NIPPONIA Sawara Merchant Town Hotel

The location was lovely, and we enjoyed our room, the generous snacks, and discovering Sawara Old town. Ayano Namaizawa was especially welcoming and always seemed keen to look after us. We had a fabulous stay and will return!

The front desk and restaurant are in this building, so check in here first. We stayed at AOI 201, about a 5-10 minute walk away, and the front desk staff offered to drive us to our accommodation. The weather was nice, so we walked along the river to dinner and breakfast. Staff were courteous and helpful, and the food was very good, beautifully presented, with attentive service. We asked for the children to have as much of the adult dinner course as they’d eat, and the chef did a great job adapting the menu for them.

I chose NIPPONIA Sawara at the end of my trip because I value the local experiences the NIPPONIA brand offers. It brought me into a history and world I’d never encountered before. As a foreign visitor, I had a perfect stay, and I hope people in Japan will continue to cherish these historic treasures. At the front desk, I was welcomed into a large building that had once been a sake brewery warehouse. I liked the color and texture of its wooden walls, which looked different from pictures online. I don’t know whether that comes from age or renovation, but I really appreciated the way it looks now. Another part of the warehouse houses the French restaurant LE UN. My room was in the AOI building, a seven-minute walk from reception. Built in the early Showa era on the banks of the Onagawa River, it had once been a popular local restaurant. The spacious courtyard and private villa-style room still preserve a mirror from the old restaurant. Staff also kindly arranged help with my heavy luggage when I checked in. The morning and evening meals were very good, especially dinner, which really stimulated my taste buds. The restaurant staff also paid attention to how I was feeling as a guest. Thank you to the NIPPONIA team for all your work. Preserving old buildings takes people and money, and seeing the weathering on the beams in the dining room and guest room helped me imagine the effort involved.

The service from the team was excellent, and they made my trip to Sawara memorable. I really enjoyed staying at NIPPONIA (AOI). The building was charming and tastefully furnished, and I had one of my most comfortable nights of sleep in a while. Dinner was included and prepared with real thought and care, easily at a Michelin-starred standard. Breakfast received the same attention, and I have nothing but praise for my stay. 10/10 ✨