Minamikan

When I mapped out my travel routes for the recent trip to Japan, I was eager to visit a few traditional onsen towns situated along the Coast of Japan Sea. I found Matsue castle town, with its easy access by trains and its significant cultural heritage, met my criteria. But before I confirmed my plan to Matsue, it was the historical ryokan Minamikan that drew my attention first. I used JapaniCan to search a ryokan and saw very impressive professional photos on its website. I booked our room more than four months out when it only had one room left available that would fit my travel plan. I paid 3 times more than what I usually would pay for a night and rearranged my travel routes in order to stay there. After we checked in, it all made sense to me why guests would book Minamikan’s rooms far in advance and would pay a way above average nightly rate. Our room for two has an in-room onsen, 180 degrees of the lake view, award winning stone garden view. It also includes two 10-courses meals a day. I have dined in a Japanese restaurant in Minneapolis, Minnesota and a 10-courses Kaiseki dinner was $150 per person. I thought the nightly rate with two meals was justifiable. Our room is quite spacey comparing to other average ryokan room. It has an in-room onsen; two wash basins; western bath robes and Japanese yukata; a separate toilet room, a separate sleeping quarter with two full size western mattress beds and sliding enclosures; a separate sitting area next to the large ceiling to floor windows, has a foot warming space in a sublevel below the lounge table and adjustable heat. The TV channel selections are limited and mostly in Japanese, but it’s not important to us. Each room provides a refrigerator, bottles of mineral water, tea, coffee and welcome wagashi sweet snack, a local specialty. Minamikan is a historical ryokan. It has been in operations for over 100 years and has welcomed many prominent scholars, writers, novelists, politicians since the late 19th century. Hotel maintains a page of the prominent guest’s names in the guestroom binder to make notice of their stays and to honor their lifetime achievements in literacy. The strategic location by the Lake Shinji offer best views of the fresh water lake. The south facing guest and public rooms offer best views of the sunrise and sunset. The award winning Japanese garden along the shore of the Lake Shinji offers guests a serene atmosphere to reflect, refresh and rejuvenate. During our two-night stay, Staff greeted us anywhere they saw us. They bowed to us by the lobby elevator before we got on and after we got off. Our daily meals were served by rotating staff members. They tried their best to explain each course of the entrée in English. On the day we checked out, staff on duty gave us an elegantly designed envelope, inside was a hand written “thank you” note and asked how we liked our stay. It was a very heartwarming gesture. Minaminkan’s commitment to serve and strive to be the best definitely earned its reputation in hospitality. Minamikan will be my choice again when I return to the Shimane Prefecture. Minamikan does not provide pick up/drop off if you arrive or depart by train or bus. The property is located in the area where passage for the commercial vehicles is limited. The closest bus stop from JR Matsue Station is Kyobashi (the 6th stop from JR Matsue). After getting off the bus, walk back to a nearby narrow bridge that crosses over the canal. Walk pass the bridge and then go straight pass a pedestrian shop street till it ends on another small street. Hotel entrance sits back from a large opening car park lot across from an Italian eatery on the left corner. On the return trip to JR Station there is another bus stop before Matsue Bridge, a large bridge that spanned across the Lake Shinji, bus will take you back to the JR Matsue Station. Matsue Castle is 10 minutes away by foot. Matsue Bridge, a five minutes walk from Minamican, is the best location to watch sunset by Lake Shinji.