Perched on a mountainside above the historical town of Kotohira, the elegant Kotohira Kadan boasts both exemplary service and food, and a tangible link to an illustrious past.
Overlooking the 400-year-old Kotohira shrine, one of the most prestigious in Japan, Kotohira Kadan has extended its superlative hospitality to some of the nation's most famous writers and artists, who come for the unique blend of service, luxury and traditional Japan. The ryokan has even been mentioned in some classic works of Japanese literature.
This ryokan boasts several sukiya-zukuri heritage villas, which are available for guests to stay in, both for a unique experience and to get a unique perspective on historical lifestyles.
These villas are set amid a Japanese garden, and the whole establishment boasts a stunning environment - one side of the ryokan looks out over the town of Kotohira and the Mt. Sanuki-Fuji mountain range in the distance; the other looks out on the beautifully tended grounds and historical buildings.
And complementing the beauty of the surroundings and the fascinating historical buildings, Kotohira Kadan's friendly service, tastefully appointed rooms and exquisite cuisine keep customers coming back for a one-of-a-kind experience that touches the soul of Japan.
Inside these rooms are like a step back in time to the Taisho era and before, including period paintings on the fusuma sliding doors, hanging scrolls, and traditional household items like shodo (calligraphy) and chado (tea ceremony) boxes.
This is beautiful suite features a big 18-mat tatami room, and an entire wall of windows overlooking the town and tile roofed villas. The bath is equally spacious, and sports a carved wood roof.
This suite is the signature room of Kotohira Kadan. Laid out and designed in opulent splendor, staying here is like living in the home of a very rich person.
These are truly heritage rooms not only are they beautiful and authentic.
The famous Japanese novelist Mori Ogai worked on his novel Kompira here in 1910 and mentions Kotohira Kadan.
Suitable for up to eight guests.
This is a Japanese/Western style room. It is suitable for 5-6 guests.
Two large single beds and a tatami room for a living, dining and sleeping area.
This room boasts a combined sitting/garden room, which shares a veranda with the spacious wooden rotemburo.
Separate living room, tatami living/sleeping room and twin beds ensure a relaxed and easeful space.
This is a Western-style room in the Taisho era early 20th century fashion, with a big double four-poster canopy bed and heavy antique furniture.
The living room is a Japanese-style tatami room.
The sitting room overlooks a pretty pond with a stone lantern, overhung with maple boughs, and the lights of the town below.
The ofuro is a big wooden tub with an equally beautiful view.
These rooms feature a spacious veranda sitting area with a lovely rotemburo an either wooden or stone a built in.
The rooms are designed in the simple yet elegant Japanese style.
This wing has four elegantly furnished Western-style rooms, one of which is a barrier-free twin room. All of them have a private veranda with a view over the Kotohira shrine grounds and the town beyond.
The triple and twin rooms have tatami chairs, a kotatsu (a traditional Japanese table with a heating element underneath a very cozy on a cool night) with a sunken leg space (a blessing for guests not used to sitting on tatami mats).
This is a twin Western-style room with a rotemburo outdoor bath made of Hinoki wood.
Tastefully appointed furnishings and modern design are its main features.
This public space includes a library, a bar, pleasant jazz music and massage chairs, as well as wireless LAN Internet access and computers for the use of guests.
A tsukimidai moon-viewing veranda overlooks the lights of the town and distant mountains - a very pleasant place to spend a few idle hours.
The rotemburo open-air baths of the ryokan's Kompira Spa are a gorgeous pleasure.
The public bath, "Kissho no yu," is surrounded by a bamboo glade, and is lit up at night, lending a dreamy atmosphere to the bathing experience, and simply soaking under stars and gazing out at the view of the city lights and the mountains beyond is a rare pleasure.
The private rotemburo, "Nagomi-yu," boasts a big wooden tub with a spectacular view over the valley. This ofuro can be reserved for families and small parties.
Taking its water from a local source, the naturally alkaline hot spring water is packed with minerals and ionic compounds, which make it effective at relieving pain from stiff joints, sore muscles and neuralgia.
Ashiya Bankunmei's three qualified masseuses offer Thai massage, foot massage, herb ball treatment and aromatherapy.
Redolent with spice and incense, Ashiya Bankunmei has seven spaces for treatments plus an herb steam tent.
The public bath, "Kissho no yu," is surrounded by a bamboo glade, and is lit up at night, lending a dreamy atmosphere to the bathing experience.
Awaji Island has an especially long history – it dates from before the beginning of time. Now home to numerous sites associated with Japan's creation myth, it attracts visitors with relics of Japan’s early history.
This is the perfect place to appreciate a performance of Awaji Ningyo-Joruri, Japanese traditional puppet theater, in Awaji. This art form has a long history of over 500 years.
Higashiyama Kaii Setouchi Art Museum is dedicated to the works of celebrated landscape painter Higashiyama Kaii, this museum also hosts special exhibitions of works by Higashiyama and other Japanese-style painters.
In the myth, Izanagi and Izanami created Awaji Island first of all the islands of Japan. Izanagi Jingu enshrines and worships the divine coupe. It is the oldest shrine in Japan.
In the morning stroll around Kotohira shrine. This lovely shrine is also known as Konpira-san, home to a guardian deity of the ocean, and is located on Mt. Zozu, famous for the 1,368 steps that lead to the shrine.
Marugame Castle is beautiful and historical castle, which dates from 1597, is an impressive sight, with imposing stone walls that rise 50 meters high in places. Inside is an interesting museum, and the top of the tower boasts breathtaking views.
Sake and its production is closely linked to the Japanese people and culture. Miyako Bijin has a long history and still makes sake with the ancient tenbin-shibori method, using a balanced log to squeeze large bags of rice malt.
You could try making udon noodles at Nakano Udon school. One type of udon, a square variety known as Sanuki Udon, is a local specialty that has become popular throughout Japan. In this activity you will have a chance to learn to make it.
Awaji Island boasts many places worth a visit to enjoy the natural scenery, such as the Naruto Strait, where the tidal currents flow as fast as 10 knots to create whirlpools of all sizes. The cruise through this strait is quite an experience.
Ritsurin Garden is one of Japan’s most famous historical gardens and renowned for its beautiful scenery. The garden consists of six ponds and 13 hills, with the forested slopes of Mount Shiun in the background.
The George Nakashima Memorial Gallery is dedicated to the famous Japanese-American architect and furniture maker, one of the leading innovators of 20th century furniture design.
The Great Seto Bridge is a series of double deck bridges connecting Okayama and Kagawa prefectures in Japan across a series of five small islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
This fascinating theater, the oldest kabuki theater in Japan, boasts a manually operated revolving stage and trap doors to allow actors access to various parts of the stage.
Yashima, in the city of Takamatsu, is flat-topped peninsula has a long history, because of the Battle of Yashima in 1185. You can drive up to the top and visit Yashima Temple and enjoy the spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea.
KOTOHIRA KADAN
1241-5 Kotohira-choNakatado-gunKagawa PrefJapan