Iga Ueno, famous for the Iga Ninja and the feudal castle first built in 1585, is a quiet town 2 hours by train from Kyoto, or 1 hour from Nara.
The ninja museum is next to the castle, and its a must-go even for adults – the guided tour of the ninja house and the ninja arts show is truly superb.
It’s the perfect place for a young family with kids – the ninja theme will surely satisfy the children’s need for entertainment. So, say it’s for the kids (but you’ll actually love it) and – on the sly – adults can enjoy a lovely destination with a unique sense of identity, famous also for it’s cuisine and the Iga Yaki – a renowned tradition of pottery, with a concentration of makers in a village north of town.
The hotel is spread over 5 buildings in the part of town just south of the castle, all over a hundred years old or more. The main one, where the reception is located along with the restaurant, had been a herbal medicine shop since the 17th century, later becoming a Ryokan for over 150 years before Nipponia took over, and the important details and decorations were painstakingly preserved to a museum standard.
Other buildings converted into hotel rooms include a Meiji era lumber store, and a soy sauce factory and shop.
Nipponia revived these buildings, giving them a second life and a new found appreciation.
The attention to detail is spectacular. As one prime example, we noticed the gravel for the parking space in one of the buildings was made of stones the architect obviously chose for their particular shape, size and aesthetic. With wonderful screen doors, fabulous windows, unique metal fittings, panel drawings and private small gardens, these rooms are a soothing delight.
Also famous for it’s tea, many shops offer tea ceremonies, and to accompany the tea traditional Japanese confectionary shops abound.
