Asakichi Ryokan

If you have strong interest in traditional Japanese accommodation and pilgrimage to the shrine of Ise, this is it!　However, it is absolutely not a five star hotel. Actually it is difficult to rate this accommodation due to following pros and cons, but I would say 4. ||||Pros||-　Traditional Japanese style building: this building is on a slope hence the entrance is 4 o5 5 stories in the building. It reminder you Edo era and must to see. ||-　Location : It is located in the middle of 2 shrines, hence if you walk here to stay after Geku visit, you will feel like pilgrimage in Edo era. It takes 1 or 2 minutes to the nearest bus stop. ||-　Service: It is not a five star hotel, but is very comfortable and heart warming. Also some dignity in place. ||||Cons||-　Cleanness : it never be very dirty. I find some place need to be clean, such as table in the room near the window, corridor. I do not think it is due to the building is so old because I saw a lot of super clean guesthouses in Kyoto in Machiya (traditional Japanese house) style.　Bathroom, bed are enough clean and comfortable. Considering a lot of super clean accommodation IN JAPAN even at very budget price, I think the cleanness of this accommodation need to be improved. ||-　Facilities : Since the building is old, facility is not brand new and sometime shared, i.e. shared bathroom (but shower is in place in my room), no lift. However I never mind it since whole of building is very beautiful.

If you like historical properties, this is the place for you. Asakichi is around 230 years old. It served as an inn and restaurant in the entertainment district away from Ise's main shrines. Traditionally pilgrims would pray at the shrines by day and then relax in the entertainment districts at night. Today Asakichi's neighborhood is very quiet. It sits about midway between both major shrines, Naiku and Geku, about a 30 minute walk to either. Upon our arrival by JR to the main train station, we caught a taxi to the ryokan (¥1,210). After check-in, we walked to Naiku and back our first afternoon, enjoying the shrine and tourist area outside the shrine's gate. The next day we walked to a coffee shop for breakfast and then on to the main train station, caught a 20-minute ride to the neighboring city of Matsusaka for a beef lunch, and then returned to Ise, visited Geku, and rode a taxi (¥810) from Ujiyamada Station back to the ryokan. The Asakichi, as mentioned by other posters, is built on a hillside, and this makes for interesting interior passages. Our room was the next to last at the bottom. It was of good size with 9 tatami mats plus a wood floor area with short table and 2 seat backs. Each day we received 2 bottles of water and a tasty sweet snack. Our room also had its own private bath and wash area/shower wet room, toilet, and sink/mirror. The garden view wasn't much and we could occasionally hear trains on a near-by rail line. We learned our second day, by walking down the hill, that we were fairly close to a main road too. We used the public bath one night, a modern tub which comfortably held 2 people but did not capture the onsen-style feel. On our final morning we had breakfast in the inn, all Japanese food which hit the spot. To reach the dining room, guests had to cross a short bridge from one building to the next adjoining building and go up a short flight of stairs. Fellow diners included a Japanese office group and a French speaking couple. We had mostly interacted with the mother and daughter of the family that run the inn, but on this morning we also met the son who helped serve breakfast and move our luggage. At check-out the owners arranged a taxi for us and brought our luggage up from our room. We had some spare time and begin to learn more about the history of the inn, inquiring to the mother, she obliged and we were sorry we had waited so long to ask. A very interesting inn in a sacred city! The family were all very helpful and courteous, perhaps some members were a bit shy at first. Their goodness exemplified in their deeds and care for this great old property. They all 4 waved and bowed as our taxi carried us off. Bus and taxi services were readily available, plus another rail company, Kintetsu, had a small station/stop 10 minutes away from Asakichi. Final thoughts: Much of Ise sits on hills (although Naiku is along a river). In good weather it is very walkable. There are 125 shrines which tend to be in park-like environments, and there are typical but interesting residential neighborhoods. There are also big modern vestiges like highways and a shopping mall, plus areas with ugly industrial scars. The true pilgrim experience is to visit the shrines and stay in Ise, and no better place to get that than at Asakichi.

A big traditional Japanese wooden house with lovely owners who will do everything they can to make your stay pleasant. They opened the public bath for us at night. Breakfast is generous and served in an elevated room overlooking the main house.

If you want to feel as if you came to ancient Japan, and are ready to pay the price, this places is for you. It is really exceptional, and local hosts are really very welcoming. We really enjoyed traditional rooms, very interesting architecture of a building and local meals. But I find the price a bit too expensive. But if you are ready to pay for authenticity, you are welcome!

Yes, Asakichi ryokan is a little bit far from Ise station but you'll pay only 1.100 yens to get there per taxi ( or take a convenient local bus that stops in front of it). The reward is at the end of the road : you'll be staying in a genuine (very) old historical ryokan ! Be reassured, you'll get all the confort and security of a modern inn but with on top the flavour of ancient times. Our room was very large, with a private bathroom and a balcony with 2 confortable armchairs.||The food (served in the room) is really excellent and the service ( of the lady owner) particularly warm. If, like us, you spend more than one night at Asakichi, you will be surprised to get dinners that are completely different, both in presentation and content..||This very quiet place is a very good choice for those who like to take their time enjoying the athmosphere of the real old Japan.

We had an enjoyable stay in this nice old ryokan. The building is pretty interesting and picturesque. However, it is this mother and son team who run this ryokan that really makes this stay special. As mentioned in previous reviews, it is not a five star luxury ryokan, but the price does reflect what you pay for. We were able to easily walk to all the major sites, and there is a bus stop right in front of the Asakichi.||We felt right at home during our stay, and each of the carefully prepared meals was an enjoyable experience.

Ancient inn with lots of character. Food was great. Lovely owner and staff.

Accommodations were wonderful. The service was beyond perfect. The hosts were so kind. We loved the history of the building and exploring the many levels. The meals were wonderful, and they accommodated one vegetarian perfectly! Thank you for a great stay! Highly recommend!