Beniya Mukayu

Absolute luxury. A very very different experience. Private onson sooo lovely. Food very Japanese but delicious.. western breakfast was a welcome and tasty. Limited walks in March but we made the most of what there was and 2 nights was perfect for chill time and luxury. Special mention to Julie who looked after us at meal times. So attentive and friendly.

Beniya is not a property, not a location; it is an experience. You check in, yes, and you offer your passport, yes, but then you enter another world. A world fast disappearing of peace, tranquillity, where you can glimpse the emptiness and space of perfection. in the art, the rooms, the spa, the library, everything. Beniya sits on the site of a Yakuoin Temple, and in many ways, it remains a place of healing and contemplation. Once you robe yourself in a Yukata and sit and contemplate the garden, or lie in the Onsen or enter the dining area where old-fashioned virtues like quiet and thoughtfulness abound in both those who serve and receive your joy in the moment is profound. As a solo traveller whose earth-bound requirements are respect, dignity and quietness, this is an entirely adult environment, and it could not be more appropriate or desirable. The food offerings are exquisite, and Mrs Nakamichi draws a delightful menu card for you to consider how the evening will unfold. The staff are not Geisha, but they inhabit a small part of that world. Charming, respectful and gracious, not simply 'have a nice day." This was my second visit to the Healing Buddha Mountain, Sakura, the Change of Leaves, and the next will be the growth of spring. Thank you to one and all. Blessing upon you.

A wonderful, modern, pristine zen retreat with excellent service. We stayed here after Tokyo, Hakone and Kyoto and were completely impressed and instantly able to relax in this luxurious retreat. Our room was spacious, beautifully appointed & had an amazing private onsen bath. The garden was exquisite - incredibly serene. The shared onsen baths are beautiful too. All meals were incredible and in particular our service at mealtimes was faultless (shout out to our lovely host at the restaurant, Jackson). All in all the experience was restorative & re-energising. 100% recommend.

Everything about this hotel is first class - the people, the owners, the location, the facilities, the rooms, the gardens, the private and communal onsens, the food & the spa. It was a real treat from start to finish, the only downside is that we only booked 2 nights! We were awe struck from the minute we arrived with the sheer beauty of the location, the building and art. Superb!

Rarely does a dream come true. About thirty years ago, an idea took hold. I imagined staying at a Japanese ryokan with an open-air private onsen bath somewhere in nature during winter, hopefully with snow on the ground. The stars aligned in more ways than I imagined at Beniya Mukayu. Located a few miles from the Kagaonsen Shinkansen Rail Station, Beniya Mukayu is a short couple of hours from Tokyo but a world apart from the urban hustle and stress. The Zen enveloped me as I stepped out of the taxi. Beniya Mukayu is nestled up a hill surrounded by the forest; sounds of melting snow and a slight breeze could be heard as I was escorted into the architecturally planned inn. I inhaled, taking in the design of every piece of furniture, every window, every angle, all with purpose and all with artistry. I was overtaken with emotion and teared up. It was more than I could imagine. After an introduction to the inn and a cup of tea, we were escorted to our lodgings, an expansive Japanese-style room with a deck, separate bedroom, large bathroom, and private onsen bath filled with this area's warm healing mineral waters. Ours had hydrotherapy jets. We did not want to leave the room, and the television was ignored. Beniya Mukayu supplied us with kimonos, slippers, and a wrap in our respective sizes, and soon we were immersed in the way of the ryokan. It was better than therapy. The inn had two or three libraries for relaxation, public baths separated for men and women by time; kaiseki dinners served nightly, and excellent breakfasts. Service was in the ryokan tradition: polite, honorable, and caring. Pilar, from Patagonia, Argentina, helped guide us during our too-short two-day stay. She was wonderful. The owners, a charming couple, led us through a tea ceremony on our first day, an apt introduction to the zen of Beniya Mukayu. As I sat in my onsen bath, freezing rain falling around me, all cares drifted away. I was one with myself, too content with life. Beniya Mukayu does that. I must return.