YORUYA

The restaurant alone was extraordinary. Dinner was the best Japanese kaiseki we've had, and breakfast was traditional and just as memorable. The bar also served fantastic cocktails, sake, and wine. Both maisonettes were beautifully appointed, each with a private onsen bath unlike anything I've seen, and the hotel itself is spectacular, with attention to detail everywhere. The whole place delivers an unmatched level of quality and service. Midori-san, Chef Fumio-san and his masterful team, Jun-san, and the rest of the Yoruya staff made my parents and me feel incredibly welcome and cared for. I’m sorry I can’t remember everyone’s names. We’d happily stay again, and I intend to return as soon as I can. We couldn’t recommend Yoruya more highly.

We paid over 100,000 yen a night at Yoruya and came away feeling it was a complete waste of money. Other hotels offer better service and food for half the price, so we won't return and can't recommend it. The room looked impressive online but was much smaller than we expected, and it was freezing in winter. Even with the air conditioning running, it barely worked. For that price, basic comfort shouldn't be a problem. Staff and managers were unfriendly throughout, with cold expressions and no sense that they cared. I was surprised by such poor service at a Japanese hotel. If service isn't great, that might be one thing, but at this price it was unacceptable. Dinner and breakfast were both terrible. The food looked fine on the website, but the quality was very low, and some dishes even smelled strange.

We only stayed one night and wished we had more time. The hotel is in a beautifully renovated traditional Japanese house, with lovely wabi-sabi style. Staff were so kind and helpful, even holding our luggage after checkout so we could keep exploring town. In the evening, we had a sake tasting at the cozy hotel bar, and the waitress gave great recommendations. A real treat. The food, including the hotel snacks and drinks, is locally sourced, and the Japanese breakfast was healthy and delicious. A memorable stay in Kurashiki, highly recommended.

The courtyard is a special touch, with its roof opening letting sunlight in. Guest rooms are clean and elegant, mixing modern design with traditional elements. It’s a charming little modern ryokan with good amenities and service. Everyone was friendly and helpful, from General Manager Miyazaki-san to Midori, Cana, and Ryo. Breakfast was very good, and each guest gets a small pot of freshly cooked rice, a nice detail. Chef Niimi and Sous Chef Uehara made a high-quality kaiseki dinner with a couple of unexpected extras. A great base for exploring the Okayama and Seto Inland Sea area. Highly recommended.