Keyaki no yado En

Lunch was delicious, especially the eel, served both grilled and kabayaki style. It was crisp on the outside, fluffy inside, full of flavor, and had no fishy smell at all. The dry landscape garden and the house, built over many years by a master carpenter, were lovely too. It's tucked at the back of a residential area, so it can be a little hard to find, but that also makes it very quiet and peaceful. I heard it used to be the home of a company president and his wife. I'm saving up so I can stay with a group next year.

We celebrated my parents' golden wedding anniversary here, and the dinner they put together for the occasion was just right. The carefully chosen ingredients made for a meal that filled us up and touched us too.

I'd seen the photos on the website, but the place made an even stronger impression in person. I went with an acquaintance, and both the food and room were lovely. The highlight for me was the sauna in the former storehouse, followed by the cold plunge and the quiet forest around us. Next time, I'd like to bring my parents.

The bathroom was spacious, clean, and comfortable. We rented the whole Keyaki no Yado En in Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture, which takes just one group per day. The inn was once home to a wealthy couple from Kyoto and their maid. Its architecture is striking, with traditional Japanese building techniques carried on by shrine carpenters. Kazuo Ikuta cooked both dinner and breakfast just for our group. He has over 50 years of experience, including serving as head chef at Kyoto Brighton Hotel and owning the one-star Michelin restaurant Ikuta in Kyoto Okazaki. He apparently tries to use ingredients grown without pesticides whenever possible.