Hotel Highlight: Ugenta

Ugenta just North of Kyoto , is a small two-bedroom ryokan. A ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn which preserves the authenticity of their buildings and traditions, and may not include some of the modern conveniences that Western travelers are accustomed to.

Ugenta is exquisitely designed with one room being Japanese design (such as a sunken dining table and wood fire stove) or a more Western design with a raised dining table and fireplace), both immersing you in the surrounding nature and providing relaxation and piece. Each room features two full bathtubs, but the warm outdoor tub is most notable and faces the moss-covered cliffside, allowing you to relax with the sound of trickling water and fresh air as you decompress.

During the colder, wetter months, dinner is served in your room. The 8-course meal ranges from sashimi to hot pots to tempura to vegetables, and includes fish caught in the river flowing just outside the door of the ryokan. In the summer, dinner is served on platforms that rest about the river so guests can see the river flowing below them as they dine. The meal is presented by the Ugenta host who treats each plate with care and respect, and while the language barrier is quite significant, it only helps to enhance the experience.

To get to the hotel, arrive at the Kibune or Kokusaikaikan train station where the hotel shuttle will pick you up. The main activity in this area is a Mt. Kurama hike up to Kurama-dera, a Buddhist temple at the summit, and there are also hot springs located close-by. This hotel is a must for anyone visiting Japan.