🕓 2024/8/18
#Hotels
About Miyagi
Miyagi Prefecture is renowned as a region where beautiful nature and rich culture thrive. Located along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region, Miyagi offers stunning scenery throughout the four seasons and attracts numerous visitors from Japan and abroad. In particular, Matsushima — one of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Views — Akiu Onsen, and the historic Sendai Castle ruins are among the most popular tourist attractions.
Miyagi is also a region steeped in history and tradition. Cultural highlights abound, including the Sendai Tanabata Festival and the Shiogama Port Festival. Furthermore, Miyagi is known as a “treasure trove of food,” famous for its local specialties such as oysters, beef tongue (gyutan), and sasa-kamaboko (bamboo-leaf-shaped fish cake). The region also boasts numerous delicious dishes and hot springs, and local cuisine featuring regional specialties is extremely popular with visitors.
Below, we introduce three carefully selected luxury hotels that offer an exceptional stay when visiting Miyagi.
- 3 Select Luxury Hotels in Miyagi Prefecture
- Saryo Souen
- Shoan
- Densho Sennen no Yado Sakan
- ■ The Appeal of Densho Sennen no Yado Sakan
- ■ Access Information for Densho Sennen no Yado Sakan
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3 Select Luxury Hotels in Miyagi Prefecture
Saryo Souen
Source: Saryo Souen Official Website
■ The Appeal of Saryo Souen
Saryo Souen is a tranquil inn located in the Akiu Onsen area of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, where guests can fully experience the charm of a refined Japanese ryokan. The expansive grounds feature a beautiful Japanese garden, with the main building and detached rooms in sukiya-style architecture scattered throughout. Under the concept of “Niwa-ya Ichinyo” (harmony between garden and building), the garden and structures blend harmoniously, offering visitors a serene and luxurious experience.
1. Architecture and Design
Saryo Souen features sukiya-style architecture, with a design that pursues the traditional aesthetics of Japanese beauty. Each building overlooks a garden where guests can enjoy the changing scenery of the four seasons, making visitors feel as though they have stepped into a painted scroll. The interiors make extensive use of natural wood, creating a warm and tranquil atmosphere throughout.
2. Hot Spring Experience
The hot springs at Saryo Souen are highly acclaimed for allowing guests to fully enjoy the renowned waters of Akiu Onsen. The open-air bath, situated along the Natori River gorge, offers bathing amid the changing scenery of the four seasons, with the soothing sounds and views of nature providing a deeply relaxing experience. In autumn, the bath is surrounded by colorful foliage, and in winter, a stunning snowy landscape unfolds — offering guests truly special moments throughout the year.
The hot spring has long been known as a “beauty spring” with rich therapeutic properties, including benefits for fatigue recovery and relaxation. The water is an alkaline simple hot spring, gentle on the skin with a soft, smooth texture.
3. Guest Room Comfort
Saryo Souen has a total of 26 guest rooms, each with its own unique character and design reflecting the traditional beauty of Japanese aesthetics. The rooms are divided between the “detached” rooms and the “main building,” each offering different themes and views. The detached guest rooms provide an enhanced sense of privacy, allowing guests to spend luxurious time in peaceful solitude.
From each room, guests can enjoy views of the sprawling Japanese garden, which changes with each season, revealing new charm with every visit.
4. Culinary Excellence
The cuisine at Saryo Souen features kaiseki (traditional multi-course) dishes that make the most of the rich natural bounty of Miyagi. The ingredients include fresh seafood from the Pacific Ocean and flavorful mountain delicacies from the surrounding mountains.
For dinner, dishes are prepared to bring out the best of each season’s finest ingredients, with beautifully presented courses that delight both the palate and the eyes. The breakfast is also notable for its signature “yudofu” (hot tofu), a beloved specialty of the inn.
5. Harmony with Akiu Onsen
Saryo Souen is situated along the Natori River, at the heart of Akiu Onsen. Akiu Onsen is one of Japan’s “Three Imperial Hot Springs” (Nihon Sanmiyu) and has long been known for its history and tradition. Saryo Souen is designed to fully embrace the charm of this hot spring town, allowing guests to enjoy its ambiance from within the inn.
In the evenings, the Japanese garden is illuminated, and strolling through the garden offers visitors an extraordinary and beautiful experience — as if time itself has stopped, enveloping them in serene tranquility.
■ Access Information for Saryo Souen
- Official Website: Saryo Souen Official Website
- Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from the “Akiu Onsen Yumoto” bus stop
- Address: 1 Kamatohigashi, Yumoto, Akiu-machi, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0241
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/rSnaNEa6FicmyuQb7
Shoan
Source: Shoan Official Website
■ The Appeal of Shoan
Shoan is a secluded inn with only 11 rooms, nestled in Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture — one of Japan’s Three Most Scenic Views. This inn is located at the tip of a cape overlooking Matsushima Bay, offering breathtakingly beautiful scenery reminiscent of a watercolor painting. The great appeal of Shoan lies in the opportunity to enjoy the ever-changing landscape of Matsushima, a view so stunning that the famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho was reportedly left speechless.
1. Architecture and Design
Shoan features a luxurious layout of only 11 rooms across an expansive approximately 10,000-square-meter property, with a design that prioritizes privacy. Each guest room offers panoramic views of Matsushima Bay, where the scenery changes by the hour. The interior is designed in a purely traditional Japanese style, adorned with masterpieces by renowned artists such as Hirayama Ikuo and Uemura Shoen, allowing guests to immerse themselves in art during their stay. Additionally, the “Salon Kura” features a library of approximately 2,000 books for reading enjoyment.
2. Culinary Excellence
The cuisine at Shoan centers on kaiseki (traditional multi-course) dishes that make generous use of fresh seafood from the Sanriku coast and local Miyagi ingredients. The head chef carefully selects the finest seasonal ingredients, preparing health-conscious dishes that are gentle on the body. Both breakfast and dinner are visually stunning and deeply flavorful, with the fresh seafood in particular receiving high praise from guests.
3. Guest Rooms with Spectacular Views
With only 11 rooms, Shoan offers a luxurious sense of space, with each room featuring its own unique character while reflecting the beauty of traditional Japanese design. From the guest rooms, visitors can gaze out at the distant Matsushima coastline, enjoying a relaxing time in an environment harmonized with nature. Some rooms also feature indoor baths infused with the fragrance of Japanese cypress (hinoki), as well as open-air baths where guests can feel the natural beauty of Matsushima, providing a private and indulgent retreat.
4. Hot Springs for Ultimate Relaxation
The guest-exclusive open-air bath is designed with stone and wood, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere where visitors can relax while feeling the ocean breeze. The open-air bath features a spacious rock bath design, where guests can enjoy a sense of unity with nature accompanied by birdsong.
The men’s large bath features an indoor bath with the gentle fragrance of Japanese cypress (hinoki), while the open-air bath allows guests to relax while taking in the scent of the sea. The women’s large bath features a fantastical octagonal bath with soft light filtering through stained glass, along with a hinoki open-air bath where guests can forget the passage of time and unwind amid the ocean breeze.
■ Access Information for Shoan
- Official Website: https://www.shoan-umine.com/
- Access: Take the train to “Matsushima Kaigan Station,” then use a taxi or shuttle service (advance reservation required).
- Address: Umeki-Ichibamchi, Tetaru, Matsushima-machi, Miyagi-gun, Miyagi 981-0211
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mBvwm73yjH2wxQs7A
Densho Sennen no Yado Sakan
Source: Densho Sennen no Yado Sakan Official Website
■ The Appeal of Densho Sennen no Yado Sakan
Densho Sennen no Yado Sakan is a luxury ryokan with over 1,000 years of history, located in Akiu Onsen, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture. This inn is also known as the “bathing palace” of the feudal lord Date Masamune and is a place where visitors can sense deep history and culture. Guests are treated to a special experience in a space steeped in tradition and prestige.
1. History and Culture
Sakan has served as the guardian of the hot spring waters throughout the over 1,500-year history of Akiu Onsen. Known as a bathing retreat beloved by the feudal lord Date Masamune, the inn displays artifacts and historical documents related to him. Remarkably, the main building houses a sacred fire brought from Mount Koya that has burned continuously for 400 years, deeply moving all who visit.
2. Hot Spring Experience
Akiu Onsen, known as “Natori no Miyu,” is counted among Japan’s Three Imperial Hot Springs. Sakan offers a variety of baths featuring natural free-flowing hot spring water. In particular, “Kawara no Yu,” an open-air bath situated along the mountain stream, is a luxurious bath where guests can feel at one with nature. Visitors can relax both body and mind while gazing at the beautiful scenery of each season.
3. Facilities and Hospitality
The interior of Sakan features a spacious design, with a museum-like lobby and a comfortable tea lounge. In 2016, the inn was used as a venue for the “G7 Sendai Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting,” further elevating its prestige. The attentive hospitality of the staff is also highly regarded, offering guests a warm and heartfelt experience.
4. Guest Room Comfort
Sakan has three wings — Hitenkan, Sansuikan, and Kagetsu-kan — each offering guest rooms with distinct atmospheres. The Hitenkan wing features suite rooms equipped with private gardens and hinoki (Japanese cypress) baths, perfect for an indulgent retreat. Some rooms also feature beds made by Serta, the No. 1 mattress brand in the United States, ensuring a comfortable night’s sleep.
■ Access Information for Densho Sennen no Yado Sakan
- Official Website: https://www.hotel-sakan.com/
- Access: Approximately 50 minutes by bus from JR Sendai Station. Take the bus bound for Akiu Onsen and alight at the “Yumoto” bus stop. Shuttle service available (advance reservation required).
- Address: 280 Yakushi, Yumoto, Akiu-machi, Taihaku-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 982-0241
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QpddU2YLu3Ptje7y5