A Journey Designed for You

[Short Stay] Culinary Ryokan Stay near Kanazawa with Sacred Shinto Rituals and Mountain Bounties

Overview

Nestled at the foot of the sacred Mt. Haku, a mere 40 minutes by car from the castle town of Kanazawa, lies Wataya: a traditional ryokan serving elegant kaiseki cuisine crafted from the fish of the rivers and the produce of the mountains. Delight in the changing faces and flavors of the seasons here in the foothills, and enjoy heartfelt traditional hospitality and seasonal dishes in serene surroundings like only a ryokan can offer. Next door, visit the sacred Shirayama Hime Shrine, with a history spanning over 2,100 years, and partake in optional Shinto purification rituals.

location_on Kanazawa / Hokuriku

schedule 1 night

account_balance_wallet from ¥164,600 / group

group 1 - 4 participants

record_voice_over Available in English

event_available Cancel free up to 11 days prior

*The indicated price is a reference estimate based on the selection of accommodation and Misogi Ritual option. Each component can be arranged individually. The price represents the lowest available rate. Please note that prices are subject to change based on the season and room availability.

*The itinerary and prices depicted are a model plan. Itineraries can be customized at guest request, so please feel free to enquire.

*For groups of three and four, an additional fee applies. Please contact us for more information.

*If fewer than 2 participants, the minimum fee will be JPY ¥164,600.

Itinerary Highlights

Wataya	Stay at a historic culinary ryokan and savor exquisite traditional cuisine crafted with fresh bounties from Mt. Hakusan's foothills.
Misogi Ritual (Additional Option)	Under the guidance of a Shinto priest, purify your mind and body with sacred spring water sourced from Mt. Hakusan in the Misogi purification rite.
Guided Worship (Additional Option)	Take a formal tour of the shrine grounds, pay your respects at the worship hall, and join in a formal prayer ceremony featuring the priest’s norito chants and the miko shrine maiden’s kagura dance.

*The itinerary depicted is a model itinerary – transportation arrangements, schedule, and length of stay can all be modified to suit guest needs. Please enquire for itinerary details.

Details

Day 1 | 1:00 PM

Shirayama Hime Shrine, at the Foot of the Hallowed Mount Haku

At 2,702 meters tall, Mt. Hakusan is one of Japan's three venerated peaks. Its snowmelt nourishes rivers and fields, nurturing the region's bountiful crops, catch, and game. For centuries, locals have revered its snow-capped peak as the sacred "Throne of the Snow-white Gods,” a holy site and an object of faith and gratitude.

The wooded approach to Shirayama Hime Shrine

The historic Shirayama Hime Shrine was founded over 2,100 years ago, and remains a beacon of faith for visitors to Mount Haku today. Enveloped by forest, its solemn grounds include a central hall and a cypress-wood worship pavilion. The shrine is the vital spiritual heart and anchor for those who live in the shadow of Mount Haku, in harmony with its gifts, and in connection with its gods.

The hallowed shrine grounds waft of fresh forest foothill air

Day 1 | 3:00 PM

A Welcoming Sanctuary in the Sacred Woods

Within these sanctified woods resides Wataya. This 160-year-old ryokan originally founded as a restaurant along Mount Haku’s Tedori River is a solitary place of repose, nourishment, and culinary delight for those who pass through. Wataya moved to its current location on the shrine grounds in 1950 upon the invitation of the head priest, after its original location suffered multiple floods. Since then, it has shared a deep spiritual and ecological connection with the mountain and its shrine, coexisting with the bounties and threats of nature alike and operating by the grace of the gods.

Wataya melds right into the serene beauty of the surrounding forest

The current innkeeper, Satoko Wada welcomes every guest with a smile – a level of warm hospitality recognized by the 2021 Gault & Millau Japan guide with that year’s Best Service and Hospitality Award. Her inn too is a tranquil escape whose grounds are filled with the by turns stirring and comforting sounds of birdsong, the rustling whispers of trees, and breathtaking garden views bursting with seasonal color.

The Wataya structure is a masterwork of traditional wood architecture. Soft light filters through shoji screens, falling across polished floors, lacquered fittings, and other intricate features carefully appointed down to the last detail in this beautiful atmospheric space. Each of the six guest rooms feature an irori sunken charcoal hearth, plus interior accents like casual arrangements of Wada’s handpicked wildflowers. There is warm and heartfelt welcome in every touch, sure to put a smile on your face.

Satoko gathers fresh wildflowers every day

Day 1 | 5:00 PM

Feast of the Foothills: Savor the Flavors of Mount Haku

For seven generations and counting since the founding of the original restaurant, the cooks of Wataya have handed down their mountain village cuisine, showcasing the plenty of Mount Haku and its wider region: blessings like river fish, wild herbs, mushrooms, and game. Its menu bursts with seasonal selections like tempura mountain vegetables in spring, ayu sweetfish in summer, charcoal-grilled mushrooms in autumn, and shabu-shabu hot pot of bear meat in winter.

Sumptuous mountain village cuisine treats the palate and eyes alike

The star of the course dinner is river fish grilled right at the irori sunken charcoal hearth in your room, done just as it has been since the inn's founding over a century and a half ago. Soak up the fragrance, delight in the low crackling roar of the fire, and warm yourself in a rustic and timeless luxury that’s hard to come by elsewhere.

The in-house chef is dedicated to deliciously grilling the river fish

Day 2 | 9:00 AM

Purify Mind and Body in the Waters of Mount Haku with a Shinto Misogi Ritual (Additional Option)

On your second day, feel free to avail yourself of the opportunity for a private experience at the adjoining Shirayama Hime Shrine, and partake in a sacred Shinto purification ceremony rooted in Japanese mythology under the guidance of a Shinto priest. This is misogi, a ritual cleansing the soul and body alike of sin and impurity. Shirayama Hime Shrine is one of vanishingly few in Japan with a dedicated basin for this ritual, utilizing the life-giving waters of Mount Haku.

*Other visitors or worshippers may be present at the shrine during your visit.

A genuine Shinto misogi-ba, or purification site, part of the shrine grounds

After receiving the priest’s instruction in the rites, don the ritual white robes and step into the bracing water of the misogi basin. This cleansing of body, mind, and soul is an unforgettable immersion in ancient spiritual traditions in the shadow of Mount Haku, sure to leave you feeling refreshed, light, and clear.

A ritual of solemn immersion in cold water and prayer

Day 2 | 10:30 AM

Ascend to the Shrine’s Altar and Offer Prayers to the Mountain Gods (Additional Option)

You can also enjoy a guided ascent to the shoden sanpai prayer ceremony, touring the shrine grounds on your way up to the worship hall to perform a simple but profound act of formal prayer at the worship hall with a bow. Face the gods to convey your gratitude and your earnest prayers alike in this solemn space, glimpsing meanwhile the foundations of Japan’s culture as it has been passed down since time immemorial.

The hall of worship lies just beyond the divine shinmon gate

The norito chants of the priest and the kagura dance of the shrine maiden are solemn and mystical offerings of prayer to the gods of the shrine – sure to leave behind a deep impression. After the ceremony, participants receive omamori charms and osagari sweets, once ritual offerings to the gods. This is a chance to partake in an ancient tradition while feeling gratitude for the divine connection.

A miko shrine maiden performing the kagura, a dance in prayer to the gods

Feel the Divine Presence and Experience Abundance

Wataya is a sanctuary in the woods, a retreat from city bustle swathed in wildflowers, birdsong, profound calm, and the bounties of mountain fare. Time here at the foot of the divine Mount Haku is soulful and flows by in quiet tranquility. Feel the divine presence and sacred nature, seeking your own inner peace through timeless spiritual traditions, and in so doing come face to face with the true abundance that lies within you.

The beauty of tradition and the luxury of leisure in this mountain village

Wataya

location_on I-55-2 Sannomiyamachi, Hakusan, Ishikawa, 920-2114　

near_me Approximately 30 minutes by train from Shin-Nishi-Kanazawa Station to Tsurugi Station on the Hokuriku Railway, followed by a 5-minute taxi ride

near_meApproximately 30 minutes by taxi from Kanazawa Station

Shirayama Hime Shrine

location_onNi-105-1 Sannomiyamachi, Hakusan, Ishikawa, 920-2114　

near_meApproximately 30 minutes by train from Shin-Nishi-Kanazawa Station to Tsurugi Station on the Hokuriku Railway, followed by a 5-minute taxi ride

near_meApproximately 30 minutes by taxi from Kanazawa Station

Things to know

Check-in and Check-out Times	Check-in: From 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Check-out: Until 10:00 AM
Experience Start Time	Day 1 or Day 2 <Misogi Experience> Availability: Offered from March to November. Exclusion date: Unavailable on the 1st of each month, during the New Year holiday period, and on shrine event days. Start Times: 9:00 AM or 1:00 PM <Guided Worship> Exclusion date: Unavailable on the 1st of each month, during the New Year holiday period, and on shrine event days. Start Times: Available every 30 minutes between 8:30 AM and 3:30 PM.
Meal Start Times	Dinner: 5:30 PM / 6:00 PM / 6:30 PM Breakfast: 7:30 AM / 8:00 AM / 8:30 AM *Efforts will be made to accommodate your preferred meal start time; however, adjustments may be necessary depending on the circumstances.
Hotel Facilities	Onsen ✓Large bath ✓Free parking 　On-site restaurant 　On-site bar 　English-speaking staff 　Room service 　24-hour front desk 　Shuttle service
Room Information	Non-smoking (smoking area near entrance) Room type: Japanese style Type of bedding: Futon (Japanese-style floor mattress) Room size: 27 in square meters Free Wi-Fi available
Amenities	Click here
Price	The price covers accommodation, curated experiences, breakfast, dinner and relevant taxes for two adult guests. *Beverage charges are not included in the accommodation fee and must be paid separately on-site. This plan requires a minimum of 2 people.
Maximum number	Up to 4 people per booking All experiences are private for your group. We do not arrange mixed sessions.
Experience itinerary	Day 1 Check-in (3:00 PM - 6:00 PM) Dinner Day 2 Breakfast Check-out (until 10:00 AM) Misogi experience (150min / additional option) or guided worship (60min / additional option) If you are selecting one of these options, please meet at Omotesando Ohagiya (approximately 3 minutes on foot from Wataya). A guide will show you the way. These options can also be arranged on the first day. *The itinerary depicted is a model itinerary – transportation arrangements, schedule, and length of stay can all be modified to suit guest needs. Please enquire for itinerary details.
Payment	Payment in advance (Credit card (JPY) only)
Booking deadline	If you wish to arrange the following services, please contact us no later than the deadlines below: <Accommodation / Experience> At least 10 days before the check-in date We may not be able to accommodate your request after the above deadlines, and we appreciate your understanding.
Cancellation policy	Our cancellation policy allows for a full refund if you cancel your booking 11 days before the experience date. Please contact us before 05:00 PM (JST). Important Notes: Changes to the reservation (including number of guests or schedule) are not permitted after the cancellation policy takes effect. If you wish to make changes, please contact us before the cancellation policy applies.
Guest Requirements	Minimum age: 13 years old Adult rate applies to 13 years old and over
Further Remarks	All guest rooms are equipped with traditional irori hearths, which are used for grilling mochi during the winter season only. Please note that guest rooms do not have private bathrooms or toilets; shared facilities are available on each floor. There is no elevator or barrier-free access in the building. English menus are available during meals, and communication is supported via translation apps. All rooms feature tatami mat flooring; please refrain from placing wet clothing or items directly on the tatami. Tatami mats easily absorb scents, and Japanese cuisine values the delicate aroma of dashi. For this reason, we kindly ask that you refrain from wearing perfume. <Experience> Due to unavoidable circumstances, programs or workshops are subject to last-minute changes and cancellations. If participating in the experience, please meet at Omotesando Ohagiya (approximately 3 minutes from Wataya on foot). A guide will show you the way. Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult guardian over 18 years of age. Misogi Experience: For misogi, a T-shirt, shorts, headband, and hand towel are provided. Guests are asked to wear white undergarments. Misogi participants must be 10 years of age or older and in good health. You will be asked to sign a consent form acknowledging responsibility for your own health. Those with heart disease or high blood pressure cannot participate in this experience. Experiences are subject to weather and the shrine’s schedule. The water temperature is approximately 15°C (59°F), so please understand that it may feel quite cold depending on the season. Wabunka and the activity providers are not responsible for any accidents, injuries, or incidents that may occur during any part of the experience. Participants are expected to take full responsibility for their own safety and physical condition. Participants must arrange appropriate insurance coverage on their own responsibility prior to joining the experience. Travel insurance is strongly recommended for all participants. This plan can also be booked as accommodation-only. If you would like this option, please let us know when booking.

Itinerary Request

A Journey Designed for You

[Short Stay] Culinary Ryokan Stay near Kanazawa with Sacred Shinto Rituals and Mountain Bounties

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