Ryotei Ryokan Yasui

From the moment we arrived at the Accommodation until we left, we truly felt heartfelt hospitality. With its historic elements and well-maintained areas, and the meticulous care given to every detail, it is a truly wonderful space. The bath is not overly ornate; with its calm atmosphere and lighting, it is genuinely soothing. The chilled tea available right after you step out was excellent. The meals were beautifully presented and delicious—exactly what you would expect from an Accommodation worthy of being called a dining Ryokan. Three generations—grandmother, grandchild, and us—stayed here, and we definitely want to return.We are truly grateful to everyone at the Ryokan.

I finally had the chance to stay at “Ryokan Yasui,” a place I’d been wanting to visit for a long time.Of all days, the strongest cold wave of the season hit on my Reservation date. With expressway restrictions, I gave up driving and made my way to Hikone Station by connecting Shinkansen and local trains running on disrupted schedules. Since I couldn’t predict my arrival time due to delays, I didn’t request a pickup and walked to the Accommodation instead.As soon as I arrived and passed under the noren at the gate, the front garden leading to the entrance was beautifully covered in snow—I couldn’t help but gasp. From check-in onward, the staff were incredibly warm and welcoming. The building and my Room were spacious and full of charm, making it a calm, adults-only style Accommodation where I could truly relax. The garden outside my Room was also a snowy scene, and I even got to enjoy an unexpected open-air bath with falling snow—this cold wave turned out not so bad after all.Above all, both dinner and breakfast were outstanding. As expected of a Ryokan with fine dining roots, every dish was carefully prepared using selected seasonal ingredients, and each one was genuinely delicious. Most memorable was how wonderful the dashi base was—so comforting it felt like it soaked into me. Overwhelmed with emotion (to the point of tears), I ended up standing up reflexively when the head chef came by to greet me (laugh).I love traveling—and great food—and have stayed in many places over the years, but among Japanese-cuisine Accommodations I’ve visited before, this one is by far gold-medal level! It will be a wonderful memory during the Milan Olympics period.The day after my stay, they kindly stored my luggage at reception while I visited Genkyuen Garden at Hikone Castle. They even drove me there out of concern for walking on snowy roads, which helped so much. Enjoying that beautifully snow-covered garden almost entirely to myself was deeply satisfying.Thank you very much for everything.