Matsuya Sensen in Awara Onsen - Hot Spring Resort in Hokuriku Region

 Matsuya Sensen in Awara Onsen - Hot Spring Resort in Hokuriku Region

Are you looking for an authentic but modern Japanese style hotel at which you can rest from your fast paces exploration of Japan? If you do, look no further, I have just the place for you and it is called Matsuya Sensen. This luxurious ryokan is located in the Hokuriku area of Japan, a bit of the beaten path that foreign tourists usually take. As such it can serve as a perfect base from which to visit many hidden gems in this area.

Many traditional-style Japanese hotels might have a hard time communicating efficiently with guests, however, that is not the case with Matsuya Sensen. They have English-speaking staff at the front desk. There are also English signs in the hotel.

I am a huge fan of Japanese hot springs and I love the ones they have available here. There are male and female bathing areas like you would expect. The male bathing area is large and well equipped, making for a truly relaxing experience. It includes an open-air bath as well as one of the largest baths in the Hokuriku region which is a delight to be in. Each of the five baths has a unique ambiance, and each offers a blissful bathing experience. The bathing area is spacious, making it perfect for a long, leisurely soak. Each wash station is sectioned off for an added sense of privacy. From single-person tubs to outdoor open-air baths, guests can enjoy a variety of baths and bathing environments.

The female bathing area features a variety of baths, including a solo-bathing bath, a 'ne-yu' sleeping bath, and a healing sauna that offers the same benefits as a bedrock bath. The female bathing area is also spacious and sectioned off for an added sense of privacy. One more thing the ladies will love is the ladies-only floor which contains a relaxation parlor to enjoy after bathing, an aesthetician’s spa, and more. At the aesthetician’s salon, located right next to the female bathing facility, you can receive aromatherapy and Bali-style treatments to help you rejuvenate.

If you book one of the more luxurious rooms, you will also have a private hot bath, which in my opinion, is a huge advantage! The rest of the room is also impressive. From the careful placement of ornaments to the tastefully selected furniture, the rooms exude a sense of authentic Japanese hospitality, ensuring a peaceful and relaxing stay that everyone can appreciate. Rooms offer both privacy and a refined atmosphere to ensure guests can truly unwind during their stay at Matsuya Sensen.

The ryokan has many facilities for you to use while you stay here which will make your stay more comfortable, fun, and relaxing. Of course, there are restaurants, 3 to be exact. With an open kitchen and modern Japanese atmosphere, Sen-no-Sachi is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing dinner of seasonal delicacies. Each dish is carefully prepared by our team of expert chefs and makes use of the finest local ingredients of the season. At the more casual Gottsuo-tei Hana Hana you can also expect many dishes but a more casual atmosphere. The highlight is definitely the Zen & Saron Chiyomigusa. It is an upscale dining hall for the exclusive use of guests staying on the special Hanareza floor. Meals served here are of the highest quality and use the finest local ingredients such as the famed Echizen crabs. There is also a tea lounge which is considered a  sophisticated and comfortable space where guests can relax while drinking a cup of aromatic coffee. If you want to have some fun at night there is the Club Kimi-Matsuya and the Bar Lounge Ware-Matusya. Here you can enjoy drink, parties, or rent a karaoke room. For additional fun, mahjong room and a ping-pong corner are there.

As I already said, Matsuya Sensen is ideally located to make your exploration of the Hokuriku area of Japan simple and fun. Many of the local attractions can be easily accessed. There are many types of things to see, so no matter what your preferences are, you will find something to love! For fans of nature, there is Tojinbo. Tojinbo is a series of steep cliffs with a height of more than 20 meters. The cliffs are a nationally designated place of scenic beauty and are also a national natural treasure. There are naturally shaped rocks that look like a lion, a candle, and many more interesting shapes, and visitors can enjoy looking at them from a sightseeing boat. Fans of Japanese culture will love to see Daihonzan Eiheiji. This temple was founded in 1244 by Zen Master Dogen, who was a patriarch of Soto Zen, for Zen practice. Various treasures including Hukan Zazengi (a national treasure), which is said to be written by Zen Master Dogen, are on display. If you love beautiful Japanese gardens, you will be happy to learn one of the best ones, Kenrokuen, is nearby. The garden was granted the highest rank of three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan. If you are with kids, they will love to visit the famed Shibamasa World. A massive theme park surrounded by green grass and the Japan Sea. This theme park has a variety of attractions, including pools with some of the longest and highest slides in the world, mini-golf courses covered in natural grass, go-carts, roller coasters, and many more. Also, you might check out the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum which is one of the largest dinosaur museums in the world, or the Echizen Matsushima Aquarium where you can encounter various sea creatures including sharks, giant octopi, and doctor fish, and feed marine turtles and saltwater fish.

I am sure that you will love to stay at this interesting ryokan. That is why I suggest that you check out the website of Matsuya Sensen and learn more!