[Tokai] Soothing seasonal beauty. 7 ryokan and hotels with Japanese gardens

source:Posted by Kei-chan

The Tokai region stretches from the inland area of central Honshu to the Pacific coast. There are plenty of tourist spots, including beautiful natural scenery such as Mt. Fuji, historical sites such as Ise Shrine, and amusement parks such as Nagashima Spa Land where you can have fun to your heart's content. When traveling to the Tokai area, why not choose a lodging with a Japanese garden? Enjoy the scenery of the four seasons and spend a rich time experiencing the aesthetic sense of "wabi-sabi".

Many inns with Japanese gardens have views of the gardens from inside the building, allowing you to relax and enjoy the view during your stay. Looking at the scenery of the four seasons is sure to soothe not only the excitement of your trip, but also the tiredness of everyday life. Now, let's introduce inns with Japanese gardens by prefecture.

Atami Sekitei in Shizuoka is a tranquil ryokan you can experience the traditional beauty of Japan. The Japanese stone garden, made using historic stones and stone lanterns collected from all over Japan, is approximately 10,000m2 in size. Please enjoy the tasteful space where stone, water, and wood are in perfect harmony.

The rock garden, which is about 10,000m2 in size, is dotted with sukiya-style detached buildings. The paths to the detached buildings are lined with stones, lanterns, garden trees, and more, creating a relaxing space where you can feel nature. There are special guest rooms, sukiya-style detached buildings, VIP rooms, and regular guest rooms, and for those who want to enjoy a bath, we recommend the detached rooms with open-air baths.

This is the women's open-air bath, "Goshinboku no Yu." Behind the large, spacious bath is another bath carved out of jade stone. Jade, which symbolizes success and prosperity, is said to enhance the five virtues, activate metabolism, and have a detoxifying effect. Your body will surely be pleased if you soak in the powerful stone onsen.

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Sanyoso, located in Izu Nagaoka onsen, boasts a 3,000-tsubo Japanese garden ryokan. The garden is a pond garden with a circular path around it, where you can enjoy the beautiful seasonal changes. The view from the pavilion on the hill is truly breathtaking. Please enjoy the view from various angles.

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There is a stately main building and a new wing built in the sukiya style, and the guest rooms are divided into each. In the main building, there is the "Miyuki" room, which is located on a hill above the garden and has its own tatami corridor, and the standard "Kiso" room, which has access to the garden from a veranda. In addition to Japanese-Western style rooms, the new building also has a detached building called "Fujiuraba - Wa-nzu Hanare" where you can stay with your pet dog. It's fun choosing a room ♪

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The large public bath is surrounded by greenery and has a bright atmosphere. The alkaline simple spring water is said to be effective in relieving cold and beautifying the skin. Relax and soak in the soft water. Of the 29 guest rooms, 19 have indoor free-flowing onsen baths.

Katsuragi Kitanomaru is a resort hotel with an extraordinary space that could be described as a modern-day Heijo castle. The vast garden facing the guest rooms is a stroll-style garden with pine trees and other plants arranged in a grassy area. After walking along the walking path and crossing the bridge, you will come across gardens with beautiful seasonal flowers, such as an azalea garden and a flowering tree garden.

The guest room building is divided into four sections: Fujiden, Aoiden, Sakuraden, and Hagiden. The photo shows a room in Hagiden. The space was designed to resemble an old house, and you can feel the warmth of the old trees that have aged over the years. Each room offers a wide-angle view of the beautiful Japanese garden.

onsen are divided into three areas, each with its own unique character: Yugura, Yudono, and Yuya. The photo shows Yudono. The open-air bath is surrounded by plants and rocks, and you can sometimes hear the chirping of birds.

Located in Gero onsen Gifu, "Miyako" is a secluded ryokan with 19 rooms. It features an open-onsen garden bath overlooking the Japanese garden, which uses water from Gero Onsen, and an indoor bath reminiscent of a hidden hot spring deep in the mountains. Why not take a stroll through the garden at this inn, which is conscious of harmony with nature, and experience the changing seasons?

The garden open-air bath, which overlooks the Japanese garden, is surrounded by greenery and has an outstanding sense of openness. You can warm your body to the core while feeling the refreshing breeze. Relax on a chair on the wooden deck and enjoy the garden while the water cools down. Why not spend some time like an adult woman?

There are various types of guest rooms, from standard rooms to detached rooms with open-air baths, and suite rooms. This is a suite room called "Tsukishizuku." It features a European-style design and a small courtyard garden reminiscent of a traditional Japanese garden, creating a stylish space that blends Japanese and Western styles.

Bosenkan, located in Gero onsen, is ryokan that boasts an open-air bath. There is a 3,300m2 Japanese garden on the premises, where you can relax while watching the autumn scenery and the Hida River. The garden is lit up at night, creating a completely different atmosphere from the daytime.

Walking through the Japanese garden, you will arrive at the detached "Sansuitei". The open-air cypress bath, which was just renovated in 2019, is located in the small garden of the room. Since it has no roof, it is the perfect environment for gazing at the stars. Please try bathing while keeping an eye on the weather.

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The open-air bath is designed to be open, so you feel as if you are one with the Hida River flowing in front of you. Relax and soothe yourself in the mild water while enjoying the view of the surrounding mountains. We also recommend boosting your metabolism while being surrounded by pleasant aromas at the aroma salon "Vanilla."

Suimeikan in Gero onsen is ryokan consisting of four buildings along the Hida River. The lobby lounge Evian next to the front desk has a Japanese garden view that fills the entire window, making you feel elegant. There is also a wide selection of original sweets on the menu, so why not enjoy a meal while looking out at the garden?

This is the detached building "Seiransou." In addition to the garden, it is a sukiya-style building that also has a Noh stage and a teahouse, and has five guest rooms. The "Aoi no Ma" on the first floor has a window that leads directly to the garden, so why not try taking a stroll in the provided geta sandals? If you want to experience a more luxurious feeling, we recommend a room on the first floor, which also has an open-air bath.

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This is Shimodame no Yu, a hot onsen exclusively for guests staying at the hotel. Not only the bathtub, but the ceiling, walls and even the pillars are all made of cypress. Enjoy the garden outside the window while taking in the faint scent of cypress. There are a variety of experiences you can have here, including a high-temperature bathtub, a low-temperature bathtub, a cypress bath and a sauna.

Kotobukitei in onsen Onsen, Mie, is a long-established ryokan with a large Japanese garden that was established over 100 years ago. If you head out to the garden in a cute colorful yukata, you will be greeted by not only the natural greenery but also small shrines and moss-covered garden stones. Take a pleasant stroll through the atmospheric garden.

The large communal bath and open-air bath are nice, but what's special about Kotobuki-tei are the private baths. The three private baths in the "Keiseikaku" building, which was built in the early Showa period, are all retro, relaxing spaces. The photo shows one of these baths, called "Juraku." You can view the garden from the resting area after your bath.

There is an annex called "Suiunkaku" on the premises. This building is a registered tangible cultural property, and for preservation reasons, it is not possible to stay overnight, but you can be guided around the building if you wish. Gazing at the grandeur of Mt. Gozaisho from the large windows may help blow away all your worries.

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"Ryotanji Temple" in Shizuoka is an ancient temple founded by Gyoki, and is the family temple of the Ii clan, famous for the historical drama "Onna-joshu Naotora". The pond ornamental garden to the north of the main hall is a nationally designated scenic spot, and is said to have been created by Kobori Enshu. It is especially recommended to visit during the spring azalea season and autumn enkianthus azalea season.

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Kokeizan Eihoji Temple in Gifu is said to have been founded by Muso Soseki. The Kannon Hall and Kaisan Hall are national treasures, and the garden is a nationally designated place of scenic beauty. Musaibashi Bridge, which spans a pond called Garyochi Pond, is a roofed bridge with a large curve, a shape that is rare these days. The composition that harmonizes with the surrounding scenery creates a wonderful space.

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Hinjitsukan in Mie is a modern Japanese-style building that was built in 1887 as a place of rest and lodging for distinguished guests visiting Ise Grand Shrine. Within the grounds is a stroll-style garden that is part of the Futamiura National Place of Scenic Beauty. There are two Suikinkutsu (water harps)* where you can enjoy comparing the sounds they make. The view of the garden from the luxurious hall inside Hinjitsukan is also exceptional.

*Suikinkutsu: A device in which water droplets are dropped into a cavity made in the ground near a water basin, causing the sound produced to echo.

What did you think of our introduction to lodgings with Japanese gardens? Japanese gardens are designed for viewing, and are beautiful in every season. Please try to experience the luxury of gazing at the garden and feeling relaxed.