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Within walking distance from Mount Mifuneyama, the ryokan “Mifuneyama Kanko Hotel” offers hot spring baths as well as traditional Japanese rooms. It is located about a 5-minute walk from the famous Mifuneyama Rakuen Garden. I would like to share my complete experience in this luxury ryokan with you!
My night at “Mifuneyama Kanko Hotel”
The Hotel in Takeo Onsen
Not only is the ryokan in the ideal location, but after a walk through the Mifuneyama Rakuen garden at the end of the day, I was able to discover some very nice common areas of the hotel that have recently been renovated. The hotel is really spacious. It is composed of two buildings and has 27 rooms. The lobby offers a beautiful view of the lush greenery.
The Room
The room was very large and consisted of two large rooms with a beautiful view of the Japanese garden. It has all the characteristics of traditional Japanese spirit: tatami floor, sliding walls with beautiful paintings, coffee tables, a small alcove (tokonama), tea service, as well as yukata available. It is very nice to have such a large room. We almost thought we were in a Japanese house! During dinner, the staff prepared the futons for us in the room, and the space completely changed! The room also has its own bathroom, a small entrance, and its own separate toilet. All the comforts needed for a good nights rest!
The Dinner
Dinner is often served early in this type of accommodation, from 6.00pm to 7.00pm. They offered us a beautiful space that overlooks the beautiful greenery. The ryokan offers traditional cuisine (kaiseki ryori) composed of traditional meals such as shabu shabu, Saga Wagyu’s steak, steamed beef … It’s up to you to choose. I chose the shabu shabu where the beef is dipped in a sesame sauce once cooked! Everything was very good. In addition to beef, there are a multitude of smaller delicious dishes: miso soup, pickles, rice, sashimi, fish …
The Private Bath
The ryokan has two private baths. Just ask the staff to book them for one hour. That evening, it was a little warm but the bath allowed me to release all of the fatigue of the day. There is always a small room before the bath itself for undressing, as well as a selection of wicker baskets for leaving your personal belongings. After you have undressed and left your items in the baskets, enter the main bathing area, sit on the stool, wash with soap, rinse well with the shower and then plunge into the hot bath to relax.
Tea Room
We unfortunately did not have time to enjoy the tea house because I was going to see the Teamlab team show at Mifuneyama Rakuen garden. But the tea room is a house surrounded by beautiful greenery just next to the hotel. It is exclusively reserved only for guests staying in this hotel, it is open from 20:00 to midnight. I will go next time for sure!
The Public Baths
In addition to the private baths, you can also enjoy the public baths that the ryokan has. There is one for men and one for women. Same principle as private baths for the procedure: wash well before relaxing in the bath. This bath was also nice since it had an inside part and also an outside part!
The Breakfast
Breakfast is traditional Japanese style and served in the same room as dinner. The meals are composed of rice, miso soup, delicious tofu that is cooked in a small stove, fish, pickles, nori, an onsen egg cooked low temperature which is so good. There is also a buffet where you can serve self-service salad, drinks, and rice.
General Information about This Ryokan
Access
- By train: From Takeo onsen station (JR Sasebo line), it take about 7 minutes by taxi.
- By car: Get of the highway at Takeo-Kitagata IC (on the Nagasaki highway ) and continue the route 34 for 12 minutes (5 km).
Price
The price varies from ¥10,700y to ¥26,700 per person which includes dinner and breakfast. For my room, it cost me ¥18,200 per person.
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