This week, we will visit more hotels which opened in 2009. These hotels are known for their warm hospitality, and to commemorate their opening, offer many privileges and discounts to guests. Visiting these newly-opened hotels is a great way to spend your autumn holidays.
The next hotel, called Nara Shino no Sato Gyokusui, is located in Atagawa and is surrounded by nature. It is suitable for those who want to enjoy a holiday with their family or friends. Start by taking the Odoriko Express from Tokyo to Atagawa Onsen in East Izu. The journey takes about 2.5 hours. Atagawa Onsen is a historical spa town that is full of character. The hotel staff will pick you up from Izu-Atagawa Station. The hotel, which opened in August 2009, is a five-minute drive from the station. The Japanese-style hotel sits on premises spanning 1.8 acres and has 13 rooms. The trendy lobby has huge windows with a nice garden view. Upon your arrival, you will be served complimentary Japanese green tea. Plus, women are given colourful yukatas of their choice. Even the rooms come with a wonderful garden view. During the promotion period, a one-night stay costs less than 20,000 yen (S$312) on weekdays.
The predecessor of Gyokusui Hotel is an old hotel called Gyokusui-kan. Atagawa is popular for its healing hot springs, so as its popularity increased, so did demand for hotels. Due to lack of space, this new hotel was built as an annex of Gyokusui-kan. After you have checked in, take a stroll around the town. If you make a request, you can get a local to be your guide for free. Visit a panoramic spot, from where you can see the islands of Oshima, Toshima, Niijima and Kozushima. Another place worth checking out is Sui Shrine, which is a spiritual landmark. It enshrine the goddess, Mizuhanome no Mikoto.
If you are tired and want to take a break, go to a tea shop called Yamamomo-jaya, a leisure spot for locals. Built 300 years ago, it used to be a house of a village chief during the Edo period. Try its speciality, herahera mochi, which is made from Japanese yam, wheat flour and eggs. Served with sesame sauce and bean paste, it is a traditional dish of the Naramoto region. Return to the hotel to enjoy a comfortable and relaxing chartered outdoor bath. Do note that you have to make an advance booking to use the bath. Dinner comprising Izu’s delicacies is served in the hotel’s restaurant. Tuck into various kinds of sashimi such as golden eye bream, amberjack, billfish and lobster; matsutake soup; and Shizuoka Japanese beef grilled over charcoal. The next day, you will also be served fresh seafood for breakfast. Savour items such as chopped raw horse mackerel served with rice.
Our next hotel adventure will be of special interest to dog owners who want to take a road trip with their pet. Travel along the Tomei Expressway to Izu Shuzenji, a spa town. It is 2.5 hours away from Tokyo by car. Located in the middle of Izu Peninsula, Shuzenji celebrated its 1,200th anniversary three years ago and is the oldest spa town in Izu. The Tokko no Yu open-air bath, a symbol of Shuzenji, was renovated and reopened in April 2009. There is a hotel here called Izu Shuzenji Kizuna, which also opened in April 2009. The hotel has been adapted from a 70-year-old spa hotel, and is surrounded by lush greenery. But what makes this Japanese-style hotel unique is that it allows guests to bring their dogs. In fact, nearly all the guests come to this hotel with their dogs. Before you enter the hotel, there is a special tub where you must wash your dog first. The shower uses Shuzenji’s spring water. The hotel also provides towels and leash hooks for dogs. You will be surprised to know that most of the hotel staff graduated from veterinary schools; some are graduates with veterinary training, while others are dog specialists.
The rooms are spacious and you can lodge at the tatami rooms with your dog. Dog owners are served complimentary green tea as a welcome treat, and are pampered with luxury items. But don’t worry, your dog won’t feel left out. The hotel also provides a welcome treat for your pet - a dog gift set! After relaxing in your room, roam around the town with your dog. The hotel will give you a bag, so that you can clean up after your dog. As you cross the Katsura River, drop by a paper cutting shop. It opened in June 2009, and yes, it allows pets too. Paper cutting is a form of artwork using special tiny scissors to create images. The shop owner will create a beautiful image of your dog using paper, and it serves as a wonderful souvenir of this trip with your pet. After this, visit a 660-square metre dogland nearby. Your dog can run around and exercise on the lawn. Return to your hotel, and do remember to wash your dog in the tub again before entering. Before dinner, take a refreshing bath with your dog as a companion. The cosy bath is incredibly soothing.
Standard kaiseki ryori cuisine is prepared for dinner. The chef serves grilled tied saury; aromatic chrysanthemum soup; chestnut wrapped in chicken meatball; seafood from Suruga Bay; roasted shiitake wrapped in autumn salmon; and Izu ox tongue stewed with haccho miso and inaka miso. A kaiseki ryori meal is also prepared for your dog and comprises three dishes. The meal is specially cooked for dogs and does not contain any seasoning. It is prepared skilfully and carefully by the chef. After dinner, enjoy a good night’s sleep with your pet by your side. The next morning, start your day on a refreshing note by taking an early morning bath in Shuzenji’s spring water. Later, enjoy a luxurious multi-dish meal for breakfast. Of course, your dog will also be served a specially-designed breakfast.
Next, we go to a hotel located in the centre of Takayama - known as the “small Kyoto of Hida”. The city is also referred to as Hida-Takayama. First, take the Super Azusa Express from Shinjuku to Matsumoto Station. The train ride takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. From the Matsumoto bus terminal, take an express bus to Takayama. After about 2 hours and 20 minutes, you will reach Takayama, Gifu. The city still retains the nostalgia of the Edo period, and is popular among foreigners too. Alight at the bus centre beside Takayama Station. The Hida Hanasato no Yu, Takayama Oan hotel is a five-minute walk from the station. The hotel, which opened in April 2009, combines both traditional and modern elements, and has a casual and comfortable ambience. The exterior is modern but the interior has a traditional atmosphere. For example, the lobby has Japanese-style wooden beams and a hearth. The owner wanted to build a modern city hotel, yet retain a nostalgic atmosphere.
Besides tatamis, the hotel also provides guests with Japanese-style toiletries. Takayama is surrounded by mountains, so you can get a panoramic view of the town and the mountain ridges from the guest rooms. The hotel also boasts both a rooftop outdoor bath and an indoor bath.
After your bath, head out to the town and after a 10-minute walk, you will reach the main tourist spot of Takayama, which features historical streets and stylistic buildings. Some of these buildings have been turned into different kinds of shops. Takayama is well known for the Takayama Festival which is held every summer and autumn. The festival has a history of 400 years and features a parade of yatai (floats). Visit a warehouse which houses these yatais. The yatais bear the essence of Hida's skilful craftsmanship, with delicate wood carvings. After you have roamed along the historical streets, make your way to a sarubobo workshop. These traditional Japanese dolls serve as charms which protect children. You can try making these dolls and keep them as souvenirs. In addition, after finishing the workshop, you will get a cafe coupon. Use your coupon at the Hidacchi Café, which used to be an old house and features a lattice door and windows. Its speciality is sukuna pumpkin pudding.
Return to your hotel and enjoy a delicious dinner full of Hida’s delicacies at the restaurant. A variety of food is served in small portions. There is autumn eggplant, roasted Hida beef with miso, kamameshi and mushroom. The next morning, take a dip in the outdoor chartered bath. Later, enjoy a buffet breakfast featuring traditional dishes of Hida such as Komo tofu wrapped in straw, hoba miso, Hida beef meatball and meshidorobo - chopped red turnip and nozawana pickled with salt – with rice. You can check out after this sumptuous breakfast.
