Iwaso

“Stunning tranquil location and warm hospitality”

This beautiful ryokan is a short walk/shuttle bus ride from the ferry terminal. As soon as you arrive, you're greeted by the friendly staff. Our daughter unfortunately became unwell during our stay and they were very caring and considerate, and at least one front desk staff member speaks fluent Eng… more

This beautiful ryokan is a short walk/shuttle bus ride from the ferry terminal. As soon as you arrive, you're greeted by the friendly staff. Our daughter unfortunately became unwell during our stay and they were very caring and considerate, and at least one front desk staff member speaks fluent English. You are assigned a staff member who explains the features of your accommodation and pours a cup of tea; I didn't catch the name of the young woman who helped us during our stay but she was absolutely lovely. The whole ryokan is a photographer's dream; everywhere you look there is greenery and historic buildings. It's wonderful to wander around at night when the lanterns are lit, occasionally passing by local deer. One thing to note is that the 'traditional rooms don't have a shower or bath, so you go over and wash before your onsen. Also, you'll be sleeping on futon which are very comfortable but something to note if you have joint issues. The meals are also traditional and beautifully prepared and presented, but it's a short trip into town if you want to eat something else. We had a great time here and it was so relaxing after several busy days in Kyoto. Thank you Iwaso!

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“Good Experience in Great location”

Stayed here two nights for an authentic experience. Staff excellent, location very good and close to cable car. Accommodation was comfortable, but a little let down by the dated bathroom. Food in traditional style was "interesting", tried everything only a couple of things left. Was a bit con… more

Stayed here two nights for an authentic experience. Staff excellent, location very good and close to cable car. Accommodation was comfortable, but a little let down by the dated bathroom. Food in traditional style was "interesting", tried everything only a couple of things left. Was a bit concerned that the second dinner was going to be the same as the first as menu said "October" rather than the day itself but that proved not to be the case. With hindsight one night would have been enough. As a westerner having coffee in the room would have been nice, only tea was supplied.

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“Iwaso Japan Miyajima Visit”

Beautiful property on a beautiful island steeped in history. Staff was friendly and meals outstanding. Our recommendation for improvement would be to consider newer futons as these were abit hard in comparison to other ryokans we stayed in during our wonderful Japan visit!

“Heritage ryokan with a private bath”

We decided to splurge for our one night on Miyajima and chose one of Iwaso's cottage rooms with a private indoor bath. Founded in 1854, the ryokan has serious heritage, is beautifully maintained, and the staff are generally very friendly. They offer a free shuttle from the ferry terminal, but we ch… more

We decided to splurge for our one night on Miyajima and chose one of Iwaso's cottage rooms with a private indoor bath. Founded in 1854, the ryokan has serious heritage, is beautifully maintained, and the staff are generally very friendly. They offer a free shuttle from the ferry terminal, but we chose to walk on arrival and used the transfer on the way back. One small irritation: given we had booked one of the most expensive rooms in the house, it was a bit surprising that the young staff member showing us in didn't really know the cottage. She was visibly confused about why the connecting door was open — turns out the cottage can be divided into two separate rooms, and our booking included both, with two living areas. She also forgot to show us the private bath, and only later came running back to ask about turndown timing and which of the two rooms we wanted the futons laid out in. A small thing, but at this price point you'd expect a more polished introduction. A coffee maker and a small fridge were provided. The private indoor hot bath was wonderful, but the public baths are well worth a visit too, as they draw from a natural hot spring, which is a rarity on the island. And because it's an old wooden building, I had one of my best nights of sleep in a long time. A practical note: we didn't book dinner at Iwaso. Worth knowing that Miyajima is essentially a day-trip destination, so once the last ferries leave, only a handful of restaurants stay open in the evening, so plan ahead. If you enjoy traditional ryokans, Iwaso is a must!

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