisine, prepared with the freshest of seasonal ingredients for dinner with flavors matching the current season. One more good meal is the Japanese style breakfast which includes Yudofu "Boiled tofu", grilled fish, Japanese omelet, vegetables, Miso soup, and rice. Western-style meals can also be prepared if you desire, but I suggest that you try the amazing traditional meals offered here; you won't regret it I promise.

In the end, I have to say that I am satisfied with the things Nishiyama Ryokan offers and I suggest that you visit their website and learn more about them if you are looking for an affordable and good ryokan in Kyoto.