Kaminaka ryokan

𝟏.𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐤𝐚 𝐑𝐲𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐧

Kaminaka ryokan is located in the heart of Hida Takayama. The building itself was built in 1888. At that time, this area was a Yukaku, a red-light district. Then, in 1958, the red-light districts were abolished and the Kaminaka Ryokan was established.

𝟐. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠?

The building was designated as tangible cultural property as its architecture still resembles a red-light district building of the old days. Most of the interiors were remodeled however there are many parts left untouched. Especially on the second floor.

The inn is built around a Japanese garden where you can enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and red leaves in autumn. Even if we are close to the station, when you stay you will notice it’s very quiet. You will be able to relax and to spend some quality time with yourself.

𝟑. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲?

I am running Ryokan Kaminaka with my family. Our policy is to make our guests happy. We don’t host many customers at time, because we want to take good care of them. We want our customers to be able to relax and take it easy here. As a result, usually they stay up to 3 nights. Our menu consists, for the most part, of Takayama local cuisine and you will also be able to taste some of our home cooking.

𝟒. 𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐬?

80% of guests are from overseas. Among them, Italy and Spain are the most frequent. Many guests who stay in Kaminaka want to see or experience traditional Japanese things, that is why they are staying at an inn. We are working hard to live up to their expectations. Guests often share with us kinds words saying that Takayama is a beautiful place and that they are having a good time here. We even get souvenirs from some of them. Working in this business have been very rewarding.

𝟓. 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐧 (𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞)

My husband is also a shamisen musician. He often gives lessons to our guests on request. For example, every year, a group of students from Taiwan comes here to learn about musical instruments or experience shamisen.

𝟔. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐛?

To be designated as a tangible cultural property is an honor for us, but preserving the building also presents some challenges. For example, if something breaks, there are no replacement parts. We are very careful and we are doing our best to preserve this building.

𝟕. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐦𝐚

The view from Shiroyama Park is beautiful, especially the flowers bloom during in spring. I like to walk around there and along the side of Enako river.

𝟖. 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬

As I said before, we don’t accept too many reservations at time. About a half of the inn capacity. This is part of our policy, but at time like this it helps also to keep the building clean. We use a disinfectant and make sure to clean every rooms and the toilet. We are also equipped with masks and we are serving food inside the rooms. It is actually an old custom for Japanese ryokan, but now it can also prevent to crowd the dining all.