Hatori
HATORI ONSEN RYOKAN
Built in 1946, Hatori’s namesake comes from the former name of the area during the Azuchi - Momoyama period of Japan (before Edo).
The property is currently helmed by the Yondaime (fourth generation family head).
Found throughout the premises are drawings of a stylised monkey found on kimonos by illustrator Ueda Miyuki which symbolises the playfulness of children and their families, and the hope for the future.
An easy short walk to the town’s landmark Kosoyu Public Onsen, Hatori is perfectly located to enjoy meandering around the onsen town.
KAEDE ANNEX
SUITE TYPE A (Japanese/Western)
A variety of rooms are available from traditional Japanese to modern fusion, with 6 of their rooms featuring open air baths.
During my stay I enjoyed relaxing in this spacious suite room, on the higher floors with views of the town, sweet touches of traditional Japanese architecture and interior decor like the traditional chabudai & zaisu furniture, along with maru-mado (round window).
A PRIVATE OPEN AIR OFURO
If I cannot have a private onsen, I’m always happy to have an outdoor ofuro situation where I can still enjoy a relaxing soaking experience with the fresh breeze against my skin.
THE PUBLIC ONSEN
Two large public onsen baths are available to be enjoyed by guests, both featuring an indoor onsen & outdoor hinoki rotenburo (one being hexagonal in shape, the other a circle). The baths will swap so you can enjoy both during your stay.
If you wish, one can also enjoy the onsen facilities at their sister hotel Rurikoh (5mins walk away), free of charge to staying guests.
RESERVABLE PRIVATE ONSEN
For those wishing to be a bit more budget conscious but still wish to experience a private onsen due to shyness, wishing to relax with a travel partner, or having tattoos etc, two private onsen are available to reserve for 50mins for 2200JPY.
Advance reservations are accepted
The two baths are Kurakake no Yu (the hinoki bath pictured in the photos) and Makomo no Yu (a traditional stone bath)
MORE DELICIOUS KAISEKI
I adore pretty presentation as an added bonus to delicious food, because such an extra touch elevates the entire experience
The Kaiseki dinner started off with a traditonal (quite heavy) wooden bento box where each layer removed showcased an even prettier tray of delights.
Fresh, seasonal produce with my utmost favourite white fish sashimi (medai, tai etc I prefer snappers) and the cutest, yummiest temari sushi selection of bites.
There was of course several other dishes but I always find myself to busy eating to take great photos of food haha!
Added highlight was to pair my meal with a flight of local nihonshu (sake to taste)
*note: breakfast is a buffett
TIP:
from MARCH 16th 2024, the Hokuriku shinkansen will extend to Kaga Onsen Station, making it even easier to reach for weekend getaways from Tokyo, Osaka & Kyoto! currently one has to transfer from JR Kanazawa Station to a limited express train to reach Kaga Onsen Station.
MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
FOOD
Dinner was a highlight, with it’s presentation, quality and produce of dishes, ingredients. Beautiful touches with the tiered wooden bento box like olden times, each layer revealing even more prettiness, luscious bites of Japanese cuisine to savour and enjoy.
Ishikawa prefecture has some very very seasonal produce, so depending if there’s something very particular you wish to try (eg. certain types of crab), make sure you reserve a stay in the right season.
Breakfast was a buffet which isn’t my preferred style, but hubby loves buffet so I think each to their own for that particular taste, however the selection available was lovely.
ONSEN
As Yamashiro Onsen has some of the loveliest onsen waters, I was happy to simple “onsen hop” my way around all the baths available to me at Hatori (I didn’t have time to visit Rurikoh unfortunately, but love the fact guests can also visit there free of charge).
The only thing that would have made my stay even more memorable would be if my private open air bath was onsen water too! haha
ROOM AMBIANCE
It’s always lovely when one’s room in a ryokan has a sitting/living area along with the sleeping area, to me it gives a little bit more relaxing space to enjoy a couple night’s stay and have some separation if one wants to sleep whilst the other wants to work/read etc. I always enjoy seeing more traditional aspects of Japanese designs in rooms, whether it be tatami, shoji, fusuma whether it be showcased with a mix of modernity, or very old school sukiya architecture. Hatori’s room was welcoming, warm, and so nice to have the balcony space to enjoy and lounge around after having a good soak.
VENUE AMBIANCE
Hatori’s interiors of its common areas will give a throwback to the heyday of the Showa period, with its indoor gardens, Japanese artworks and hanging installations. A bigger property, there is a larger omiyage store with regional goods, along with the Hazuki lounge to enjoy tea, and drinks throughout your stay. Evocative of the time it was built, there is karaoke room, a table tennis room and a nightclub! decorated in the best of the era of Studio 54! It’s a great throwback!
SURROUNDING AREA
Yamashiro Onsen town is a lovely area to experience a quintessential historical onsen ryokan town. One can definitely enjoy this small town over a one night stay, but to embrace it and have a leisurely experience I would definitely stay two nights - you can read about what I did during my time at Yamashiro here & here.
HATORI FACTS (at time of stay)
COST: starting from ~38500JPY per person per night (for a room with a private open air bath)
MEALS INCLUDED: Breakfast & Dinner
CHECK IN/CHECK OUT TIME: 1500 / 1000
PAYMENT: Cash or Credit
ROOMS: 67 (6 with private open air bath)
ENGLISH SPEAKING STAFF: A few
WEBSITE: HATORI
IG: @hatori_kagaspa
