Kayotei

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.

This place is a gem among gems. The whole experience was amazing. From the layout of the rooms, to the decor of the place with beautiful kutani ware pottery and Japanese flower arrangements, the attention to detail is what made this place top notch. The room I stayed in included an outdoor onsen that overlooked the forest and the water was at the perfect temperature. Ralph Lauren bath robes were provided and some Shiseido products were also available. It was definitely serene and relaxing. The kaiseki dinner was better than top notch restaurants. You can literally taste the care and planning that has gone into the meal. The tableware and even the cups were really pretty. Chef Yutaka Ebihara san really brought out the sweet mellow flavours of Autumn and I really appreciated the care of using local ingredients especially some ingredients that can rarely be found outside of the Kanazawa region. Even the preparation of the hairy crab was thoughtful and allowed us to easily enjoy the flesh. I could see that the selection of the ingredients has been meticulous and I really enjoyed the flavours. The spread is HUGE and I had to save the dessert for later. The English menu translation really doesn’t do the dishes justice. I’m thankful the service staff took the time to explain the dishes to me. The breakfast was no less amazing and lighter on the palate. I typically don’t have the habit of eating breakfast but I woke up for this one! Super worth it! My only regret is that I didn’t stay longer. I’ll definitely be back again and perhaps visit the local artisans.

We stayed at Kayotei with our two adult children during our first trip to Japan.|The experience was 5-star in every aspect. The facilities are excellent, the service is beyond perfect, we also very much enjoyed our traditional Japanese breakfast and dinners.|One of the dinner was at Enuma Station, a short walk from Kayotei. The multi course dinner was delicious. My wife is vegetarian and they did an excellent job substituting meat/ fish with vegetarian options while keeping the "spirit" of the dish in each of the courses.|We also visited Mika and Laku's studio and workshop. They demonstrated paper making and helped us learn/ understand the art of ikebana.|The manager & staff were always there, they were extremely helpful in arranging a car rental at very short notice when we changed our plans last minute (to drive to Kyoto rather than taking the train).|I would highly recommend making a trip to Yamanaka and a stay at Kayotei a part of your Japan visit. The small tranquil town is a good break after spending time in Tokyo!

An incredible and unique experience. The staff and scenery provide a perfect escape from a busy life. Absolutely top notch and highly highly recommend! Our many thanks to Jiro San.

Most beautiful Ryokan I had the chance to visit, could feel the effects of the onsen hot springs straight after I came out of it. Will definitely come back !

What a unique experience, we stayed two nights during our trip to Japan after this Ryokan was recommended to us. Could not have been happier, room was beautiful, food was excellent and the environment provided a nice relaxing break from our busy itinerary. Staff went out of their way to welcome us and make sure we had everything we needed. Highlight was the kaiseki dinner - absolutely amazing.

We weren't sure what to expect when booking a ryokan experience as part of our Japan trip, but were immediately reassured by the warm reception we were given over two nights and three days in Kaga Onsen. Takeuchi-san (the son-in-law of the Kayotei's 91-year-old patriarch, who does the rounds at dinner) is a most gracious and welcoming host, and made sure our room, meals and hot spring experience were outstanding. He even spent a half-day driving us to some local artisan workshops, giving us behind-the scenes looks at how lacquered bowls are made and the fine art of kintsugi. The town of Yamanaka is small, but well worth walking around for local crafts, fine sake and some small temples. The walk along the gorge is stunning as well, especially when the blossoms are out.

Excellent in every way. The staff was attentive and friendly. The food was extraordinary -- attention paid to every detail. Our hot tub was perfect -- used before breakfast, lunch and dinner! The best of our trip to Japan.

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.