Ryouriryokan Asahikan

We traveled around Japan for three weeks, but our stay at Asahikan was definitely the highlight of our trip. It was three wonderful days of amazing Michelin-level food, hot baths and relaxing in yukata - surrounded by an interior architectural gem. Asahikan is easily accessible from Osaka and Kyoto - a short train ride followed by a short bus/taxi ride. We took the taxi, which was very cheap and easy. You get incredible value for your money - the place is beautifully decorated and well maintained, the hosts are warm and friendly, and the food is absolutely amazing. We ate traditional Japanese food with a focus on local ingredients, and got to try many of the dishes we wanted to try during our Japan trip. On the last day we were allowed to make our own wishes for the main course. The hosts were very nice - they gave us tips on things to do in the area and showed us how they grow shiitake. There are many nice places to walk nearby, for example we went to a beautiful temple in the forest and found a pond along the river where we took a refreshing bath. There were also several beautiful cherry trees in the area if you want to see them in bloom. There are few guests at a time, which makes for a quiet and luxurious stay. This place is truly a hidden gem.

If you are looking for a traditional Japanese guest house, look no further than Asahikan. This was one of the most authentic and memorable stays of my trip to Japan. This historic house is approximately 150 years old and is run by the 6th-generation owner. It has been meticulously maintained, with beautiful traditional decoration and exceptional cleanliness throughout. The location is in Kawakami Village, about a 30–40 minute drive from Yamato-Kamiichi Station, which makes it very quiet and peaceful. Transportation requires a bit of planning, especially on Sundays when there is no public bus service. I took a taxi to reach the property, and on my return the owner kindly arranged a taxi for me, which made everything very smooth. The room was very well prepared, and staying in a tatami room while wearing yukata truly added to the experience. The staff were warm, welcoming, and attentive. The highlight was the meals. Both dinner and breakfast were carefully prepared using fresh local ingredients, including river fish and wild boar. The presentation and quality made it a true cultural experience. Overall, I highly recommend Asahikan to anyone looking for a genuine and peaceful traditional Japanese stay.

Our first vacation in Japan was concluded by the extraordinary stay at Asahikan. This family run ryokan is one of a kind with a fantastic owner and staff that continues the magic of Japanese hosting culture. This gems hidden in the mountains has been running for over 150 years and we understand why as our stay was absolutely memorable. We stayed 3 nights with our two 6 years old daughters which almost believed to be in a fairy tale and kept on looking for Totoro their favorite movie. The owner went the extra mile by getting Totoro cups and souvenirs for our girls. The girls will never forget their first visit of Japan thanks to this extraordinary customer care. The room was large enough for us 4 and super clean and well maintained. The food was amazing. The staff and chef (who is the owner and his family) made us discover all traditional Japanese food with local touch with speciality of the region and freshly caught and brought for the breakfast and diner. Once again truly amazing. We went there to rest and do some hiking in the area. There is multiple shrive and temple near by to explore and walk. For even better view the owner suggested us to take a bus and go to the Odaigahara national park to do some hiking in a unesco recognized park. Again a fantastic suggestion by the owner. I would recommend Asahikan 1000 time ove to whoever wants to discover Japan at its finest and enjoy nature, quite places and hiking.

It was a great place to stay, the owners were accommodating and made sure it was comfortable for us. Traditional style Japanese lodging that has been in the family 6 generations!

Our stay at the inn was incredible and one of the best parts of our Japan trip. First of all, the inn itself is beautiful and very relaxing to stay at with its beautiful rooms and stunning Japanese garden – we really enjoyed looking at the view of the garden from our room. The host was super helpful and amazing! He was incredibly kind, and went out of his way to show us some of the beautiful natural attractions of the area. He made it feel like a second home in Japan. The food at the inn was just as great as the rest of the inn, with different traditional food experiences. The host made vegetarian food especially for one of us, which was just as delicious. The food is definitely the best traditional food we had on our Japan trip. So all in all we really can’t recommend it enough! It was an incredible experience on all counts, and we especially appreciated the hospitality and kindness of the host. Can’t wait to come back for our next Japan trip!