Nishimuraya Honkan

"Nishimuraya Honkan is mentioned as a hotel with a Key distinction, located in Toyooka, Japan." - The MICHELIN Guide

"The oldest ryokan are the oldest existing hotels, and their formula — traditional materials, tranquil seclusion, hot spring onsen baths, ceremoniously prepared meals — is as good now as it ever was." - The MICHELIN Guide

"Two hours from Kyoto, in the little spa town of Kinosaki Onsen, Nishimuraya Honkan builds its reputation on spectacular execution of the historical hallmarks that define a ryokan. Not to say it eschews electricity or other such modern comforts — this is a luxury boutique hotel, without question. It just happens to be a luxury boutique hotel whose charms are best experienced from the floor." - Mitchell Friedman

"The charming seaside town of Kinosaki Onsen, home to Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei, lies 2.5 hours northwest of Kyoto, and is set along the willow-lined Otani-gawa River. The eighth-century town’s seven mystical-feeling onsen each have their own individual appeal, and it’s common to hear the sound of wooden geta sandals on the pavement, worn by visitors who are hopping from onsen to onsen. Nishimuraya has two properties: the new Hotel Shogetsutei, and the older Honkan, which has 32 rooms, some built in the Sukiya style modeled after tea houses, with wooden terraces, sliding screens, and big windows facing Japanese gardens with karikomi, sculpted shrubs and trees. The private onsen at Nishimuraya Hotel Shogetsutei are the most dramatic in town. They look out onto a 30-acre mountain forest and are ideal for families who want privacy, or tattooed travelers who can’t access the hotel’s normal onsen." - Keith Flanagan, Sanjay Surana, Jennifer Flowers, Adam H. Graham

"A classic ryokan that works tirelessly to preserve tradition while maintaining a standard of excellence to rival any contemporary luxury boutique hotel." - Mark Fedeli