Hotel KAMOGAWASO

Kamogawaso makes a peaceful base for trips to Miyajima, about a two-hour drive away, or Kurashiki, around an hour and a half away. The garden feels especially atmospheric when lit up, and its autumn leaves bring a real sense of the season. The inn has a 5,000m2 Japanese garden and 150 Japanese paintings, along with seasonal kaiseki meals. There’s also a popular tasting set with three kinds of Hiroshima sake. You can unwind in a calm Japanese modern room, then warm up in the Shigaraki ware open-air bath. The sake hotpot was full of rich sake flavor and the natural sweetness of the vegetables. Rime♪ Accommodation & Leisure in Hiroshima Prefecture Takehara City 142

Getting around without a car was manageable: buses run along the main road every 50 minutes, and taxis are available. Takehara is also worth exploring. The hotel itself is tucked away in the East Hiroshima hills, quiet and beautiful, with a lovely garden and painting exhibitions to wander through after a bath. The Japanese-style rooms were comfortable. Breakfast was a buffet with lots of choices, and dinner was a different amazing 13-course meal each night for all four days we stayed. The baths were standard, with the men’s and women’s areas switching each day. We did get stared at while naked, which felt a bit uncomfortable, though we expected some attention since we look different from the locals. Only Japanese is spoken and written there.

I spent a relaxing holiday here on a warm February day. The room, onsen, and garden were all comfortable places to unwind. Dinner and breakfast tasted good, too.

The room was clean and nice, but the onsen was the best part. The employees could smile more and bring a bit more energy.