Wineshark Nice Hotel Experience - Asaba (Shuzenji Onsen)

This famous ryokan is located in Shuzenji, where more than 500 years ago Yakuro Yukitada Asaba came to the place and founded Shuzenji temple. Guarding the temple gates were the lodgings of the monks, which is also the beginning of Asaba.

The staff greeted us enthusiastically upon arrival, with good English, explaining the details of our stay. Sitting in the main lobby we were amazed by the serenity view looking out into the pond and the Noh stage, while enjoying a cup of green tea to smooth our nerves.

We were then shown to our room, Asagi. Located on the second floor, right in front of the Noh stage, it has a wooden floor living room and a separate tatami room. Very spacious and cozy, the overall atmosphere offered us a deep sense of relaxation, warmth and comfort.

The indoor bath is up on the mezzanine, reaching by walking a number of steps, with glass ceiling and the premium hinoki bath. Opening the window one can actually watch the Noh stage while taking the bath, and I can imagine during one of those nights when there is the performance it would be interesting to enjoy the bath while watching the Noh drama in the room.

We took a walk around the ryokan, There is a salon on one end of the building, with freshly brewed coffee and tea available anytime for guests to enjoy. On the day we visited there was no many other guests and throughout the walk we only met a couple of visitors, and essentially we felt like the whole ryokan was just for us.

We then went to the public bath to enjoy our first bath before dinner. Interestingly the outdoor bath has a period in the day in which they allow usage by both men and women together. Surrounded by the beautiful bamboo bushes, immersed in the free flowing Shuzenji hotspring water, it really took away my fatigue and smoothen my whole body. I then went over to the indoor bath to try it out. Though not big, I was the only one enjoying the cypress scent and it was equally wonderful.

For dinner, starting the course is Steamed Yuba, delicate and tasty, and then followed by Fried Bamboo Shoot with Nanori. The tender bamboo shoot was just fried to give a crunchy skin, and paired with nanori gave an extra flavor dimension.

Next is the Seasonal Platter with an assortment of different delicacies in the area. Everything is so neatly prepared and delicious. And then came the Japanese style Vegetable Consomme, with a light and ethereal note.

The Sashimi dish comprises of local fish and Japanese Spiny Lobster, extra fresh and truly highlighting the quality of the seafood. Then the Grilled Spanish Mackerel gave a contrast to the texture of the sashimi, emphasizing the aromas from the fatty skin.

The Taro and Japanese Mitten Crab Soup is full of flavors, with the taro and sweetness of the crab complementing each other perfectly. And then came the Fried Taro and Soft Roe, both having the surface deep fried but not burnt, crispy but not feeling oiliness, while the inside is soft and moist. A true demonstration of the skill of the chef.

Next is one of Asaba's signature, the Conger Eel Sushi with Black Rice. The bones of eel is deep-fried so it could be eaten whole also, providing further enjoyment. It was followed by another signature dish, the Chopped Local Chicken in Broth. It was cooked in front of us by the okami, with the minced chicken having some soft bones inside giving a nice bite, the leek fragrant and the broth simply phenomenal.

Using some of the broth the okami prepared scrambled egg, making an Egg Bowl and Japanese Pickles. The egg had absorbed the broth so it is extremely flavorful and I couldn't help myself and eaten two full bowls of rice despite I was very full already.

Wrapping up on dessert I had the Kuzukiri, which is Vegetable Jello with Brown Sugar Syrup. The jello was inserted into a grapefruit to add a nice citrus notes and is very refreshing. Then we had the Grand Marnier and Pumpkin Ice-cream which is more indulgent and gives us the sweetness to complete this wonderful dinner.

With a good sleep I woke up early the next day to go take another bath in the outdoor bath before returning to the room for breakfast, which was no less impressive than the dinner on the prior night.

I am particularly impressed by the egg, which is very tasty. But for both of us the highlight was in fact the extremely sweet and fragrant strawberries. Every piece is so big and tasty the fruit is a real treat for the royals.

After the hearty breakfast, we went for a walk around the neighborhood. It was only a few minutes away from some of the sightseeing spots so staying in Asaba is really convenient.

We really had a wonderful experience staying in this ryokan and no wonder it was one of the best in Japan. The price is frankly quite expensive, at 166,053 yen but if you can afford to spend a luxury stay in a nice ryokan, Asaba is one of those I would recommend.

My overall rating is 8.3/10.