15 of The Best Hotels in Japan to Book Right Now - AFAR
"There’s a reason why renowned chefs like Eric Ripert have visited Yamanaka, a hot springs town in Honshu’s seaside Ishikawa prefecture: to make a pilgrimage to Kayotei Ryokan, a 10-room private inn with onsen baths fed by natural mineral springs from the ground below it. Here, multi-course kaiseki meals are prepared mostly with the surrounding agricultural area’s organic produce, from the fish to the tofu. Every ingredient has a story: The rice maker uses ducks for pest and weed control in lieu of chemicals, and the midwinter nori, or seaweed, is harvested by brave souls who face the large waves and slippery rocks along the coast. Book one of the tatami-floored rooms with a private onsen, and be sure to check out the impressive collection of antique tansu scrolls and pottery throughout the retreat." - Keith Flanagan, Sanjay Surana, Jennifer Flowers, Adam H. Graham
