Yamanoo

My stay at Ryotei Yamanoo was truly special. The service stood out—not only exceptional but also deeply caring, with staff who went out of their way to make my stay feel extra special. The food was another highlight—beautifully presented and centered around local Kanazawa specialties at a Michelin-star level. If you’re a fan of seafood, you’ll be in heaven. However, it’s worth noting that substitutions aren’t available, so it might not be ideal for those who don’t enjoy fish. One unfortunate moment was seeing a family leave four untouched trays of breakfast after asking for a Western option that wasn’t available—an unnecessary waste, especially given the care that goes into each meal. My room was spacious with stunning views of the city and surrounding mountains, and the large hinoki cedar bathtub was an unforgettable luxury. The location is also excellent—peaceful yet just a short walk into town. This was one of the most memorable stays of my month-long trip through Japan. Highly recommended for those looking for a refined, culturally immersive experience.

Great place to stay while in Kanazawa. This ryokan is top quality perfectly situated overlooking the old district of the city and very close to the gardens and castle. Service is impeccable and the food served is amazing!

Stayed at this lovely resort for 2 nights and 3 days. Service was amazing, the room was tradition (exactly what we were looking for) and the tub was amazing after a week of walking all over Japan. Note for anyone visiting, the food is traditional Japanese cuisine. If you are not open to trying new dishes and methods of cooking, you have been warned.

Our stay at the Yamanoo Ryokan was a highlight of our trip to Kanazawa. Nestled just above the historic Higashi Chaya-gai district, we had one of the 'simpler' rooms, the Daffodil room. Each room is a small cottage set around the main entry and dining area, each having its own entrance and path through a small garden area and feeling very private. We were greeted with some lovely matcha and a delicious sweet treat, which we enjoyed on the chair overlooking our lovely view and watching the adventures of a local cat in the garden. There were two sitting areas, one with Western style chairs and one with sitting on the floor. After dinner, this was moved aside to make room for very comfortable mattresses that were put on the floor. The room also came with a lovely full tea set and kettle awaiting us, Japanese-style robes to wear to dinner and around, and a bathroom with a large hinoki cedar bathtub, which was lovely to enjoy after dinner.||The dinner was also phenomenal, and it was an expert showcase of local specialities and seasonal ingredients, from the amuse of strawberry mixed with sake, to clams and fishes, Blowfish shiraki with seasonal mountain herbs, hairy crab, Nodoguro (which the chef came out to cook for us at our table, almost like a shabu shabu style), a delicious beef from Noto served with young, grilled bamboo shoot, Firefly squid and rice, and the most delicious dessert jellies of strawberry, grapefruit, and sweet pea. Furthermore, each dish was served in the most beautiful dishes, showcasing local craftsmanship. Breakfast was also a delight, and we counted 15 (!) various dishes between pickles, multiple kinds of fish, soup, omelets, mutliple kinds of vegetables, and rice. It was truly a luxurious, breakfast and a treat to start the day.

Absolutely unforgettable! Our two-night stay at Yamanoo was a highlight of our trip. From the moment we arrived, the warm hospitality and attention to detail were unmatched. The views of the Higashi Chaya District from our room were simply breathtaking, offering a true sense of Kanazawa’s rich culture and history right at our window. The Kaiseki dinners were an absolute masterpiece. Each evening, we were treated to beautifully presented, seasonally inspired dishes that showcased the depth of Japanese culinary tradition. Every bite was a sensory delight, with layers of flavour and artistry that made each meal unforgettable. Breakfast was equally incredible, with a spread that balanced traditional flavours and fresh ingredients perfectly, setting us up for the day’s adventures. Yamanoo truly provides a luxurious and authentic experience that we’ll cherish for years to come!

Mind-bendingly awesome food. It's not cheap at ¥20,000 per person, but is truly incredible. 9 course menu, all of which were delightful and remarkable in their own way, but two or three courses in particular were some of the very best I've ever tased. The seared sea bass Nigri will show you what sushi is meant to be, and the wagyu beef... I will not even try to explain as I could not possibly do it justice. The chef is a master. The location is perfect. 10/10

We didn't really know what to expect from a Ryokan. But this is the real deal. A few cottages around the main house in the middle of a wonderful garden define this estate. Each home is a beautiful building with a bathtub and is prepared for you for each night. This alone is an experience. Now comes the food: What the team at Yamanoo creates is simply magic. We stayed two nights and had two different dinners with various courses, freshly made, using local food whenever possible. All tasted perfect. The breakfast in the morning was another treat that we loved so much. Then comes the staff that were so friendly, helpful, and caring that we didn't want to leave, it's a magic place for us. Kanazawa isn't that big, the Yamanoo is a great location to explore the vicinity and walk to the castle or garden easily.

Wonderful Ryokan experience with a fantastic view. The wooden, very deep bathtub, was one of the best bathing experiences I’ve ever had. I took a star away because of the dinner, which was easily the worst meal I have had in Japan. It is an attempt at fine dining that is a little too extra. The dinner was 8 rounds dishes that were mostly distasteful, bland, or otherwise gross. For example, one of the dishes was a ball of shrimp in a bowl of green pea soup. Another dish was fish tempura, but here’s the kicker, the fish wasn’t cleaned. My wife bit into the fish and bit into the heart and guts, and was close to throwing up right there. She had to spit it out into a napkin. The worst destruction of a dish that could have even amazing was their wagyu. Wagyu is not a difficult dish to create. Grill it for a short time, maybe a little bit of a char, and a small amount of salt and it will melt in your mouth. But no, what did the chef do? He steamed the wagyu until it was soggy and flaccid and then placed it in a bowl filled with tomato juice and diced tomatoes. We were instructed to eat the meat together with the diced tomatoes and it was utterly disappointing. 9/10 for the location and venue. 1/10 for the dinner. Whoever created the dinner menu needs to be taken to the back and beaten with a bamboo stick.

This is a hotel/ryokan where you can make a dinner reservation. It's up atop a hill and has stellar views. Be warned, it's not cheap by any means. I came here for dinner for a party of two. We had our own room...like a BIG room set up just for us. Course after course was brought out, hand curated, described, and exacting detail. From fresh fish to duck to bear, everything was just great...service was traditional japanese and friendly. The main chef came out to prep one of our courses. The menu changes by season of course so I'd like to go back but ya, did I mention it's not cheap?