Lake-view Ryokan with Striped Azalea and Green Tea Garden
Located 2 hours from Tokyo by train, KAI Enshu is a hot spring ryokan situated by Lake Hamana in the historic city of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. All rooms offer a view of the lake and this ryokan has a courtyard filled with azalea flowers and the region's ubiquitous tea plants. Shizuoka Prefecture is Japan's number one area for green tea with the highest volume of green tea production in the country. The fresh aroma of tea leaves welcomes guests throughout the year and tea-related activities and services are available including baths with tea balls, a lounge with a tea cellar, and tea stands of different types of green tea as well as visits to nearby tea farms. A kaiseki course dinner using local delicacy, unagi (freshwater eel), and Torafugu (pufferfish) are served for meals. Spend a calming stay with the fresh scents of green tea and rooms decorated with the gentle colors of nature used in local fabric, Enshu mentsumugi (made through cotton loom weaving).
KAI Local Flavors - Kaiseki course meal to taste the seasonal flavors of Lake Hamana and the Enshu sea
The dinner offered at KAI is a multi-course kaiseki meal, where the essence of the local area and season is reflected in each dish. Each is uniquely prepared and presented for moments of discovery and delight throughout the meal. Lake Hamana is famous for its eels. Its mild climate and water quality make it suitable for eel farming, and since the Meiji period, it has flourished as a sacred place for this type of farming. It has long been known as an ingredient that has a deep connection to Japanese food culture. At KAI Enshu, one of the dishes served is grilled unagi flavored with a sauce made from its bones and meat, Japanese sake, soy sauce, and mirin (sweet rice wine). This Special Kaiseki course also includes dishes like sashimi of Torafugu and fried Torafugu.
Winter delicacy - Torafugu (pufferfish) Kaiseki
The Enshu sea is famous for its large catch of Torafugu, which is known as a high-end ingredient and it is low in fat and high in protein and collagen. During wintertime, a course meal with a focus on Torafugu is offered. The course starts with an aperitif of pufferfish fin sake, followed by pufferfish stew, shirako chawanmushi (savory steamed custard), and pufferfish hot pot. At the end of the course, rice porridge using the broth of the hot pot can be savored.
KAI Cultural Discovery - Green Tea Masterclass
KAI Cultural Discovery is a free daily activity designed to introduce guests to the regional culture and traditions. At KAI Enshu, located in the Shizuoka region – Japan’s green tea capital – complimentary tea tastings are held every evening so that guests are given a chance to explore the wonders of Shizuoka teas.
KAI Signature Rooms
From every guest room, the beautiful views of Lake Hamana can be enjoyed. The interior is decorated with shoji doors, lampshades, and cushions by Nukumori Kobo, a local textile business that continues to create fabrics named Enshu mentsumugi through cotton loom weaving. One of the room types, known as the Japanese-style Room with Lake View TC2 is equipped with a counter for tea sets for an all-rounded green tea stay.
Special Features
Courtyard
The Tsumugi tea garden is reminiscent of the stripes of Enshu mentsumugi, with tea trees and azaleas planted alternately. In the center is the garden pavilion, where guests can relax and feel the fresh breeze. In autumn, the azaleas turn red, creating a contrast with the green of the tea tree.
Public hot springs
Two large baths with different styles are available at KAI Enshu and the men's and women’s bath interchange in the morning and night so that both can be enjoyed even with a night stay. "Hana no Yu" features a large cypress tub-shaped open-air bath made by skilled craftsmen. A basket filled with local Shizuoka tea leaves floats on the bath surface. The other bath is called Koto-no-yu, which is an open-air bath, where guests can spend a relaxing and healing time with the breeze from Lake Hamana gently brushing through.
Overview of KAI Enshu
Address: 399-1 Kanzanji, Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
Number of Rooms: 33
Check-in: 3:00 pm / Check-out: 12:00 pm
Starting Room Rate: 31,000 JPY per night (per person in a 2-person stay) with breakfast and dinner included
Direction: 40 mins by car from JR Hamamatsu Station
About KAI Brand
"Japanese Auberge" in classic hot spring regions
KAI is a leading brand of hot spring ryokan where every establishment offers a contemporary take on traditional Japanese inn whilst keeping Western comforts. KAI invites one to discover the multifaceted aspects of Japan through natural hot springs, exploration of local arts and entertainment, and classic Kaiseki-style course meals using local and seasonal flavors. Experience Washoku, Japanese cuisine, presented on carefully selected ceramics for full exposure to culinary sensations.
About Hoshino Resorts
Hoshino Resorts was first established as a Japanese inn/ryokan in 1914 in Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture before it began the operation of other resorts in Japan. Today, it has evolved into a highly influential hotel management company and is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino. Providing a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi, Japanese-style hospitality, the company has expanded rapidly out of Karuizawa since 2001 and now operates more than 60 accommodations both in and outside Japan with one of the following categories: luxury hotel brand “HOSHINOYA,” hot spring ryokan brand “KAI,” countryside resort hotel brand “RISONARE,” city tourism hotel brand “OMO,” free-spirited hotel brand “BEB,” or other unique lodgings.
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