Traditional Japanese hotel where you’ll experience local traditions and culture
Watei Kazekomichi / Atami / Shizuoka / Japan
One of the best things with traveling is experiencing new cultures (I know, a very unique point of view), learning about local traditions and not the least, trying out local cuisine. To me, food is maybe my favorite cultural element of my travels. And in some cases hotels can be a manifestation of all these cultural experiences where the essence of a local culture is presented in one perfect little package. This was very much the case with this hotel, Watei Kazekomichi, located in the hills above the sleepy coastal town of Atami, on the east coast of Japan.
The cultural experience all starts when you arrive at the hotel, and you are asked to take off your shoes by the entrance and change into slippers. While we waited for the check in to be completed we were offered some tea, which we had sitting in two comfy chairs facing the ocean view.
The hotel is built on a step mountain side so our room was situated on the lower ground floor, below the reception and the style was classic traditional, Japanese with tatami mats, bamboo features, low slung furniture and the best of all, our own private onsen waiting for us on the terrace. It was filled with thermal water so it is naturally warm, or hot to be honest. We stayed here during Winter and I am pretty sure we spent more time in the bath than out.
And when talking about cultural experiences, one of most impressive things about staying here is the food. It actually started before dinner when we were asked to dress in the traditional garb that where hanging in our room. Dinner is included in the price and is a 8 (!!) course show with so many items I had never heard of let alone tasted before. Things I didn’t even know you could eat. And it was all displayed in the most beautiful way where it was like they had created small pieces of art.
When we arrived back to our room after dinner, swollen like two little piglets, our room had been transformed from day to night, and the bed, a traditional futon, had been made up right on the floor. But before we would call it a night, of course we had to do one more dip in the onsen. And maybe not too surprising, that is also how we started our day the next morning before diving into the breakfast.
Ready to board the Shinkansen train to Atami.
When exiting the station in Atami there is a public foot bath where you can freshen up after your trip.
Welcome to Water Kazekomichi! There is a shuttle that takes you from the station to the hotel.
When you enter you will have to leave your shoes at the door and change into slippers.
The view from the hotel lounge stretching to downtown Atami and the sea.
Some welcome tea while waiting for the check-in to be completed.
Heading down stairs to our room.
Tatami mats and bamboo, all very traditional.
I love this cute tea set that we had in our room.
My favorite feature, our own outdoor onsen with views of the surroundings.
This set of local clothes was waiting for us in the room and we were asked to wear them for dinner.
Dinner is served sitting in booths, like we were competing in some kind of game show.
The courses just kept on coming and one was more visually stunning than the next.
When we came back to our room after dinner, there was a bag with hot water bottles hanging on our door…
…and a bad had been placed on the floor, a traditional futon.
First thing we did in the morning was to slip into the hot water to watch the sunrise.
From the bath, directly to the breakfast table.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…want to experience an authentic Japanese hotel, where you eat traditional food and get to sleep on a futon and you have your own onsen bath If you are looking for this kind of experience, you should try Watei Kazekomichi.
My favorite thing about this place…
…was the private bath we had on our terrace with hot thermal water. We took baths morning, noon and night, so we really maximized our stay here.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to bring an open food-mindset. You will experience something unique, at least from north European point of view.
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Røisheim / Lom, Norway
Masseria Cimino / Fasano, Italy
Hisa Raduha / Luce, Slovenia
