Hotel berhampiran Sakuramotobo, Yoshino

This was my 6th visit to the Ryokan. And somehow my older review does not appear anymore. Time for an update. When I accompany family members and friends for their first visit to Japan I always choose this place. Admittedly back in 2008 the service was a bit more refined, there was more staff, it have been hard times for the hospitality world, and the great pine tree at the small onsen also died. But the total experience is still wonderful. I ask for the retoro rooms : in the old building. May be a bit noisy if you have bad luck as the walls are paper thin. No private bathroom as was standard in the old days. But beautiful painted sliding doors, view of the garden and the (endless) mountains behind. During peak cherry tree blossom season this year (2023) there was additional staff that was fluent in English. They made every effort to adjust for one the party members who had trouble with food he was not used to. And then there is the village … Take your time. If your budget allows is stay for at least two nights, better even three. Make sure you explore thoroughly : even the valley next to the main temple : go down all the stairs, enjoy th

The ryokan is located quite far from the ropeway. Carrying your luggage and walking uphill to reach the ryokan is not that pleasant experience. Finding a taxi during the cherry blossoms season is also not easy. However, their rooms truly offer a spectacular view!

金峯山寺に観光・信仰にくるための宿。 寺まで急坂なので，健脚が必要。 車で行くと，6km10分かかる。 金峯山寺は，金儲けがうまく，新宗教のような雰囲気を持つ寺だ。 心霊科学 psychical research の研究によれば，仏も，霊も存在しないのだから，仏教を信仰するのは，ばかげている。 宿の料理は，奈良県の食材をうまく使っている。 しかし，やや甘さが勝ち過ぎているようだ。 かつての文豪たちのように，桜の咲く季節に，10日くらい滞在すれば，歴史的宗教的に，興味深いかも。 金も必要だが。

My wife and I spent our first two nights in Japan at Yukawaya. This was our first real holiday since Covid and we couldn’t have found a better way to kick it off! The ryokan is charming in every sense. We stayed in the new rooms with a balcony and outdoor onsen bathtub overlooking a serene and green valley. The room was spacious and in traditional Japanese style but, unlike many other traditional ryokans, also had all the amenities for modern travellers. The new extension also has a public bath with outdoor onsen pool which is open to the public only for a few hours everyday and the hotel guests can use them in almost privacy the rest of the day. The family run ryokan has been around for generations but they have kept it in perfect conditions. More important than the facilities is the warm and charming hospitality by the family. Not only were they extremely helpful from the moment we arrived, explaining about the best way to take in Yoshinoyama in English, but they truly made us feel welcomed by taking very good care of us. When my wife decided to skip breakfast one morning with an upset stomach, the lady cooked the tea rice more softly than usual for me to bring back to the room for her. Last but not least is the delicious cuisine served for dinner and breakfast. All the ingredients are from local sources. And even though they were presented in very elaborate kaiseki-like manner, we felt like we were eating a fine meal at someone’s home and not any restaurant. We can’t wait to return again, hopefully to catch the famous cherry blossom!

奈良區，整獨棟斤1200平，每天衹接待一組客人。地鐵大和上市站會派有專車來接（這個站名就太吉利），不做攻略臨時預訂的我們幸運地被總廚帶到一家百年手工醬油坊。這個大大的驚喜使我們喜出望外，醬油店老闆特別耐心，有問必答，試嚐了幾款醬油後，就算行李超重我也決定搬回去。在去酒店的路上，一路有人釣魚，有高聳的樹林，有蟲鳴鳥叫，還有一座櫻木神社。遙想着隨之將臨的紅葉季與櫻花季，想想就太美太嚮往了。⚠️吉野山的櫻花季可是漫山遍野的櫻花，是日本最著名的賞櫻勝地。酒店提供4種語言接待，日語，普通話，英語，法語。在你預訂後，便會收到酒店確認和詳細接送訊息，為您配備專業翻譯。酒店主題“將軍”“夫人”“忍者”體驗，將軍服足足7公斤多（需提親預約）。也可預約陶藝製作，請專業的師傅來酒店教授。當然還可拍攝將軍主題電影作為留念。有需要的話店家可幫預約國寶級演出，整個舞台專業震撼。當然這得提前半年至一年以上預約啦。酒店每天衹接待一組客人，可朋友一起入住，最大承接量10位。我們預訂了酒店的早餐和晚餐，總廚是位日式西式結合的跨界懷石料理帥大師。他會自己種植蔬菜，自己調配專屬醬汁，每一道菜都儘量還原食物的本味。他會根據時令採摘他的蔬菜也會根據客人口味調整菜單。更會提供當地稀有清酒供您選擇，絕對值得嘗試。餐後還可以獨立露天泡澡，仰望星空，太愜意。回到房間更是有舒適的大床，有興致的話還可以在地下室酒窖一醉方休。早上醒來，簡單梳洗，匠人級帥大廚便遞上暖心的早餐，每一道都精緻美味，大大的滿足。早飯後，可以由工作人員帶着進山看瀑布，也可以自己鄉間散步放空。特別記錄：本酒店老闆從事醫療行業發展，對於酒店經營更多程度上來説衹是他的情懷。他願意將日本文化推廣給世界各地朋友，也願意提供一等一的入住與飲食文化體驗，這裏絕對值得來體驗。感謝，這次入住太滿意，下次我們一定再來，一定提前預約，來一次最完美的邂逅。

今回吉野山の桜を目的に宿泊しました。桜自体は例年に比べて開花がかなり遅かったために見ることはかないませんでしたが、こちらの宿泊施設自体は素晴らしかったです。吉野神宮駅からすぐで吉野山を目的なら一駅なのでアクセスは素晴らしいです。吉野神宮駅は無人駅で飲食店は2-3あるだけですが、吉野には和食系のお店が昼間には結構あります。宿からタクシーで中千本まで行って歩いて下る方式が時間的にも・体力的にも一番おすすめだと思います。建物自体は古民家ではあるのですが、中は完全にリノベされていてとても快適です。今回3名のみの滞在でしたが、人数が多ければ割安になると思います。来年以降また桜の時期にトライしたいと思います。

The host, Ms. Murakami (if my memory serves me right) was really accommodating. For a solo traveller, the inn was more than comfortable, with equipped shared kitchen and clean bathroom and shower. And close to Yamato-Kamiichi station too!