[Kansai] Seasonal beauty that soothes the soul. 10 ryokan /Hotels with Japanese Gardens

The Kansai area has everything from historical spots with many temples, shrines and historic sites to trendy shops and entertainment. When you're having trouble choosing where to stay, why not try something a little different and choose an inn with a Japanese garden? You can enjoy seasonal scenery from every corner of the inn, not just in your room, but also in the corridors and open-air baths. Before we get to the main topic, let's introduce three representative Japanese gardens in Kansai.

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The Heian Shrine's Shinen Garden in Kyoto is a vast pond garden of about 33,000 m2 consisting of four gardens surrounding the main shrine. It was designed by Ogawa Jihei VII, a famous Meiji-era landscape gardener, and others. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery all year round, with red weeping cherry blossoms in spring, Japanese irises and irises in early summer, autumn leaves, and snowy winter scenery.

The garden of Kishiwada Castle in Osaka is also known as the "Eight-Arms Garden." This original dry landscape garden, designed to take advantage of the view from the castle tower, was created by Mirei Shigemori. Its motif is the "Eight-Arms Method" devised by Zhuge Liang, a famous hero from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It's also interesting to look at it as art.

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Kokoen Garden in Hyogo is a stroll-style garden with a pond that was created using the remains of the West Residence of Himeji Castle. The garden covers an area of approximately 33,000 m2 and opened in 1992. Its greatest feature is that Himeji Castle is used as a backdrop*. It has also been used as a filming location for movies and dramas both in Japan and overseas, so you may feel like you've seen it before even though it's your first time here!

*Borrowed scenery: The use of scenery from outside the garden, such as mountains, as a backdrop to create the garden.

Of course, visiting the garden itself is fun, but if you don't have time, we recommend a lodging with a Japanese garden. Looking at the scenery of the four seasons will help you relax both your mind and body. Let's go on a healing trip that will make you want to forget about your daily life and take a deep breath.

"Nanzenji Sando Kikusui" is located down a narrow side street off the Nanzenji Temple approach. From the entrance, you can already sense the quaint and quiet atmosphere. The site is about 2600m2, and features a stroll-style pond garden designed by Ogawa Jihei VII. Step out onto the special seating terrace and listen to the sounds of nature, such as the sound of the wind and the chirping of birds.

Kikusui offers five guest rooms, each with its own unique style. The rooms are based on a Japanese theme, but have a modern feel. The lighting can be adjusted to suit your tastes, so try creating your own unique space. The garden can be viewed from every room, but if you want to feel closer, we recommend the first floor.

meal include not only traditional Japanese banquets that combine tradition and modernity, but also stylish Western cuisine that makes use of seasonal ingredients from the Kyoto area. Breakfast, which is the start of the day, is available only to overnight guests. Also, be sure to check out the "Garden Afternoon Tea" menu, which was inspired by the garden.

Originally a villa of the nobility ryokan "Genpoin" is located in Okazaki, an area dotted with mansions and temples. The villa, with a site area of over 500 tsubo, has a circular garden that can be enjoyed by strolling around. The seasonal breezes from the garden softly blow into the building, which has large windows. You may want to lie down on the tatami mats or on the veranda.

The guest rooms also include a detached building called Shingetsuan, which is a sukiya-style building. The room is a combination of a lounge with a sunken kotatsu and a tea room, and can be used not only for lodging but also for tea ceremonies. You'll be enchanted by the decorations, which use washi paper and bamboo. Enjoy the unique Japanese atmosphere while feeling the breath of tea ceremony culture.

This photo shows a bar built in the Sukiya style. It's a stylish place that combines a Japanese atmosphere with a modern touch. Here you can enjoy wine, whiskey, and other drinks while listening to jazz. Enjoy a relaxing adult moment while looking out at the garden. There is also a salon where you can enjoy meals and reading books, so you can also enjoy a relaxing time there.

Seryo, an inn located in a satoyama called Ohara, a rich natural area in the city of Kyoto, offers a quiet air of cuisine ryokan. In the beautiful pond garden, you can see healthy Nishikigoi carp. It is also lit up at night. After you finish unpacking in your room, why don't you first take a look at the garden and calm your mind?

There are a total of nine rooms available, including Western-style rooms and rooms with open-air baths. This photo shows the "Kaede no Ma." Not only does it have an open-air bath, but two sides of the room are bordered by a private garden. Enjoy your own private garden to your heart's content. Other Japanese-style rooms face the inn's garden, so you can relax there as well while looking out at the garden.

You will be eating at the meal "Hinazato." The "Kusa-na-mi Kaiseki" course, decorated with seasonal ingredients such as Kyoto vegetables, vegetables from the restaurant's own garden, and wild vegetables, is a dish that can only be enjoyed here. Enjoy the seasonal changes as meal, along with the view of the garden from the window. By the way, all the seats are equipped with underfloor heating, so you won't feel cold even in winter. On sunny days, you can also meal on the veranda.

The The Westin Miyako Kyoto is located in Higashiyama, Kyoto. Within its grounds is the Sukiya-style annex Kasui-en, which could be described as ryokan within the hotel. The Kasui-en Garden here was designed by Hakuyo, the eldest son of the 7th generation landscape gardener Ogawa Jihei. The Aoiden Garden, also designed by the 7th generation, is located in a different location. It might be interesting to compare the two.

Kasuien was renovated and reopened in July 2020. It is now even more spacious and comfortable. The bedroom and living room are separate, so you can add variety to your life. The rooms also have natural onsen. The Kasuien plan, which is limited to one group per day and allows you to enjoy a special kaiseki meal in your room, is also worth checking out.

This is a library exclusively for guests staying at Kasuien Garden. There are comfortable sofas and windows from which you can look out onto the garden. You can enjoy books related to Kyoto while sipping coffee or tea. It might be a good idea to get some background information here before exploring the garden.

The Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, with its resort-like atmosphere, is home to Shakusui-en, a stroll-style garden with a pond. This large garden, covering an area of approximately 10,000 m2 and a 3,000 m2 pond, is said to be the site of the villa of Taira no Shigemori, a military commander from the end of the Heian period. As it is so large, there are many things to see, so why not take the time to reflect on history?

There are various types of rooms to choose from. All of the rooms are modern spaces incorporating Japanese elements. This is the "Premier Garden View Room." As the name suggests, you can get a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery of Sekisuien Garden from the window.

At the lounge "Kaedeju" located by the pond of Sekisuien Garden, you can take a quiet break while watching the garden change with the seasons. During the day, matcha green tea and original Japanese sweets are served, so you can enjoy the taste of Japan. At dusk, it transforms into a stylish bar serving sake and champagne. It's a great place to spend some adult time.

The building of Amami onsen Nantenen has been designated as a national registered tangible cultural property. A Japanese garden of about 10,000m2 spreads out in front of ryokan taking in the rich natural scenery of the Kongo-Katsuragi mountain range. Every morning, various birds visit the gourd-shaped garden pond in search of water, so you can spend a relaxing morning listening to their peaceful calls.

There are various types of Japanese-style rooms on the first and second floors. If you want to view the Japanese garden, choose a room on that side. We recommend the "Izuminada" room on the northeast corner of the first floor. The large garden spreads out from two windows, providing a high-quality, relaxing time. Overlooking the pond and garden from a room on the second floor would also be quite tasteful.

Greenery abounds outside the windows of the large public bath. The hot onsen which can be used all day, is a natural radium spring. It is said to be effective in relieving fatigue, so please relax and heal your body while surrounded by greenery. By the way, the special detached room "Seiryu-tei" has an open-air bath made of cypress, so it is also recommended for those who want to rent it out for luxury.

Nishimuraya Honkan has 160 years of history and tradition. The Japanese garden, arranged like a painting, allows you to feel the change of the seasons, making you want to visit every season. You can relax while looking at the garden in the lobby lounge, Seigetsuro, which has a Taisho-era romantic feel. Of course, you can also go outside and take a stroll.

Each guest room offers a different view of the Japanese garden. Even the most common type of room, the 8-tatami room, has a large window overlooking the garden, making it feel more spacious than its actual size. The garden is of course beautiful on sunny days, but it is also elegant on rainy days. Sitting by the window gazing at the garden while listening to the sound of the rain might be a luxurious experience.

Nishimuraya has three baths, each with its own unique atmosphere. "Nao-no-yu" faces the courtyard of the Hiratakan building, so you can enjoy the seasonal scenery outside the window while soaking in the hot water. "Yoshi-no-yu" overlooks a bamboo forest garden from its gazebo-style open-air bath. "Fuku-no-yu" has an exotic atmosphere and also has an open-air rock bath. Take your time to enjoy the different merits of each bath.

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Tokiwa Bekkan, located in the inner sanctum of Kinosaki onsen, is a quiet inn with only 23 rooms on a site of 1,200 tsubo. The simple and nostalgic combination of the garden and wooden buildings will soothe your soul. Take a stroll through the garden, which is tended to daily by the owner, and enjoy the scenery that can only be seen at that time of day.

If you stay in a standard room, you can view the garden from the window. The garden is lit up at night, so it's recommended to sit in a chair and relax in the evening. The rooms with open-air baths have cute small courtyard gardens.

This is a lounge where you can feel the warmth of wood. Why not stop by when you want to enjoy a conversation, take a break, or read a book? The lobby is designed so that you can easily view the garden, so please come there when you want to take a break with a cup of coffee. You can also rent colorful yukatas from April to October. Find your favorite one.

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"Otsu Machiya Inn Inase" is located in Otsu-juku, the last post town on the Tokaido road. It is a rare guesthouse in Japan that has been designated as a registered tangible cultural property. The courtyard garden is charming, and you can see the Kannon Hall of "Mii-dera Temple". As the name suggests, please come and experience the retro-modern and stylish space to your heart's content.

This is the shared space for relaxation. You can see the garden in the back. You can also feel the Japanese atmosphere from the furnishings. You can do some light work at the desk, or chat on the veranda while looking out at the garden... Spend your time however you like in this somewhat nostalgic space.

There are a total of five guest rooms. You can choose from a traditional Japanese-style room reminiscent of a townhouse or a retro Western-style room. The photo shows the Japanese-style room "Seiran." Even though it's on the second floor, it has a veranda from which you can view the quaint courtyard and the Kannon Hall of Miidera Temple. Be sure to enjoy the view that can only be enjoyed from here.

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Kankaso, located near Todaiji Temple, is a long-established ryokan with a long history. You can enjoy the tranquil beauty of the Japanese garden, which features lush greenery, stone towers, lanterns, and temple stones. The stone sarcophagus in the front garden and the gate that originated with the Tokugawa family are also highlights, so don't miss them.

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As you walk along the corridor while admiring the garden, you will arrive at the detached "Kojika no Ma." This room is popular with regulars and is sunny with a great view of the garden. The "Daigo no Ma" room is an 8-tatami Japanese-style room built in the Shoin style. It is a quiet space where you can relax and unwind.

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You can see the garden from the bath, so it might be nice to go and soak in the tub while it's still light out. Relax in the bath, which is said to be gentle on the skin. By the way, this ryokan is just a stone's throw from Nara Park, so we recommend taking an early morning stroll. Apparently, deer sometimes come right up to ryokan 's doorstep.

The Japanese garden on the inn's grounds is a luxurious space where you can feel the change of the seasons. Why not take a moment to relax and reminisce about the natural scenery and atmosphere that you may have forgotten in your daily life?