NIPPONIA HOTEL Yamefukushima Merchant Town

We stayed one night on 16 Feb, and what stayed with me most was how welcome the staff made us feel. The room was spacious, comfortable, and had a vintage feel, with the historic features well preserved. I especially liked the electric diffuser, which warmed dried green tea leaves and filled the room with their scent. There was also enough heating to keep us comfortable through the winter.

Yame is a special town and region to explore. We might never have found it if we hadn’t stayed at Nipponia. Everyone on the team made us feel welcome with their kindness and helpfulness, and we wish we’d had more time there. The hotel is beautiful, with every detail carefully chosen, perhaps the most beautiful place we’ve stayed. As a vegetarian who’d been struggling to find suitable food in Japan, I was very well accommodated at breakfast, which was delicious. The beds were comfortable, the winter heating worked well, and the soaking tub was lovely. We also enjoyed a tea tasting and several lovely local recommendations. We hope to come back.

We came here for a break from city crowds, to rest and take some time out. I worried at first that we hadn’t gone far enough into the countryside, but Yame proved me wrong. It felt welcoming and authentic, calm in a way the bigger cities can’t offer. We relied on Google translate since few people spoke English. The gentleman at the Information Centre spoke several languages and was happy to suggest places to eat and see. You can hire a bike, and the museum and craft centre, as well as the local resource centre next door, are full of information and unique displays. Walking around, we found a temple still actively used by locals, a beautiful zen garden, and many lovely cafes. Yame, you really are my everything! Nipponia lived up to the reviews. Our warm room, lounge, and bedroom were a welcome sight, and the bathroom was beautiful. Since we booked directly, we received a Sake Bath, a bottle of wine, and tea as gifts. Breakfast felt authentic, and staff explained where the food came from and how to eat it. We hadn’t booked dinner for our first night and found a lovely restaurant two doors away. The next night we had a degustation at the hotel, and wow, it was amazing. My partner loved how the food looked and tasted. They catered for my gluten free diet with delicious warm gluten free bread rolls, and replaced everything else with fresh, local ingredients. We’re leaving with the feeling we’ve stepped into the real Japan, with gentle calm and zen. We took local pictures, not restaurant ones, because we chose to enjoy the moment and put our phones away.

We had the matcha ceremony in the morning, and the matcha was delicious. Such a beautiful hotel, with really nice, spacious rooms. The staff were very kind and helpful, finding places to eat and making reservations for us.