Jukaitei

“Highly rated and good food ”

Highly rated it and recommend because the service is excellent - very warmth service and friendly. A small cozy inn without onsen however they provide you with bath salt you can use in your tub. The inn is highly recommended if you are there in summer as it has good sunset views. The food is very g… more

Highly rated it and recommend because the service is excellent - very warmth service and friendly. A small cozy inn without onsen however they provide you with bath salt you can use in your tub. The inn is highly recommended if you are there in summer as it has good sunset views. The food is very good and even better than some of the top ryokans as well.

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“Leave the hordes of tourist in Central Kyoto behind, and enjoy this wonderful ryokan”

Fine print: Having lived in Japan in the past (for some six years), and now frequently visit several times a year from NYC for pleasure, I’ve stayed in literally hundreds of ryokans throughout Japan at every conceivable price point, from inexpensive to insanely ridiculous. Wifey loves them, so we o… more

Fine print: Having lived in Japan in the past (for some six years), and now frequently visit several times a year from NYC for pleasure, I’ve stayed in literally hundreds of ryokans throughout Japan at every conceivable price point, from inexpensive to insanely ridiculous. Wifey loves them, so we often visit them. You know that old saying…’happy wife, happy life’ so ryokans, here we come! Keep in mind though, that this review is written by someone who is not a tourist, and not overwhelmed and blown away by everything they see in Japan. After being in Japan for awhile you basically cut through the hype and learn what’s real, and what is not. Personally, I’ve always held (based on my experiences there), that ryokans generally don’t represent good value for the money unless there’s an onsen component (in-room onsen, for example), and even then, there are tons of them which price out to equal or exceeding some of the best hotels in New York or London. That’s a lot to sleep on the floor in a bare-boned room, but that's a discussion for another time. Lets just get to the review… Let me start by first saying that Jukaitei is one of those places I would categorize as a ‘modern ryokan’ in that there is certainly little that is ‘traditional’ about it, BUT, in spite of the above lukewarm intro concerning ryokans, I have to say …WOW, this place is fabulous, and our stay was just wonderful in every way. It is definitely one of my favorite J-inns in Japan. I just love the place! And you know us native New Yorkers…we don’t impress very easily. On a whim to celebrate a BD, wifey and I found ourselves on a flight from JFK bound for Japan. Our destination was Kyoto…but to also get OUT of Central Kyoto as quickly as possible. We were looking for peace and tranquility…a seldom had commodity in Kyoto with its hordes of temple-touring lunatics. Somehow Jukaitei was picked (I honestly don’t remember how it was selected), and I can report that I had a wonderful stay there. First, the location; it is quite some distance from Central Kyoto, some 2 hours north by densha (train). The distance is either a plus or minus, depending on your perspective. Jukaitei is an excellent respite when you just want some peace and quiet. Thankfully, they will pick you up from the local eki (train station), as it’s about a 25-30 min drive to their place. Throughout the drive you’re rewarded with nice views of the ocean on your left side, and mountain landscapes on your right. Upon arrival you’ll find yourself in a small yet comfortable lobby. There are a few gift items for sale and a few places to sit. You get the immediate impression of it being a very personal place, eschewing the mega-chain Western mentality. Jukaitei is indeed a tiny place, with around ten rooms or so. Apparently they used to have all Japanese styled rooms, but recently added some regular western beds as an option. Having slept on the floor enough in my life when I lived in Japan, we opted for the western beds (a much more comfortable option…trust me on this one). When we were shown to our room I was surprised with how beautiful it was. Very spacious and well appointed (for a Japanese room), and in command of a beautiful view. The bedroom, sitting area, and bathroom…all just perfect. Take a look at the pics of the room, and I’m sure that you’ll agree that it’s very nice. The chairs situated by the windows invite you to just slow down, sit back, and just admire the view. The western beds were firm and comfy, and we both slept like babies. Unfortunately they gave us twins, but the bed(s) were large enough for both wifey and I to sleep together. It was just fine. For dinner we went to the small, but nice restaurant…and it was there that I seriously had my mind blown. As it was crab season we opted for one of the crab based meal packages, and it was just ‘off the hook’ in every conceivable way. You’re served a large whole crab, and you can have it in a number of ways, from sashimi to grilled. Without exaggeration it was one of the best crab experiences in my life. If you’ve never had raw crab legs (obviously the crab must be super fresh), then you’ve got to have it. It has a melt in your mouth quality that will send you into a culinary orgasm. Although the crab was the star of the show, the entire dinner was just superb. Superb. Everything was so well prepared and tasty, going beyond just the usual artful presentation, but instead was ‘presentation with a purpose’ that being to delight your palette. I cannot say enough about the culinary artistry displayed at Jukaitei. As a hardcore foodie who is at home in the best restaurants in NYC, and doesn’t hesitate to travel to another part of the world to sample a specific dish or restaurant, I was just blown away. In terms of the individual dishes themselves, I cannot properly describe everything that we had, but take a look at the pictures. Though they do no real justice, you can at least get an idea. Later that night we had a nice BD cake, and enjoyed it with coffee while relaxing in our room. Not to rest on its laurels as a one trick pony, the asa gohan (breakfast) the next day was very impressive, and I’m not even a fan of ‘Japanese breakfasts’. Overall, I had a wonderful experience at Jukaitei, and would return in a heartbeat. In fact, I can almost guarantee that we’ll be back. Keep in mind, like most J-Inns, there’s not a whole lot to do there…but that’s also part of the draw, being able to slow down and do nothing but reconnect with your loved one. Sometimes it’s wonderful to be ‘off the grid’ for a bit, don’t you think? If you desire to get out of town and have a truly tranquil stay, I would recommend Jukaitei in a second. Just go and enjoy! Hope this review helps.

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“Just What We Wanted. Rates a 5 Across the Board”

Jukaitei has just 8 bedrooms, but all of them have a beautiful view along the coast. This is a perfect hotel to relax in after the bustle of Kyoto. We caught the train to Amino, and the shuttle bus collected us when the train arrived at 15.00. So there is no need to have a car. We opted for a "w… more

Jukaitei has just 8 bedrooms, but all of them have a beautiful view along the coast. This is a perfect hotel to relax in after the bustle of Kyoto. We caught the train to Amino, and the shuttle bus collected us when the train arrived at 15.00. So there is no need to have a car. We opted for a "western style" room, and found it very comfortable. The view along the coast is also available from the bathtub! The food in the restaurant was also very good. We opted for the Japanese meals, but some western dishes were also available. The front desk and restaurant staff were delightful. Our waitress made an oragami imperial crane for my wife. We went for a walk along to coast to the village and had a good lunch in one of the local restaurants. Jukaitei is a great place to relax and sample some Japanese cuisine.

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“Ryokan with a beautiful sea view”

It was a long drive. We were tired. We had our doubts. But once we found the place, we were treated to fabulous food and warm hospitality. This ryokan was a steal compared to prices commanded by other ryokans. And like most ryokans in Japan, the rooms and toilets were clean and this one was especia… more

It was a long drive. We were tired. We had our doubts. But once we found the place, we were treated to fabulous food and warm hospitality. This ryokan was a steal compared to prices commanded by other ryokans. And like most ryokans in Japan, the rooms and toilets were clean and this one was especially spacious. During dinner, The owner of the ryokan I believe, personally came to talk to us although he doesn't speak any English. He was quite proud that he caught the sea snails personaly that were served on our plate! And of course the view of the Sea of Japan was beautiful. Perfect place to get away from it all, for a day or two. With that all being said, there's not much to see in the town of Kyotango. So if you are looking for action, it's not the place for you.

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