Shirakawago Hirase Onsen

We stayed in the twin deluxe room. The room was spacious and had a little bit larger refrigerator, which was great for fitting taller or larger bottles. The in room laundry was wonderful. The location is good, with sightseeing spots within walking distance (plus very close to the bus station too for farther away locations). We were able to adjust the in room temperature to our comfort. The beds were so-so. The mattress wasn't rock hard, but it was very thin, so thin that it felt rigid due to the wood platform the mattress was on. I asked for extra bed pads and the hotel staff provided what I requested and offered extra blankets if I needed. I've slept on worse beds for sure, but something to keep in mind. The breakfast was ok. It was pretty much the same every day, with some dishes swapped. It wasn't fantastic though. However, other than the market or convenience stores, there aren't very many nearby breakfast options. I appreciated the coffee/hot water machine in the lobby for all day drinks. And the nearby ice machine made it easy to make iced coffees. They also had decaf coffee and lattes in their machine! What a wonderful surprise for late day beverages. For the location and amenities offered, I'd consider booking Tokyu Stay if I were to visit Kanazawa again.

We stayed in several beautiful hotels so far, but this was the best place we kept talking about afterwards. The location is extraordinary. During the day, Higashi Chaya is one of Kanazawa’s most visited areas, but early in the morning and after the crowds leave, it becomes quiet and almost completely different. Being able to step outside our own machiya and experience the district at those hours felt incredibly special. The house itself is beautifully considered. It still feels unmistakably like an old Kanazawa machiya, yet everything is refined, comfortable and contemporary. The craftsmanship and artworks throughout the house never felt like decoration for a hotel — they felt naturally part of the space. Having the entire house to ourselves also gave the stay a level of privacy that we really appreciated. The beds were very comfortable, everything was spotless, and check-in was effortless. Preparing matcha in the house in the evening was one of those small experiences that made the stay feel completely different from a conventional hotel. If you are coming to Kanazawa, I would strongly recommend staying here rather than simply visiting Higashi Chaya during the day. For us, the house and the neighborhood became one of the highlights of Kanazawa itself.

It was wonderful, thanks so much