Matsudaya Hotel

As a history enthusiast, I had long hoped to visit Matsudaya, and at last I was able to stay there. From the moment we arrived, the hospitality was attentive down to the smallest details, yet never overly intrusive—an extremely pleasant experience. As a long-established Ryokan with about 350 years of history, I had imagined it might feel rather formal, but all of the staff were very friendly. There was none of the overly deferential stiffness often found at traditional Ryokan; they always spoke to us in some way, and it made us feel truly welcomed.The welcome drink served right after arrival was matcha. The place where we enjoyed it featured calligraphy by three key figures of the Meiji Restoration—Kido Takayoshi, Saigo Takamori, and Okubo Toshimichi—as well as a brocade imperial standard and even a letter from Sakamoto Ryoma. It made me think, “This is Matsudaya,” and I couldn’t help but be impressed.We stayed in a Room called “Omodaka,” which faces a pond; from the veranda we could feed the koi in the pond. When I asked the person who guided us to our Room, “Where can we buy koi food?” they replied with a smile, “I’ll bring it right away,” which warmed my heart. The open-air bath attached to our Room was also magnificent—carved from a large piece of granite—and we thoroughly enjoyed relaxing in the Onsen.For dinner we chose the “Fuku Course with Shirako.” To be honest, I’m not very discerning when it comes to taste and don’t always understand fugu’s flavor well, but the ponzu sauce was outstanding—truly top-class (my wife was delighted and said the fuku was delicious). The staff member who looked after us throughout our meal was also very personable, making dining even more enjoyable.There is a staircase leading up to the second floor right in front of our Room entrance, and I absolutely loved it—it felt as though each step carried an incredible sense of history. Then again, Matsudaya itself is history.We also used one of the baths said to have been used by those three Meiji Restoration leaders; it too had an indescribable charm.In every respect this Accommodation far exceeded my expectations.I would love to return when I have another opportunity.Thank you very much.

The hot spring was excellent as expected, but even more impressive was how delicious the fugu kaiseki meal was!!!They prepared 1.5 kg of fugu for two people, and the sashimi, fried fugu, and hot pot were all expertly handled—perfect thickness and incredibly easy to eat.Since it’s only available until today (3/31), I’m already looking forward to the season reopening this November.Thank you for a wonderful meal.