Genmyoan

“Phenomenal modern rooms with in-room onsen”

The Ryokan is up a steep uphill brick road. The drop off area was small and narrow. The ryokan is perched at the side of a hill with views of the bay and the famous sandbar, Amanohashidate. First impression was that the ryokan was traditional with some modern touches. Some English was spoken. The S… more

The Ryokan is up a steep uphill brick road. The drop off area was small and narrow. The ryokan is perched at the side of a hill with views of the bay and the famous sandbar, Amanohashidate. First impression was that the ryokan was traditional with some modern touches. Some English was spoken. The Staff welcome you and a kimono clad member looks after you throughout your stay; much like your personal butler. Room Our room was one of two modern rooms at this ryokan. Ours was the larger room - Kongo. There is another smaller room with just the bedroom and bathroom (Nyoi) Our room had a small study, tatami-living room, large bathroom, and a modern bedroom with two single beds and a large couch. The Beds were very comfortable with a thick quilt. Rooms were all air conditioned rooms and the Floor was heated throughout. Room lights were controlled via remote controller (one for bedroom and one for living room). There’s a Nespresso machine and Japanese tea bags, plus an assortment of tea cups, glasses and long-stem wine glasses for red and white wines. A Kettle is provided. Wines and alcohol chargeable, while soft drinks come with the room. WiFi can be received in the room. There’s a Blue-tooth radio speakers and a VCD player. A Flat screen TV is hung on the wall in front of the L-shaped couch; but it features mostly local Japanese stations. Japanese Snacks were brought to our room by staff during the evening tea time. There were Modern touches in the room, including design lamps for bed time reading. Iced Water and torch lights were placed on our bed head at night. The bed-head also had plug points for charging mobile devices. A small toilet is near the bedroom, opposite the walk-in closet (complete with his and hers changing areas). Japanese yukuta are provided if you wish to go to the spa or to wear it to dinner. Dinner and breakfast can either be served in room or at a designated private dining room. Bathroom Our room came with a huge bathroom area. A Narrow entryway /walkway with another toilet on the left, followed by his and hers sinks with three sets of fluffy robes, towels and hand towels and more than enough face towels. Cardboard boxed Bars of soaps, small bottles body gel and body moisturizer are provided around the sink area. In the three drawers, we found various amenities such as “Good Morning” towels, rough wash cloth, toothbrushes, combs, amenity package (Q-tips, facial wipes, shower cap), and shaving kits. The Sink is large, but there’s no stopper if you wish to wash your clothes. A powerful Dyson hair dryer is provided. There’s a Walk-in rain-shower; which is more than a drizzle, less than a deluge. Large bottles of shower gel, shampoo and conditioner are provided. In the same space is a large sunken bath already filled with water heated to 50 degrees Celsius. Temperature of tub water can be controlled from controls at the bath room entrance. The Bathroom smells strongly of cedar wood and is totally relaxing. Lying in the bath, watching the windows steam up, one gets easily lost in one’s thoughts. An Outdoor tub is also pre-heated using the electronic controls. We found it very tranquil to lie in the bath and listen to the rain or the trains go clickity-clack down below, or the waves wash in from the bay. Funnily enough, we did not feel cold traipsing out after our shower. The Living room has traditional tatami flooring with a low dining table and chairs. Further towards the window, a pair of low chairs share a low coffee table, and over-look the bay. There’s a small study area with a couple of chairs. Food Snow crab was in season. Our omakase meal featured snow crabs in almost all the dishes. Deliciously done snow crab in sashimi, grilled, cold, and porridge. Service was consistent and kept pace with our speed of consumption. Breakfast is a choice if either Japanese or western. We had Japanese and again, it was well done and there’s more than enough food for us. On our second day, we had Western breakfast, which was smaller in size but was very filling. Service Service was warm and friendly. Our “butler” could speak some English, but wife had picked up Japanese and got to practice. All staff were on the ball. Example was the bell hops. They came out when we arrived to take charge of our bags. Shoes were taken off in the lobby and staff would put it into a room. (Provided Slippers were worn throughout the ryokan.) When we left for the day, and if it was raining, the staff would have umbrellas ready. Shoes were also ready for us, lined up neatly against the step. Service was warm, caring, and genuine. Other information There’s a Small gift shop and a traditional check-in area in the lobby at ground floor. Onsen located downstairs, and a Small gym next to the onsen. If we needed to head to town, a shuttle bus could bring us down. Amanohashidate station is only about 600m from the hotel but the steep slope up and down can be treacherous. We were based here for two nights. We spent a day going out to “Kyoto by the sea” to see the Funaya boathouses. Our rooms were incredible. We loved it lots and were sad to leave after our short stay. Highly recommended for these modern rooms specifically, the warm and genuine service and the delicious food.

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“Phenomenal location. ”

This is a top class Ryokan in Amanohashidate. It overlooks the bay and ocean. The views are fantastic from every room. We had a room with a private semi open air bath: highly recommended. Their onset is great too. Although one of them would benefit from re-grouting the tub. The staff was extremely… more

This is a top class Ryokan in Amanohashidate. It overlooks the bay and ocean. The views are fantastic from every room. We had a room with a private semi open air bath: highly recommended. Their onset is great too. Although one of them would benefit from re-grouting the tub. The staff was extremely friendly. We enjoyed the dinner and breakfast. The food was outstanding - probably the best food I ever got in Japan. Also to mention is the lounge downstairs. The hotel has a fine selection of music (in form of CDs), which you play while enjoying the view, some books and the free sake. Splendid!!

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“Best traditional ryokan”

I have stayed at Genmyoan several times over the last 25 years, and it gets better and better. The management is now adding larger and more modern rooms, but the Genmyoan tradition goes back more than ten generations. The service, food, and amenities are consistently superb. Guests are cared for in… more

I have stayed at Genmyoan several times over the last 25 years, and it gets better and better. The management is now adding larger and more modern rooms, but the Genmyoan tradition goes back more than ten generations. The service, food, and amenities are consistently superb. Guests are cared for in a graceful way that only the Japanese can do. I've always taken the 2-hour train from Kyoto but I hear that the new highway will get you to Amanohashidate in 90 minutes, so there's no excuse not to go!

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“Overpriced”

I note the raving reviews written by others and feel I should throw in my two cents worth. I agree with what others have said about the location and the service. Both are excellent and the lady who served me breakfast and dinner was wonderful. Service was very good indeed. However, the food was… more

I note the raving reviews written by others and feel I should throw in my two cents worth. I agree with what others have said about the location and the service. Both are excellent and the lady who served me breakfast and dinner was wonderful. Service was very good indeed. However, the food was only average and certainly way below the standard of food I have had at other ryokans which charge less. I am thinking of places like Beniya Mukayu and Yatsusan-kan where I stayed at recently. The room we had was very large with a wonderful view on Amanoshidate but the amenities in the room were somewhat disappointing for the price paid - the towels were of very low quality (equivalent to those at low priced ryokan I have stayed at) as were the soap and shampoo (coming in the large bottles with a syphon like at low priced). I am sorry, but this was just not worth US$1,000 per night. I paid less at Beniya Mukayu and Yatsusan-kan and in both places, the rooms I had were similarly sized with better amenities and had in-room private onsens, the food was much, much better and the service was equally good.

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