Loved everything - location,room,food and staff

Absolutely fabulous

Stayed in April 2024

The place is so charming, food is amazing and the host super friendly! I want to be back

Stayed in April 2024

The door in the female onsen needs fixing :)

Amazing and friendly host, lovely atmosphere, beautiful view, comfortable rooms, delicious food!

Stayed in April 2024

There was nothing to really dislike.

The atmosphere, the proximity to the Kumano Kodo, the owner and staff, the onsen were great. The supper and breakfast were very good. They were kind enough to prepare a bento for my next leg of my journey.

Stayed in April 2024

Would have loved it if there was an earlier breakfast option but totally understand.

Fabulous dinner, I left before breakfast, but the lunch box they provided was excellent to fuel me as I walked the Kumano Kodo. Spectacular location and views. Can’t recommend it enough!!!

Stayed in April 2024

Amazing location and views. Delicious meals with a funny, wonderful host!

Stayed in March 2024

Loved it all!

This is one of the best stays we’ve ever experienced. The guest house is beautiful and cosy and looks out to stunning mountain views. Our meals were exceptional and the onsen was an absolute treat after hiking in the rain. The hosts are so lovely, we felt so welcome and comfortable!

Stayed in March 2024

It was perfect

This was an amazing find and the place was so interesting like a museum. The staff are so helpful and entertaining and they make everybody feel comfortable like family. The view from the room and especially sitting in the Onsen looking at the mountains was inspiring

Stayed in March 2024

No hot water for showers and pretty unapologetic staff.

Excellent meals and interesting building and surroundings. Comfortable room. Lots of food and drink options.

Stayed in November 2023

External building , a bit rundown

The people

Stayed in December 2023

Nothing

Very welcoming place with onsen, comfortable beds, amazing dinner and decorated very nicely! Staff are so helpful and nice.

Stayed in December 2023

Amazing location , fantastic views , great food. A genuinely unique and wonderful experience . Believe the hype :)

Stayed in November 2023

"The Lodge on the Pilgrim's Way exceeded all expectations. The dinner was an unparalleled experience, a delightful fusion of original Spanish influences like tapas, all made with organic ingredients—truly the best I've had in Japan. The warmth and hospitality of the host family added immensely to my overall comfort. The onsen was a serene oasis with breathtaking mountain views. Breakfast was equally delightful. A perfect 10 out of 10!"

Stayed in December 2023

Very welcoming, great views, and so friendly!

Stayed in November 2023

n/a - Sad I didn't get to enjoy breakfast with everyone but that was my own fault as I needed to hit the trail at sunrise.

Such a wonderful and memorable experience! The owner puts so much thought and care into providing everyone with a great evening. Dinner was social (I was traveling alone and was introduced to other guests doing the same so that we had the option to eat together, which we did!) and the food was exceptional and fresh! The views at this hotel are some of the best I've ever seen. I'm not a morning person but the sunrise here is unmatched, the fog creeping out of the valley below is truly stunning.

Stayed in September 2023

This was one of the most special places I’ve ever stayed. The vibe was incredible, staff was super welcoming and helpful, the views were stunning, and the food was one of the best meals of my life!

Stayed in September 2023

I regret even saying it, because we loved the place so much, but the western style bed was just ok in terms of comfort.

It’s a beautiful and cozy place, up in the Takahara hills. The views were great and the food exceptional, but both were topped by the hospitality which was outstanding. The owners helped steer us in the right directions for hiking and even picked us up from the bus station down the hill after a long day’s hike. We had to leave very early our last day, and they arranged to make us coffee and a go-to sandwich. It’s a magical place, especially if you’re in a Kumano Kodo frame of mind. This is not a western style hotel, it’s cozy and charming and rugged. We loved it, and only regretted that the rest of our family could not be there to enjoy it with us.

Stayed in August 2023

It was first time we came here and didn't realize that it takes 1.5 hours hiking to reach the accommodation. Thankfully Shin-nobi san drove to pick us up. It would be great to provide more instruction about how to get to Kirinosato Takahara.

The host and his staff are friendly and helpful. The wooden architecture and its design is beautiful. The restaurant and the food are special and with taste. The rooftop balcony is relaxing at night. We love it very much.

Stayed in August 2023

Excellent hospitality , beautiful views and the onsen added to the wonderful experience.

Stayed in July 2023

My experience in this place was one of the best of my trip in Japan while doing the Kumano Kodo The love and effort the staff put to serve their costumers here is just unreal The onsen is fantastic The food is like from Michelin star restaurant And the views, oh the views

Stayed in July 2023

Absolutely amazing hotel. The staff were all very friendly, the food was super tasty and the views were stunning. Highly recommend

Stayed in June 2023

Nothing. It was wonderful. Jian left us with some homemade mochi / red bean buns, which we enjoyed on our hike the next day.

It was the perfect place to stay for our first night on the Kumano Kodo. After a steep, but enjoyable 2 hour hike, we were greeted with a smile from Jian, the owner, who showed us around and welcomed us with beers in the dining area with a spectacular view. Later that evening, Jian and a couple of classical guest guitarists, played 2 short sessions after the awesome dinner. We wished they had played more. It was a magical evening across the board. This place was so much more enjoyable than the classic Ryokan when travelling with friends. It was more engaging and enjoyable to socialize with our friends and other hikers. If you are looking for the classic Ryokan experience, this is not that. Personally we enjoyed this hybrid Ryokan with a lively common area and a bar so much more. And the good was excellent! We all highly recommend it. I wish we had found more places like this.

Stayed in July 2023

Remote location with excellent views from the room and from the restaurant, very nice and cozy ambiance and amazing diner experience! The breakfast was really good and the staff really great!

Stayed in June 2023

n/a

location is immaculate, although I wish I knew there was no public transport to the property. I had a nice hike to it, but it was a surprise

Stayed in June 2023