Arima Onsen ShikinoIrodori Hatago

The accommodation felt a little shabby, but the hospitality was great and dinner by a famous Japanese iron chef was excellent.

Such a peaceful place, with great service and super delicious meals. I love it so much.

They feed you like royalty here, and the accommodation is affordable. Hard to beat.

This is a peaceful hideaway for adults, with only six groups accepted per day. We didn't hear a thing until checkout and barely crossed paths with anyone. Our 65-square-meter room was roomy for two, with a massage chair and an open-air bath filled with golden spring water. There were Shine Muscat grapes, sweets, and alcoholic drinks in the fridge when we checked in, so we could just settle in and stay put. The food was the big event. We booked the special course for one group, and the head chef cooked for us in a private room. The premium ingredients included matsutake mushrooms, spiny lobster, and Kobe beef, and the meal was a feast for all five senses. The matsutake dobinmushi had a deep flavor, while the Kobe beef unkai nabe, cooked over cotton candy, was striking to see and delicious. Matsutake appeared in several dishes, so we got to enjoy their flavor throughout. Breakfast was elaborate too, with rolled omelets and other dishes made in front of us and served hot. The service left us very satisfied, though the price is high compared with other places to stay, and I would've liked more creativity in the food presentation. The alcohol selection seemed generous, but I was a bit disappointed they didn't have Yamazaki-class whiskey.