Hyakurakuso

“Real Japanese culture”

Perfectly I can have a experience of real Japanese culture. Food. Garden sightseeing. Next time I hope to stay in this place. Maybe this is rokan Japanese style accomodation. Very nice and calm place. Food is called Kaicecki that full course Japanese traditional fod.

“Beautiful location ”

We had a 3 night stay at this luxury ryokan on Noto Peninsula. We hired a car in Kanazawa and it took about 2.5 hours to drive to the remote spot on the Noto coast. The views over the calm inlet are so beautiful and this is the perfect place to relax and unwind. It’s a modern resort, so lacks the c… more

We had a 3 night stay at this luxury ryokan on Noto Peninsula. We hired a car in Kanazawa and it took about 2.5 hours to drive to the remote spot on the Noto coast. The views over the calm inlet are so beautiful and this is the perfect place to relax and unwind. It’s a modern resort, so lacks the charm of some older buildings but it also means the rooms and balconies are designed to enjoy the view. There were a few lovely and unusual touches, such as a choice if pretty yukata designs for women and fresh fruit and Japanese sweets in the room. The food was amazing - the most beautiful presentation and very plentiful, not surprisingly with a focus on fish and seafood. We ate breakfast and dinner in both the dockside dining room and in the 1st floor private rooms. There didn’t seem to be the option to choose- we were allocated a location for each meal. It would have been nice to have had one of the private dining rooms on the water but we weren’t given one during our stay. Perhaps if we had spoken Japanese, we could have asked. Staff here speak less English than at other places we have stayed, so communication was limited. There are 3 options for taking a bath. We particularly enjoyed the private baths, which can be reserved for a 50 min slot. The only downside was difficulty getting a slot as there are only 2 and they were very popular. We managed to have 2 visits over the 3 days. The other baths swap between men and women at different times of the day. Both were nice but we liked the cave bath best as the individual hot tubs were outside. The view from the scenic bath was blurred due to the steamy windows. There is a lovely little walk from the ryokan, down a flight of steps from the car park. It is a nature trail, with the path a series of stepping stones in the sea. They have a map at reception but it would be hard to get lost as you just follow the shore. There are also comfy seats down by the water, so you can relax enjoying the peace and the wonderful view.

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“A Beautiful Escape to the Countryside”

Hyakurakuso is deep in the Ishikawa countryside, sitting on a bluff above one of the 100 bays below. The inn is beautiful, intimate, private, and exactly what someone with a hectic schedule needs as an antidote! Our room had a private hot spring bath, and while dinners and breakfasts were not ser… more

Hyakurakuso is deep in the Ishikawa countryside, sitting on a bluff above one of the 100 bays below. The inn is beautiful, intimate, private, and exactly what someone with a hectic schedule needs as an antidote! Our room had a private hot spring bath, and while dinners and breakfasts were not served in the room, we were always shown to a private room, including one morning in a sort of gazebo on the water. Simply wonderful. Also, women are offered a choice of yukatas, all of them beautiful, and my wife enjoyed her daily selections. The service was excellent, the inn was spotlessly clean, the food was delicious (quantities were a tad excessive, but never mind!). The inn is located in an area where a guest can take a number of short hikes to enjoy the wonderful views and great area. On top of this, the ryokan offered a cave bath (women and men share the bath at different times), a couple of family baths -- one reserves an hour and enjoys a larger bath with a grand view, and a public bath that is simply beautiful beyond words. Hyakurakuso will pick up guests, but if you rent a car and drive to the hotel, the inn offers you a discount. Nice touch! Also, the hotel has something called a "Cave Bar" -- depending on the guest's package, you may be allowed to consume as many drinks as you wish free of additional charges. Also, fishing gear is available, and if you are lucky enough to catch a fish, the hotel will cook it for you. Wow.

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“Expected more”

Access is difficult as it is in a remote area. I took a flight from Tokyo which is the easiest option but once you land it’s still an hour away. Both buses and taxies were cash only. My bus left when I went to the ATM to withdraw cash. I managed to get on my bus at last with the help of another bus… more

Access is difficult as it is in a remote area. I took a flight from Tokyo which is the easiest option but once you land it’s still an hour away. Both buses and taxies were cash only. My bus left when I went to the ATM to withdraw cash. I managed to get on my bus at last with the help of another bus. You should use a taxi when coming instead. Arrival experience was subpar and service mostly was mediocre to rude which is a shame since there a few exceptional staff here. They retrieved my phone which I lost on the bus for which I am very grateful for. Checking in took a long time and English was limited. The view in my room wasn’t as good as advertised, and there were no onsen or balcony. I was not impressed with the dinner at all. It was definitely one of my worst ryokan dinners ever. The breakfast was equally a let down. Once, the waitress even accidentally splashed water into my food and didn’t notice. Coffee at breakfast was for a fee which felt like nickel and diming. The hotel was small but housed 26 rooms. The best ryokans have less than 15 rooms to feel more personal. There is not much to do during the day. Trails around the water was closed and there is a very long walkway if you want to walk outside the hotel. The area was dead. On my departure day, I could only take a shared taxi very early to the airport since I didn’t have enough cash and there is no ATM on site or anywhere near. I did enjoy the cave bath, the various baths and the pier very much. Ameneties inside the room was lacking. They didn’t have any skin care, the toothbrush was rough and there was only one towel. All of the yukatas have a stench of sweat. The ryokan felt very old and tired. And for the price it charges, there are far better options. The guests are mostly older, domestic clientele but didn’t look wealthy. If you are a first time visitor to Japan, I don’t think coming here is necessary as it is hard to reach.

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