Asadaya is a very small ryokan in Kanazawa. The property only has a total of four rooms. It is located in an excellent location, just across the street from Omicho Market. Unfortunately, they do not have an onsen. I stayed in room Takao which was far smaller than my previous two ryokans.
A small foyer branches into two directions. Right goes to the bathroom with shower. Left is the living/sleeping space with sliding doors that open to a sitting area which offers views of a garden. The intimacy added to the ryokan feel which I welcomed.
Like all ryokans, I was welcomed with tea and wagashi upon my arrival. They have a dedicated room for precisely this purpose. I say dedicated because I was invited to sit next to a special apparatus designed specifically to make tea and there’s nothing else in the room. Unlike others, they had a branded thermos as a welcoming gift.
Kaiseki dinner was served in a different room with great views of a prettier garden. The owner also dropped in to greet me. I was introduced to ishiyaki which was cool. The ginger ale I ordered did not taste like it came from a can. I wish I had asked if it was made from scratch. Breakfast next morning was served in yet another room with views of another garden.
After my experience with Gora Kadan, I was curious if Asadaya would match their level of service so I made a request for them to retrieve a shinkansen ticket. They declined. I am not deducting points here because Kadan really went above and beyond.
More importantly, the service was excellent. The public bath (not hot spring water) is only big enough for one so guests are asked to schedule at checkin. I am only interested in onsen and it didn’t quite fit my schedule so I declined. They reiterated the offer throughout my stay without being pushy which is a delicate balance not everyone has mastered. During booking, I had mentioned that I get cold easily. Upon my return from dinner, I found an extra blanket laid out and the heat cranked up.
Two things in particular stood out and both occurred after my stay. I had opted to walk to the station whose shortest path required me to pass through Omicho Market. If the reader is unfamiliar, it’s an incredibly boisterous and crowded area. I had gotten lost in it the day before. One of the staff offered to escort me through the quagmire so that I just have to walk straight ahead thereafter. Saved a headache when you have a train to catch.
Then the following day I receive an email. In addition to thanking me for my stay, it revealed that they will keep records of the food I liked/disliked, the pillow I preferred, and the size of my yukata so that I would feel at home on my next stay. Very impressed.
Leave a Reply