Kayotei

From the minute you step out of the taxi and up the driveway you are welcomed like family, with a greeting party of no less than 4-7 people each time. ||The service here is excellent. Probably the best possibly ever, and done with such kindness and care. ||Thru provided yukata (Japanese kimono) for us and the kids to wear while at the hotel, and during the day you walk through the river path or the town.||We opted for the paper making and Ichiban class with local artisans and it was a highlight. The kids loved doing something hands on and creative.||The meals were so elaborate, filling and delicious with the finest of local food served on locally made plates, bowls, etc. ||Our room, the kokutani suite was perfect for a family of four. And we had our own shower and onsen. Having the private onsen was great since I could go whenever and not have to do the shares one each time I wanted a dip. The shared one is super nice though and also enjoyable.||This area and hotel is a GEM.

This place looks even better than the pictures. Each room has its own naturally heated tub, and even the shampoo and conditioner are the best I've ever used. I had to buy some to take home. The owner even went out of his way to get me a matcha whisk because I didn't have time to go out and get one myself! They were also unbelievably sweet to the baby we brought with us. Thank you for the great experience!!

The Kayotei was by far the highlight of our trip to Japan. The service was above and beyond, from greeting us warmly at the door to escorting us to dinner and providing turn down service while we ate. The Ryokan is special, every single detail has been considered and is the highest quality. I could spend hours in the beautiful Onsen. The rooms are impressive and so comfortable. The owner even said hello to us during dinner! We loved the nearby town filled with artisan goods and an adorable coffee shop. If you’ve made it this far into your search for the perfect Ryokan, look no further — you’ve found it! Jiro and his team will take excellent care of you.

Staying at the Kayotei in Yamanaka was an experience we will never forget.|The quaint inn is so charming- every corner has an antique or special flower arrangement. Breakfast and dinner was served to us in a lovely small private room that looked out on one of the gardens. We had both the traditional and western breakfasts and they are both excellent and filling. You will not need lunch. Dinner is an 8 or 9 course meal, elegantly served, presented and delicious. |The staff was ever helpful and kind- we felt so well taken care of.|There are two onsens here- one has an outdoor pool. We were here during the winter and sitting in the outside onsen with the snow falling and looking at the stream coming down from the mountain was so calming- one cold morning a fox appeared for us.|The Inn had us booked for one of our dinners at a local restaurant , a short walk from the Inn. The Enuma Station is the name of the restaurant. It is a French Japanese fusion restaurant run by a young couple- another outstanding meal. |The town of Yamanaka is small and fairly quiet during the winter but the public baths are worth a visit as is the theater next door where we watched a traditional Japanese dance. We hiked the trail that runs along the gorge twice, once in the snow. This hike would be nice anytime of year. At the end of the trail just below Kayotei, we stopped into Higashiyama Bonheur for coffee and a piece of cake.|We are so happy we found this area and The Kayotei.

Amazing, authentic ryokan experience. Every aspect of our stay was meticulously thought out, and the breakfast (both traditional Japanese & western) & kaiseki dinner were excellent. All of the staff were lovely and went above and beyond to make sure our stay was enjoyable. This included making dinner reservations in town at Enuma Station Bistro and a sake bar after dinner. Highly highly recommend staying at Kayotei.

This was our first ryokan stay. Hard to imagine it being surpassed. From the warm welcome to our perfectly designed room with a view of the forest and the sound of a creek rushing through, everything calmed and restored us. Sitting in our private tub and gazing at nature at the edge of Yamanaka Onsen is our idea of paradise. The food at dinner and breakfast is superb, prepared with imagination and the freshest ingredients. Our only regret: wish we had stayed for more than one night.

Beautiful establishment. The food was life changing. So relaxing. The best sake I’ve ever had in my life. The best shampoo I’ve ever used

Kayotei is a lovely Ryokan with onsen en-suite as well as segregated by gender. The suites are large with nice decks and outdoor onsen. The level of service is superior, and breakfast and dinner are delicious. Kayotei partners with local suppliers, restaurants and artisans to deliver a very nice and somewhat bespoke experience. ||We spend a morning with Mika Horie and her husband learning papermaking and making some. Dinner at Enuma Station was superior. The chef owner and his wife could give any James Beard or Michelin star restaurant a run for their money. ||Get to know Jiro-san, the manager and prepare for a terrific stay.

The staff was incredible, from our first arrival to when we left. We arrived and they immediately grabbed our luggage and led us into a room where they served us hot green tea and tea sweets. They then led us to our room where they showed us how to don our yakatas. The setting was amazing - we had a view of the gorge from our private balcony, a private hot spring-fed tub in our bathroom, and a gorgeous garden in the courtyard outside our room. We put on our yakatas and socks and were led to our private dining room, where we were served two of the best Japanese dinners and breakfasts I've ever had. The fish was all so fresh (some raw, some grilled right outside the door to the room while we waited), miso soups expertly prepared, even the rice was the best ever. Every morning they changed our bedroom into a living room and vice versa at dinner. The owner and his family presented us with a gift of a beautiful laquerware plate created by one of the local artisans when we left (to go with the $300 in sake and laquerware goods we purchased in the local town, which is a short and gorgeous walk through the river gorge away). Make no mistake - it is an expensive experience. But if you're looking for a truly Japanese experience outside of the city, you absolutely cannot beat The Kayotei.