Araya Totoan

Araya Totoan, nestled in the historic Yamashiro Onsen in Kaga, Japan, stands as a distinguished Michelin Key One-Key property, widely celebrated for its meticulous dedication to traditional Japanese hospitality and luxurious hot spring experience. This ryokan is consistently praised for creating a serene and unforgettable retreat.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

Araya Totoan receives overwhelmingly positive feedback, with guests frequently describing their stays as "Outstanding" and "Wonderful". It holds high ratings, including 9.8/10 on Trip.com and 9.2/10 on Expedia, reflecting a strong consensus of exceptional quality and service. Many consider it a highlight of their trip to Japan, offering an "unbelievably amazing" and "unforgettable experience of leisure".

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud Araya Totoan for several standout features:

• Exceptional Service: The staff's professionalism, elegance, and sophisticated hospitality are frequently highlighted, with guests reporting "excellent staff in a serene setting" and "amazing service".
• Luxurious Hot Springs (Onsen): The ryokan boasts three distinct public onsen baths, each with its unique ambiance, in addition to many rooms featuring private open-air baths. The natural spring water is noted for its "amazing quality" – thick, smooth, and moist – with approximately 100,000 liters flowing daily directly from the source. The Yamashiro Onsen hot spring even won a gold medal at the International Hygiene Exhibition in Germany over a century ago.
• Exquisite Dining: The Kaga kaiseki cuisine is consistently described as "top-notch" and "impressive," with every dish beautifully presented and bursting with flavors.
• Traditional Design & Serene Ambiance: As a century-old establishment, Araya Totoan blends traditional Japanese design with modern comfort. The atmosphere is quiet and tastefully elegant, often displaying works by the renowned artist Rosanjin, who once resided there.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Araya Totoan are a blend of traditional Japanese aesthetic and modern comfort. They are "newly renovated," "large and clean," and show "amazing attention to details".

• Style: Rooms feature tatami-style living rooms in classic neutral tones, complemented by simple bedrooms with futon-height beds.
• Amenities: They are sparsely decorated with contemporary Japanese art and sculptural paper lampshades, and include air conditioning, private bathrooms, bidets, free toiletries, flat-screen TVs, soundproofing, and free WiFi.
• Private Onsen: A significant draw is the availability of rooms with private open-air hot spring baths, often crafted from aromatic Japanese cypress, offering relaxing views of mountain gardens. Each guest room provides a seasonal outdoor glimpse, from vibrant greens to autumn leaves and glistening snow.

4. Dining Experience

The dining at Araya Totoan is a central part of its allure, renowned for its "Michelin standards" and "delicate flavors".

• Kaiseki Cuisine: The Kaga kaiseki meals utilize "local premium ingredients" such as abalone, rock oysters, sweet sea bream, and in winter, fresh Kaga crab prepared in various ways (sashimi, grilled, boiled).
• Presentation: Dishes are artfully presented on exquisite local tableware, including Kutani-ware porcelain and Yamanaka lacquerware.
• Service: Both dinner and a plentiful Asian breakfast are served in private dining rooms. For guests with small children, meals can be served directly in their rooms.
• Bar: The annex houses Arisugawa-Sanso, a bar with an "amazing ambiance" offering a selection of wine, Japanese sake, and non-alcoholic beverages in the evenings.

5. Service & Staff

The hospitality at Araya Totoan consistently receives top marks. Guests describe the staff as "professional, elegant, and sophisticated," providing "amazing service" that makes their stay truly special. The warmth and kindness extended to guests, from arrival greetings to attentive care throughout the stay, contribute significantly to the positive experience. The ryokan is also noted as being child-friendly, with staff accommodating requests for children's meals, tableware, and yukatas.

6. Location & Accessibility

Araya Totoan is situated in the heart of Yamashiro Onsen, Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture.

• Surroundings: It offers a tranquil setting that feels like a "mountain retreat surrounded by nature," despite being in the center of the hot spring resort. Nearby attractions include the Kosoyu public bathhouse, Coco Gallery, and Yakuoin Onsenji Temple.
• Transport: The ryokan provides a complimentary shuttle service from JR Kagaonsen Station, which is a 15-minute drive away and requires advance booking. Kagaonsen Station is approximately a 30-minute express train ride from Kanazawa Station. For those arriving by air, Komatsu Airport is about a 25-30 minute taxi ride.

7. Value & Pricing

Araya Totoan is considered a luxury experience, with prices reflecting its high-end offerings. Rates typically start around JPY 100,000 to JPY 107,800 per night for two adults, including dinner and breakfast. While the price is "a bit high," guests generally agree that it is "worth every penny" for the unparalleled luxury, service, and unique cultural experience provided. An additional accommodation tax of JPY 150 per person, per night, applies for guests aged 12 and above.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, some minor points of feedback or considerations include:

• Yamashiro Onsen Town Atmosphere: Some guests found the surrounding Yamashiro Onsen town itself to be "somewhat desolate" and "not as vibrant" as expected, with fewer dining and shopping options, leading them to stay mostly within the ryokan.
• Accessibility: The property is not universally designed and features some steps, though wheelchairs are available upon request, and staff can arrange rooms near the entrance for guests with mobility concerns.
• Tattoo Policy: Guests with tattoos may not be permitted to use the communal bathing areas.
• Minor Room Details: One guest noted the absence of a light switch near the nightstand as a minor inconvenience.
• Payment: Cash is not accepted.

Sources

1. trip.com
2. booking.com
3. luxuryhotelkyoto.com
4. postcard.inc
5. michelin.com
6. araya-totoan.com
7. araya-totoan.com
8. michitravel.com
9. selected-ryokan.com
10. expedia.com
11. agoda.com