A Land of Forests and Waterfalls, Home to Birds and Monkeys

When people think of Osaka, most imagine the neon lights of Dotonbori, street vendors selling takoyaki, and the imposing walls of Osaka Castle. But there is another side of Osaka beyond the city limits, no more than a half-hour ride by train, where nature not only survives but thrives in all its splendor. Best known for a dramatic cascade known as the Mino Falls, the deep forests of Mino Quasi-National Park are home to many bird species as well as Japanese macaque monkeys. Staying at Meitokuan in the midst of the national park provides you with a unique opportunity to reconnect with nature while experiencing the warmth of traditional Japanese hospitality.

An Intimate Night in a Ryokan Under a Canopy of Leaves

Meitokuan is much more than a typical hotel that provides pleasant views of nature. Constructed largely of wood and other traditional materials, this ryokan almost seems to have sprung up from the soil itself, just like the lush forests that surround it. With just three guest rooms, Meitokuan also provides you with the time and space you need to clear your mind and focus on the here and now. Relax in the quiet comfort of your beautiful Japanese-style guest room and wander blissfully through the serenity of the ryokan’s grounds with its garden and historic teahouse.

A Stay with a Sense of Place

Settle into the Serenity of the Ryokan Over a Welcome Drink

While Meitokuan has been constructed in the spirit of a traditional ryokan, you will notice from the moment that you step inside that it also incorporates modern comforts and Western-style furnishings. For example, the public lounge next to the lobby has comfortable sofas as well as antique lamps where you can relax as you enjoy views of the ryokan’s inner garden and the forest beyond. This is where you will be served your exclusive Wabunka　welcome drink with sweets after you arrive.

Take a Brief Guided Tour of the Ryokan for a Sense of History and Tradition

After you have had time to enjoy your welcome drink, you can take a brief guided tour around the ryokan and its inner garden, as well as two particularly fascinating nearby buildings. This exclusive tour is available only through Wabunka. The on-site teahouse, Rinsho Yakumuan, was built more than 90 years ago at a villa on the shores of Lake Biwa, from where it was later relocated to Meitokuan. Rinsho Yakumuan embodies the refined simplicity of the traditional sukiya style that provides the ideal setting for tea ceremonies.

Having seen the teahouse, you will move on to a small wooden building known as the Jishudo. Built in 2008, this elegant structure contains a large collection of books, photographs, and calligraphy. Particularly well-represented are the works of eminent individuals who contributed to the modernization of Japan during the Meiji period (1868-1912). You are welcome to browse the collection as you like and the staff on hand will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

Pre-Selected Rooms

Shizen-no-ma   is a spacious suite centered around a large tatami-mat room with sliding shoji doors that open to reveal views of the garden. The room’s veranda opens onto a stone path, which leads to the bathhouse. While Shizen-no-ma does not have a private bath of its own, you can reserve either the large bath or small bath in the bathhouse for private bathing. At night, comfortable futons are laid out on the tatami mats to provide you with a good night’s sleep.

Other Rooms

Jitoku-no-Ma

Jitoku-no-Ma retains the classic features of traditional ryokan design such as sliding shoji doors and tatami-mat floors, alongside two single beds and other examples of Western-style furniture. The river runs close by and the windows look out through the leaves of the nearby trees into the deeper reaches of the forest. The room includes a private bath.

Seiryo-no-Ma

Seiryo-no-Ma looks out onto the river as well as a private garden. As well as a double bed, it includes a large armchair just perfect for settling in with a good book to watch the world go by, with a shelf filled with books provided just in case you forgot to bring one from home. The room includes a private bath.

*Please note that room assignments may be subject to change based on availability. If a change is necessary, the rate may vary, and we will notify you of the details beforehand.

Moments at the Table

Enjoy Fresh Sushi in Your Guest Room in the Evening (Additional Option) and Wake Up to a Well-Balanced Breakfast 

If you wish, you can have dinner and breakfast served to you in the privacy and comfort of your guest room at Meitokuan. Breakfast is included as part of this plan. While dinner is an optional extra (additional fees apply), take some time to ponder the possibility of a special sushi kaiseki meal being prepared just for you.

Breakfast

Breakfast at Meitokuan is included with your stay. It is a simple healthy morning meal typical of Japanese cuisine, including grilled fish, steamed rice, miso soup, and rolled Japanese omelet. If you are going for a hike (additional option) in the morning, the accommodation can prepare your breakfast as a bento box so that you can stop to enjoy it with a picnic en route.

Dinner

While there are dining options in the local area, you might not want to leave Meitokuan for dinner once you have settled into your beautiful guest room. If you would prefer to dine in the privacy and comfort of your room, the ryokan can arrange for a delectable assortment of freshly-prepared sushi to be served to you personally by the chef. Please note that because this private sushi kaiseki dinner is an additional option not covered under this plan, additional fees apply.

Deepen Your Connection to the Region

Experience the Timeless Tranquility of a Japanese Tea Ceremony(Additional Option)

The Japanese tea ceremony has long been intimately connected with reverence for nature, including a particularly strong appreciation of the seasons. To experience this timeless tradition, you can participate in a private tea ceremony at the ryokan’s on-site teahouse, Rinsho Yakumuan, which is more than 90 years old. Held amidst the forests of a national park, this particular tea ceremony truly emphasizes this uniquely Japanese art’s deep relationship with nature. Please note that because this experience is an additional option not covered under this plan, additional fees apply. This experience includes special Wabunka-only sweets that you can eat right away or take home to enjoy later.

Explore Mino Quasi-National Park with a Guided Hike Along a Special Wabunka-Only Route (Additional Option)

Having spent the night in Meitokuan gazing out onto the natural beauty that surrounds it, you may be eager to head out into Mino Quasi-National Park yourself to explore. With this exclusive Wabunka offer, a local guide with extensive knowledge of the area’s history and biological diversity will take you on a private tour through some of the park’s most interesting and attractive locations, following a special Wabunka-only route that includes Mino Falls and Katsuo-ji Temple. The hike takes approximately 2 hours. Please note that the route may change due to weather and trail conditions. Because this experience is an additional option not covered under this plan, additional fees apply.

Escape into a World of Natural Beauty and Traditional Japanese Hospitality

Japan is well known for its areas of outstanding natural beauty, but few visitors realize that such places can be found so close to major urban centers like Osaka. And yet all it takes to escape into the lush forests of Mino Quasi-National Park is a sense of adventure and a short ride on the local train.

While such proximity to Osaka makes the idea of a daytrip tempting, an overnight stay at Meitokuan offers a far more fulfilling experience of this extraordinary part of Japan. As well as the opportunity to relax and reconnect with nature, this unique ryokan within a national park is a beacon of warm Japanese hospitality that will remain much longer in the memories you treasure from your journey.