Feel like a Heian aristocrat or a Sengoku feudal lord. A number of unique concept hotels allow you to take a trip into the world of history

[Jomon to Yayoi] Shoen: Experience ancient foods such as "hie," "awa," and "so" as if you were an ancient royal family

Izumo in Shimane Prefecture is a place where ancient Japanese mythology lives on. Izumo Taisha Shrine, famous for the god of marriage and good fortune, is also famous. In this mystical place, you can experience time travel to ancient times such as the Jomon and Yayoi periods at Izumo Yunokawa Onsen Shoen. It is located in an area close to the Kojindani ruins and Kamo Iwakura ruins, both of which are designated as national historic sites.

Among the three main services of "food," "lodging," and "hot springs," the one that is particularly noteworthy is "food." Inspired by the discovery of a large number of bronze vessels from the Yayoi period at the Kojindani ruins, you can now eat "ancient food" that has been recreated based on historical documents.

The ancient cuisine served will include a menu made with locally harvested black rice, so, an ancient type of cheese, as well as red rice, millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, daigo, and seasonal wild plants.

When dining, diners sit down wearing "kantoui", a type of ancient clothing. The food is served on Jomon and Yayoi-style earthenware made by local potters, making you feel like ancient royalty. The seasoning has been adapted to a modern style, but is simple and brings out the flavor of the ingredients. The food is rich in dietary fiber and protein, and is said to be a healthy food with excellent nutritional balance.

The lodging facilities are also unique to this place. In particular, the special lodging building "Takerube no Sato no Miyado," built on stilts and modeled after an ancient palace, and "Uyatsube," modeled after an ancient grain storehouse, are dotted with decorations that evoke the lives of ancient royalty.

The hot spring is a free-flowing spring from Yunokawa Onsen, which is one of Japan's three most beautiful hot springs, along with Wakayama's Ryujin Onsen and Gunma's Kawanaka Onsen. The water is weakly alkaline and contains sodium and calcium ions, and the spring quality is said to make the skin moist and smooth. In addition, the bath is decorated with images of ancient hunting scenes, adding to the ancient atmosphere.

A trip to a place that has a long history, where you can enjoy food and hot baths along with the romance of ancient times. Please try this rare experience at Izumo Yunokawa Onsen Shoen.

Izumo Yunokawa Onsen Shoen

[Heian Period] "Yashinomori" where you can wear Heian period costumes and enjoy a stay like a royal aristocrat

The elegant and graceful culture of the Heian period. Ryoden Gosho Yashiro no Mori in Tokushima allows you to travel back in time to this graceful Heian period. The shinden-style building, set on a vast site of about 10,000m2, will transport you to another world.

The experience of dressing up in Heian period attire is essential to immerse yourself in the world of the Heian period. Women can wear kouchiki and junihitoe, while men can wear kariginu and noshi. You can also enjoy elegant incense games such as "takimono," which Heian aristocrats mixed themselves to enjoy the scent, and "monko," which involves distinguishing the scent of fragrant wood (three types of incense).

Within the grounds, there is a shrine called "Gosho Awamiya" that enshrines the 83rd Emperor Tsuchimikado. In addition to celebrations for happy occasions and anniversaries, there are also "prayer plans" where you can receive prayers for recovery from illness, safety of the family, protection from misfortune, road safety, and more. If you participate dressed in Heian period clothing, it is sure to become an unforgettable memory of your trip.

Don't miss out on the baths and food. The large public bath, called Goyuden, has two types of baths, an open-air bath and an indoor bath, where you can enjoy the sodium bicarbonate spring water, known as a beauty bath and skin-beautifying bath, flowing directly from the source. The food is Japanese banquet cuisine made with seasonal ingredients from Awa. You can enjoy your meal at your leisure in a private room called Shokuden, which is modeled after a dining table from the Heian period.

There are many facilities where you can escape from your daily routine and indulge in a luxurious atmosphere, but lodgings based on the Heian aristocracy concept are rare. Why not enjoy a relaxing time surrounded by an elegant atmosphere?

Travel Palace Shrine Forest

[Sengoku Period] Experience the cormorant fishing culture beloved by Sengoku warlords at Nagaragawa Kanko Hotel Ishikin

The Sengoku period was a time when warlords fought for control of the country. At Nagaragawa Kanko Hotel Ishikin in Gifu, you can experience time travel to the rugged yet glittering Sengoku period. Nearby is Mount Kinka, crowned by Gifu Castle, which has a deep connection to Oda Nobunaga, and the Nagaragawa River, and you can enjoy the location surrounded by nature.

At Ishigane, you can enjoy the feeling of being a Sengoku warlord with the "Ukai Plan," where you can experience "Ukai on the Nagara River," which is said to have been loved by Oda Nobunaga. The traditional event "Ukai," which has been going on for over 1,300 years, is held every night from May to October every year, except on days when the fishing is closed or when the water level is high.

For the cormorant fishing plan, you check in just like a regular overnight stay, enjoy a meal, and then board the houseboat. As you go down the Nagara River, enjoy watching the cormorant fishermen's rope handling and the cormorants catching sweetfish up close. The sight of six cormorant boats going down the river in a line and the bonfires lighting up the river is very impressive. When Matsuo Basho visited this area and saw the bonfires, he left behind the haiku "Omoorote Suddenly Sad Cormorant Boats".

If you are staying during the cormorant fishing plan, be sure to stay in the "Sengoku Concept Room." This room is decorated with the battle robes of three warlords who played an active role in Gifu: Saito Dosan, Oda Nobunaga, and Akechi Mitsuhide, as well as a replica of the sword "Okurikara," which is said to have been given to Mitsuhide by Nobunaga. Experience the feeling of being a Sengoku lord by taking photos with the battle robes and swords in your hands, or by enjoying food inspired by the banquet that Mitsuhide served to Tokugawa Ieyasu at the command of Nobunaga.

Another enjoyable thing to do is relax in the waters of Nagaragawa Onsen, which was chosen as one of the "Top 100 Hot Springs in Japan" while taking in the views of Mount Kinka and Gifu Castle. It's a special time to experience the culture beloved by these great generals and think back to the era in which they lived. It's also recommended for creating unique memories.

Nagaragawa Tourist Hotel Ishigane

[Edo Period] Sawara Merchant Town Hotel NIPPONIA: Feel the Edo Period from Everywhere in the Town

Sawara, Katori City, Chiba Prefecture, is a waterside town lined with historical buildings, mainly along the Onogawa River. This area, also known as the "Little Edo of Hokuso," is treated as a hotel, and the Sawara Merchant Town Hotel NIPPONIA has renovated five buildings, including a merchant's house that is over 100 years old.

There are four types of accommodation buildings. The buildings, which were once famous merchant houses or traditional Japanese restaurants, have been renovated to be modern while still respecting their historical background, making the guest feel as if they have traveled back in time to the Edo period.

The greatest attraction of Sawara Merchant Town Hotel NIPPONIA is the diverse experiences it offers, taking advantage of the fact that the entire town is a hotel. One of the most recommended experiences is the "Sappa-fusen" sightseeing boat ride, where you can view the scenery along the Onogawa River, which still retains the atmosphere of the Edo period. You can enjoy the townscape of Sawara, the first area in the Kanto region to be designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, from a different perspective than on foot.

There are many other experiences available exclusively to guests staying at the hotel. You can visit the historic sake brewery "Tokun Sake Brewery," which was founded in the late Edo period, when general tourists are not visiting, or visit the grounds and treasure hall of Katori Shrine, known as a power spot, guided by a Shinto priest. By staying at the hotel, you can experience the traditional culture of Sawara on a deeper level.

Meals are enjoyed in the GEISHO building, a renovated reception and restaurant of Nakamuraya Shoten, a prefectural cultural property that was once a general goods store during the Edo period. Chiba Prefecture has been an agricultural region since the Edo period. Local Chiba ingredients are prepared in a modern style using French cuisine techniques.

If you use the kimono dressing service and stroll around the town in a kimono, you will feel even more of the Edo atmosphere. If you want to spend a full day enjoying the time travel feeling, be sure to visit NIPPONIA Sawara.

Sawara Merchant Town Hotel NIPPONIA

We have introduced hotels across Japan where you can time travel to four different eras. If you are a fan of history and traditional culture, or if you want to enjoy a unique trip, why not consider staying at one of these hotels?