Getting Away and Staying Local – Great Ryokan in Aichi

Sep 28, 2020

Getting Away and Staying Local – Great Ryokan in Aichi

2020 has been hard going for many reasons, but most majorly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic is our ability to travel. Whether due to behaving responsibly, fears of contraction, or an employer restricting travel, many of us have been staying home and staying safe. But that doesn’t mean that we lost the desire to get away from it all for a while.

If you want to have a bit of a break but still stay within Aichi’s borders, perhaps you could consider staying at a local ryokan? These Japanese-style hotels can be plush, relaxing, and have all sorts of amenities such as spas, saunas, and great food, making them an ideal place to kick back, relax and get away from the stresses of daily life, even for just a day or so.

There are many great ryokan in Aichi, and below you’ll find a few suggestions.

Akariya Geihanro

Founded in 1918 and a popular haunt for writers down the ages, this small, luxury ryokan in Inuyama has an outdoor spa in each Japanese-western style room so well contained that you may never even see another guest, even when fully booked. The rooms are spacious and even have a DVD, Blu-ray, and CD players so that you can bring your entertainment for after the tub. Oh, and you may as well indulge in the complimentary minibar while you’re at it.

The best rooms have a view overlooking the Kiso River, meaning that during the ‘ukai‘ season, you can watch local fishermen catch ayu using cormorants.

Where: Kitakoken-41-6 Inuyama (map)
Website: geihanro.co.jp

Hotel Meizanso

The hot springs of Miya onsen near Gamagori were said to be discovered by a monk by the name of Gyoki some 1200 years ago, and are some of the oldest in Aichi. There are many hotels and spas in the area, many with excellent facilities.

Hotel Meizanso is located within the scenic Mikawa Bay National Park and offers beautiful views of the coastline. You can choose between Japanese and western-style rooms, as well as between an ala carte or course dishes brought to your private dining room, or an extensive buffet. Other facilities include a variety of onsen, sauna, jacuzzi, and many more.

Where: Tobikake-14-1 Miyacho, Gamagori (map)
Website: meizanso.com

Kakujoro

Located in the traditional port town of Tahara on the Atsumi Peninsula, Kakujoro was established in 1925 and blends its old-world charms with modern luxuries, while priding itself on its welcoming, family atmosphere.

The rooms are all spacious, over 70 square meters, and those in the newer buildings all have private outdoor spa baths. The cuisine on offer consists of freshly caught, locally-sourced seafood of the season, including tigerfish, blowfish, and rock oysters. Meat eaters will be happy to find local Atsumi pork also on the menu.

Where: Tahara, Fukuecho, Shimoji−3 8 (map)
Website: kakujoro.com

Hazu Gassho

There are four Hazu resorts connected to Shinshiro’s Yuya onsen springs, but for a real Japanese experience, Hazu Gassho is the way to go. With its building that resembles the steeple-roofed ‘gassho’ houses of Toyama, Hazu Gassho embodies the Japanese natural countryside and enjoys the warm hospitality of the Kato family who runs the resorts.

With hot spring spas, exquisite local food, and refreshing mountain air, it is a great place to relax. However, Hazu Gassho is also perfectly placed as a base to explore the surrounding mountain trails, the seven Adera waterfalls, and the ancient Buddhist temple of Horaiji.

Where: Minamidaira-18-1 Toyooka, Shinshiro, Aichi 441-1631 (map)
Website: hazu.co.jp

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Image by Shawn Harquail via flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0] – Modified
Image via https://www.geihanro.co.jp/en/
Image via https://www.meizanso.com/english.htm
Image via https://www.kakujoro.com/english/room/index.html
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