What kind of traditional gourmet ryokan is Kinjohro near Kanazawa station?
In a cold and snowy January, we took the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Tokyo station, arrived at Kanazawa Station in two and a half hours, and took a ten-minute cab ride from the station to Kinjohro. We passed through the gate and were greeted by the prestigious and magnificent gold folding screen at the entrance. The gorgeously illuminated gold folding screen enveloped us with its overwhelming presence. Stepping into the building, I was surprised at the tranquility of the place. Despite its location in the center of Kanazawa city, it had an extraordinary ambience that made me forget the hustle and bustle of the city. The vast grounds, covering an area of 1,000 tsubo (about 1,000 m2), were like a labyrinth.
The tatami-matted hallway was lined with various Kutani ware, Kaga Yuzen, and other crafts, reminding us of Kanazawa’s history and culture. At the same time, comfort and convenience were taken into consideration, with luxurious furnishings and facilities. A convention hall was also located in the basement. It was the best of hospitality, with 130 years of unchanged traditions and modern-day thoughtfulness. During my stay, I was repeatedly impressed by the beauty of the buildings and rooms of Kinjohro, which still have a long history, and the wonderful garden with its masonry and plantings. This is truly a place where Kanazawa’s traditions, history, and culture are condensed.
When we arrived, the young master and watchman greeted us at the entrance. As we took off our shoes at the entrance and walked down the long hallway with its magnificent tatami mats, we felt as if we had stepped back. This place looks like a splendid samurai residence. On the way to the room, the view of the garden from the hallway was also quaint and gave a sense of the dignity of a long-established luxury ryokan.
We were shown to a room called “Yukino-ma,” an elegant Japanese-style room with twin beds on tatami mats. When we entered the room, we were greeted with the aroma of Vietnamese agarwood. The room window overlooked a well-kept garden, where small birds were walking on snow-covered moss. Then from the windows, the light shining through the bamboo blinds with traditional Japanese shoji frames was beautiful. The bathrooms also had a fragrant cypress bath.
There are only six rooms, and although the rooms were full, we did not see any other guests during our stay. I think the emphasis is completely on the private experience of each guest. It is no exaggeration to say that Kinjoro is a precious place where one can experience firsthand the Japanese traditions and culture that are gradually being lost in today’s increasingly Westernized Japan.
Then this is a famous gourmet ryokan. It offers unique kaiseki cuisine that is a fusion of cooking methods that have been thought through and new cooking methods that have been developed in the art of Japanese cuisine. The space of the historic Japanese architecture and the kaiseki cuisine served in the changing seasons were excellent. In addition, the view of the illuminated Japanese garden as we dined is still burned in my mind.
Then, the area around the ryokan is within walking distance of Kanazawa’s famous sightseeing spots. It is a very convenient location for those staying in Kanazawa for the first time. The location is just a couple of minutes’ walk to the east teahouse district, which is ideal for a walk before breakfast or after dinner. During the day, there are many tourists, so it is not an atmosphere to enjoy the nostalgically attractive townscape, but at night it is quiet and a lovely, romantic spot for a stroll. In addition, Kenroku-en is illuminated at night. Refer to the info. Please visit after dinner. The staff prepared a walking map with recommendations.
If I were to venture a fault, it would still be the lack of a hot spring on the premises. This is unavoidable since the ryokan is located close to Kanazawa Station. Also, you may feel that the price range is high, but everything is first class, so the cost performance may be rather good.
Check availability and pricing for the ryokan on Agoda
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Is the location easy to access?
The location is a 10min-drive from Kanazawa Station. It costs around 1,500JPY by TAXI and takes around 30min on foot. A free shuttle service is not available. It would be a bit inconvenient from the station, but Kanazawa castle park, Kenroku-en, and Nagamachi Samurai district, etc. are within walking distance from the property. The location is great to walk around Kanazawa city.
Where is the best accommodation for anniversaries?
If you are looking for a good place for a special occasion, I would recommend it. This is a luxury ryokan for adults. The staff arranges flowers and cakes to celebrate an anniversary at additional charges if you request in advance.
Rooms I would recommend?
If you stay here, I would recommend the rooms called “Kiku-no-Ma”, “Funi-no-Ma”, and “Yuki-no-Ma”. These rooms have twin beds. If you do not like to sleep on futon in a Tatami room, you can reserve a room with twin beds on Tatami.
How about toiletries & in-room amenities?
All of the amenities are taken care of including enough toiletries, yukatas, pajamas, bathrobes, a Japanese tea set, a complimentary mini-bar including Japanese sake and beer. There are BVLGARI amenities in the bathroom. There are nice skincare products which are made in Kanazawa. The free WiFi reception was good. Room service is not available.
How about In-house Facilities?
There are no communal baths, lounges or bars. Then this is an almost universal design. There is a lift. A wheelchair is available for borrowing. If you bring people with weak legs, you may want to inform the staff in advance as they can arrange a room near the entrance. Then there is no vending machine for drinks, but there is a convenience store nearby.
How about meals?
The kaiseki cuisine here is authentic. It may be challenging for the western palate, but it’s worth trying it if you stay here
*Please note that inform the staff when you book a room with meals if you have any food allergies. They probably wouldn’t be able to prepare alternative food if you request it on that day.
Alternatively, you can go out for meals as there are many restaurants around Kanazawa Station.
My impressions
Overall, the price range is high, but it is a first-class, purely Japanese cultural experience. Then again, the best time to stay at Kinjohro would be spring or fall. There are many wonderful spots in that area. You can also fully enjoy walking around the beautiful scenery of Kanazawa city. We also recommend taking a rickshaw from the ryokan to the sightseeing spots. For more information, please ask our staff.
This time, we visited during the cold snowy season because we wanted to see Kenroku-en in snowy scenery, but there were places where the roads were icy and slippery because of many cobblestones. If you visit during the winter season, be sure to take warm clothing.
Have a nice trip! Welcome to receive any questions about the property from the below space. *They can hold your luggage before check-in and after check-out. Check availability and pricing for the ryokan on Agoda
Info about Kinjohro
| Style | Traditional Ryokan |
|---|---|
| Check-in and out time |
16:00/11:00 |
| Estimated Price | 100,000 JPY for 2 adults per room |
| Contact E-mail |
Fill the form in |
| Internet Connection | Free wifi in the ryokan |
| Facility Information | Wheelchairs are available Pets are not allowed The free parking lot is available |
| Location | Kinjohro’s MAP |
| Access | 10min by TAXI from Kanazawa Station |
| Address and TEL | Tel +81 |
| Official Homepage | Kinjohro’s HP |
*All information above is as of the date that I posted on my blog.
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