Sake Hotel Tamakiya

I visit here every year to enjoy the marriage of French cuisine and wine. The food, made with local seasonal ingredients, is gentle and light, and I can finish every course without feeling heavy on my stomach. The service and hot springs are both comfortable, and it's worth the four-hour drive to this inn.

I was soothed by everything, from the hot springs to the cozy room, high-quality bed, exciting dinner and wine pairing, and comforting breakfast! The welcome sweets and complimentary water in the fridge were both delicious. I also realized how delicious the local ingredients are, something I hadn't noticed even though I live in the area. They have helped me make a part of my daily life! I'll come back!

We enjoyed the pairing of French cuisine with Japanese sake. French cuisine does not use much butter or cream, so it paired well with Japanese sake. We were able to taste rare sakes such as Kamenoo, and felt the potential of Japanese sake. The hot spring water was 88 degrees and flowed directly from the source, and we thoroughly enjoyed the medicinal baths.

I first booked in the winter of 2017, and have stayed here once a year ever since. Matsunoyama Onsen has a unique smell that is different from sulfur, and as it is said to be a medicinal bath, it has excellent efficacy. Of course, there is a large public bath, but I would recommend staying in a room with a private open-air bath. You can soak as much as you like, right after checking in, before or after dinner, or after waking up. I ask for pairings every time I have dinner, and the first drink I had on this day was a sparkling arrangement of craft sake made from strawberries and rice. One of the great things about staying at this inn is learning a slightly unusual way to enjoy alcohol. The dishes, which make use of seasonal, local ingredients, are so exciting that just looking at them makes you feel like it would be a shame to eat them. The playful amuse-bouches in particular are so cute that you will want to take photos from various angles. Every time I visit, I realize that the combination of food and alcohol, which is only possible because of the ingenious dishes, the extensive lineup of sake, and the sense of the sake masters, is unique to Tamakiya. I hadn't written a review until now because I wanted to keep it a secret, but I was touched by their energetic attitude of wanting to promote the local area through their appearances in magazines and on social media, so I decided to write a review. This is a special hot spring inn where you can experience the changing seasons with your eyes and tongue. Please come and visit us!