Minamikan

Garden & Landscape: The property features a highly ranked Japanese garden with white sand, ancient pine trees, and dry landscape design. The garden is a notable attraction, often highlighted in travel magazines and appreciated for its tranquility and aesthetic appeal.

This wonderful ryokan, founded in 1888, is on Lake Shinji. That old? I was amazed to hear its age, but obviously this ryokan has undergone renovations to keep up with the times. To me, it felt quite modern. The room was spacious, with the ability to section off a living room, and dining area from the sleeping area. There was an in-suite hot tub (onsen) with windows overlooking the lake. Like many ryokans, the toilet was hidden away in another part of the suite, but it was quite adequate. I enjoyed the early morning when I could sip tea or coffee I made from the in-room appliances. Then, I could watch many small fishing boats going out to sea. The staff were quite accommodating. Japanese or "American" breakfast was included. I was with a group of 10 people. We had a kaiseki dinner in a private room. The food was terrific. The staff was amazing, truly fabulous staff who accommodated all our requests with such grace. This must be the best ryokan in Matsue!