Beniya Mukayu

My husband and I knew one thing about our honeymoon in Japan: we absolutely had to experience a ryokan. After spelunking through the many internet options, we landed here—and it was the best decision we made. The staff were infectiously warm and knowledgeable and the space...the space! With magical touches around every corner (tasteful incense, a crackling wood stove, ikebana arrangements, complimentary local tea), it felt like a true retreat from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. There is a stunning moss garden that deserves a stroll (yes, even in the rain) and the gift shop is sublime. We loved having our own onsen and shared many memorable cups of tea by the giant panoramic windows. Truly intentionally crafted stay with the most authentic details. We chose a Japanese style room with futons and slept so soundly. The included yukata are so comfy and allow you to really immerse yourself in the environment (word to the wise: pack fewer clothes than you think!)

Once in a lifetime kind of dream hotel. I don’t think I’ve ever been so clean or slept so well in an accommodation. Everything is well thought out - starting with their own brand of beauty products. In room onsen spectacular and the kaiseki dinner was a special treat after arrival. I would love to return once again but also the cost is kind of expensive.

Incredible in every aspect. The arranged nature walk should not be missed. The town was very accessible and nice to walk around

As a frequent business traveler and Lifetime Marriott Platinum member, we been to many hotels in many different places around the world. This is one of the occasions that we did not use a Marriott hotel. This hotel experience from the traditional Japanese room with private onsen, the food quality and service, art installations on the property, and overall family- oriented accommodations was top notch!

We are Asian Americans and do not speak Japanese, except for hello and thank you, but everyone was very welcoming and there was plenty of English speaking staff. We also appreciate the diversity of the staff, especially during the food service. Overall, a high quality and highly memorable stay!

One of the best experiences of my life, worth every penny!

The peace and calm, the architecture, the food, and most of all, the service and love and care from the owners and staff were truly remarkable. Marta was incredible and professional and warm with emails leading up to our trip, and checking upon all of our needs.

We got some of the best sleep of our life, and thoroughly enjoyed the facilities, the room, the onsen, and massage.

We cannot wait to come here again. Outstanding.

We had an incredible stay at Beniya Mukayu! Our room was very comfortable and the onsen in our room was very relaxing. The gardens are beautiful- you can even do a tour of all the different types of moss in it! The restaurant was exceptional with so many delicious dishes. There is also a very cool modern art exhibit. What made Beniya Mukayu world class was how welcoming the owners (who hosted a private tea ceremony with us) and the staff was. Highly recommend!

I wish there was a 6th star for reviews! My wife and I came here for our honeymoon and it was beyond incredible.
From the location, to the staff, to the food, to the amenities this place has it all.

The location is on the top of a hill in a quaint little hot spring town.
The staff were beyond incredible and probably our favourite part of the trip. Jeff (with the oba juice), Dihn, Wenting (thank you for the gift!), the owners (thank you for the tea ceremony!) and their son who runs the kitchen (apologies for forgetting your name right now!) were the most hospitable people and our every need during our stay.
The food was just incredible, the Japanese breakfasts were such a delight and we could barely eat anything for lunch! The dinners were a tasting menu with a different courses to try every night! The food itself is reason enough to stay.
The amenities were such a surprise and delight. The hotel has a beautiful aesthetic surrounding a beautiful moss covered garden. Our traditional room was so beautiful and the onsen in the room was so relaxing!

I could go on and on about everything here at this hotel. I don't usually write hotel reviews but after our 5 night stay I just had to!

Hopefully see Benyia Mukayu again sometime soon because we will be going back!

Comfortable rooms with private open-air onsen and most impressive - the wonderful dining experience at Restaurant Horin have us returned to Beniya Mukayu. Rooms are of minimalist design, sleek and contemporary yet cosy and comfortable.
The Kaiseki meals were consistently scrumptious and beautiful, plated artfully on wonderful kutani-yaki by Suda Seika and Tzoya Yamamoto to reflect the seasonality. Combined with the exemplary service by Kosuke and his team, meal time (both dinner and breakfast) at Horin was always enjoyable. Not forgetting the delightful sake-pairing too.
Beniya Mukayu is thoughtful, ensuring their guests are well-fed with their delectable Japanese breakfast (with a portion that could last till tea time). After dinner, a set of hosomaki was placed in the room (during turn-down service) for supper.
Do visit their libraries housing various collections of art books.  Anyone who loves kutani-yaki, should check out Tzoya Yamamoto's sometsuke (underglaze blue white ceramics) at their gift-shop or take a trip to the nearby famous Suda Seika Kiln which could be reached by their secret furnicular.

We just checked out this morning and are still on cloud 9. I hesitate to write this review for fear the secret of this magical oasis gets out. Beniya Mukayu is the quintessence of refined Japanese ryokan experience, with absolutely unparalleled hospitality and service. In fact, we just checked into a “5 star hotel” in Kyoto and it pales in comparison in every way. From the tranquility, to the style and attention to detail, and of course, the customer service - Beniya Mukayu is remarkable. The onsen is a one-of-a-kind mountain retreat for those looking for an escape from the bustle and bustle of japans cities. The libraries are like art installations, the moss garden is a sanctuary of peace. We appreciated that the owner herself was there to greet us on our first and last day. We would like to thank the staff (reception/restaurant) that keeps the place running beautifully made our stay what it was. Leaving was hard, made sweeter only because we know we’ll return. 10/10 - Glustrom Family ❤

Our stay at Beniya Mukayu was the highlight of our trip to Japan and it is not surprising that they are a Relais and Chateau hotel. As soon as I stepped into this ryokan, I was greeted by the ultra verdant trees, the inviting scent of incense, and felt relaxed immediately. The whole building is thoughtfully designed by an architect and evokes the peacefulness of a forest retreat. The room was impeccable and beautiful with a private hot spring bath; we particularly enjoyed the Yakushiyama skincare line developed by Mukayu so much that we bought almost everything in the line at the gift shop. The grounds of Beniya rivals the Kokedera temple of Kyoto with the plethora of moss gracing every inch of the forest floor. All the meals at Mukayu from the kaiseki dinner to the Japanese breakfast were delicious and made us feel like we are at a Michelin restaurant. Speaking of Michelin, we were fortunate to have visited Mukayu during their anniversary celebration so Chef Charles Columbeau of Maison dans le Parc (a Michelin restaurant) came to create a collaboration dinner with Mukayu which was a magical experience. The staff at Mukayu was effortlessly kind, especially Mrs. Nakamichi, the okami of Mukayu, who made us feel so welcome that we felt like we were staying in her home instead of a hotel; this is the ultimate way to experience Japanese ‘omotenashi.’ We loved all the staff members we interacted with, and remember Marta, Grace, and Jeff fondly. I highly highly recommend that you visit this ryokan to experience the best of Japanese culture. We are definitely going to come back to Mukayu for sure on our next visit to Japan.

Supremely tranquil place with an modern Japanese ryokan design. This is a great place to relax and unwind.
The staff was really friendly and attentive and made our stay amazing.
Highly recommend!

A really wonderful Ryokan experience which was almost completely ruined by an arrogant Swiss woman who handled our check-in . She was cold borderline rude and had us wait unnecessarily before showing us to our room . The rest of the experience was wonderful.

An exceptional place, with friendly, professional staff, run by two engaged and charismatic owners. This is the best ryokan I've ever stayed in, and one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating hotel experiences I've ever had.

A beautiful hot springs Ryokan resort where each room has a mineral bath to soak in out on a balcony. Service and hospitality was to notch through the whole experience, the food was excellent, and the environment is beautiful and serene. The dining staff were especially great, and showed me how to wear my robe properly, and introduced us to the head chef. The owner was friendly too and teaches a wonderful yoga class in the mornings. My only regret is that we were doing something outside the resort each day we were there. I highly recommend spending one full day here just relaxing! Nearby Kanazawa is a beautiful day trip though. I hope to return someday.

Top hotel, destination and experience overall!
This is a family owned/managed hotel within a serene and tranquil setting. If you want a quiet getaway in luxury - this is the place. It is honest and unpretentious.
The dining experience is one of the top in the world in my humble Kat view. Its superb. In fact I would go back to Japan just to have some of their food again!

Wonderful experience! We stayed in a Japanese Premier Tatami Room and it did not disappoint! Transportation to/from Kagaonsen Station is available so you do not need to worry about finding your own transportation. Staff is very friendly and there are many who can speak English if that is a concern. Our group enjoyed dinner which had a few modifications to the standard offerings to accommodate some general food preferences. Breakfast was also great for both the Japanese and Western offerings. We were also offered to participate in a tea ceremony performed by the owner and were impressed with the more intimate setting vs overcrowded environments elsewhere. While we did not partake, morning yoga was also offered by the owner!

We had a really wonderful two nights here, having caught the train(s) from Tokyo and to Kyoto afterwards. The water and air is fresh, the food and products (e.g. shampoo) used are nourishing and wholesome. The architecture is impressive and minimalist without being non-existent. The town nearby has some sweet places and a good walk. And the staff are lovely and make your stay very comfortable.

Very nice Ryokan. Each room has a private onsen, for the shy types. Both the public baths and garden are accessible 24 hours a day (as we were told). Additionally, both owners met our group at some point in time. The husband performrd the tea ceremony, and the wife held a morning yoga class and also met us at the time of our departure for a group photo. Another reviewer indicated the restaurant was more of a canteen, and groups are close and have no privacy. While there aren't private rooms in the restaurant, there was a good 1 to 1.5 meters between tables. So that is not a concern. It was quite spacious in comparison to restaurants in the major cities.

My family visited Beniya Mukayu back in late July and I cannot stop thinking about this place ever since. The architecture and the service left such an impression on me. It is probably one of the best ryokans I have ever been to.

A gentle place of mind clearing well being. Soothed along gracefully by professional staff and a surprising closeness to nature as well as notable contemporary art. Exceptional dining.