Mukayu

Location

Overlooking the town of Yamashiro, an hour from the cultural centre of Kanazawa, Mukayu is another design masterpiece, both preserving and enhancing the Ryokan concept. Surrounded by a wonderful Japanese garden which also houses various art pieces by famous artists, you will feel immediately at peace when you arrive at the site of the very famous and ancient temple that stood on this spot 1300 years ago.

Rooms

There are 17 rooms, and 3 main types plus the special room called “Wakamurasaki”. The 3 key categories are Western (2 rooms), Japanese/ Western (7) and Japanese only style (7). Such is the demand for Japanese style, the Western rooms come in cheapest and the Japanese arrangment really is an experience not to be missed, the futon style incredibly comfortable.

As with all Japanese Ryokan's the rooms are very minimalist but with Mukayu you get the extra design touches and added features like a hammock slung across your balcony. All rooms have TV, air-conditioning and heating, mini bar, bathroom with shower and of course, an outdoor hot spring all to yourself in Rotenburo style.

Aside to the entrance hallway, there is a luggage room, sitting room (where you will eat and sleep) and another sitting area overlooking the balcony, all divided by beautiful paper sliding doors.

Dining

Japanese restaurants at any level rarely disappoint and the Mukayu's fayre is another culinary revelation. Dinner is no less than 14 courses and every dish is sensational, some prepared and cooked in front of you by your maid or butler on tiny barbecues or hot pots.

Breakfast is either Japanese or European continental, but either is excellent.

Spa / Onsen

This hotel is blessed with both natural Onsen and a great little Spa with probably the most fascinating water feature at its entrance, designed to demonstrate the purity of the water here.

There are communal baths (1 indoor and 1 outdoor Rotenburo style) for both men and women or you can just soak in the comfort of your own private Onsen which every room has on its balcony.

The Spa itself is an homage to minimalism and the treatment menu reflects this. They stick to what they know here and the signature treatment is a herb ball massage where they use different herbs according to your current condition, heat them in muslin, and then after an gentle oil massage, apply to your body. A 1 hour treatment will take you 1 and a half with all the little extras they give.

There is also daily yoga in the “Horin” (square forest) on the Spa level, which looks out over the Japanese garden. It's an excellent meditation space and again, unique design.

Overall

Aside to Mukayu being a design classic, it offers very high end service (a maid or butler will be assigned to you on arrival) combined with excellent Onsen and fine dining. Kanazawa is under and hour away and is an excellent cultural centre to explore some of Japan's finest museums and art collections, the area becoming and remaining very wealthy through years of excellent rice production during the Shogun era. The mountains are not far away and good skiing can be had with a 1 hour drive. As a spiritual retreat it also has masses to offer with its yoga program Spa and location on this ancient sacred site.

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