Asaba

Sink into an open-air bath filled with spring water and close your eyes as every knot in your body melts away. You may not be the founder of Japanese Buddhism – or a Buddhist at all, for that matter – but there’s no denying the fact that the man who was knew how to relax. Legend has it that Kobo Daishi bathed each morning in the river Katsura in order to purify his mind and body. That river is just minutes away from Asaba.

If you’re lucky, Zen will take over all five of your senses while you’re here, and you’ll pass your days playing golf in a stunning setting, dining on deliciously traditional dishes, and contemplating the beauty and peace of your magnificent natural surroundings.

Choose between twelve rooms and five suites designed with simple, gorgeous Japanese luxury in mind. This may be an old inn, but it has been impeccably maintained and perfectly updated and is now a lovely ryokan.

If you feel the need to get out and explore, the Hakone National Park, Izu Peninsula, and Mount Fuji are all located in the same region as Asaba. Or simply spend a day or evening in the town of Shuzenji. When you’ve made Asaba your temporary home, you won’t want to leave it for long.