Okiya Guest House & Tapas Bar

Gorgeous wooden japanese house with great food and comfortable bedding. Friendly and attentive owners.

Tapas bar on the property

Nothing

Hosts Gabriel and Yuko are really warm and hospitable, made us feel very welcome! The house is actually an old Geisha house which they bought years back and spent a lot of effort and resources to transform into a masterpiece, which exudes a blend of tradition and modernity. The food prepared by our hosts were really great. We were served dishes with a strong Argentinian/Italian influence that were skillfully prepared and presented. Among my favorites were the Empanadas (especially the mushroom version which added a local Kiryu twist), and the Chicken Milanese which I had to stop my dad from over ordering LOL because there was still much delicious food to try - and the food was so good I really wanted to try everything. I also got to try the best chimichurri I ever had - very densely flavored with perfect blend of dry and fresh herbs, with the right touch of spicy and garlicy flavors. It was so good I was eating it on its own! My biggest regret is I went on a day which they didn't have BBQ - the chimichurri would have paired sublimely. We were also introduced to Mate tea - an Argentinian staple with an acquired taste which boosts energy levels. Our hosts took the time to explain the significance of Mate tea in Argentinian culture and patiently guided guests through the proper way to enjoy it. The entire experience was in a very private cozy setting because the hosts only specially cook for their guests. Rooms and toilet + bathroom were impeccably clean and had a sense of freshness. Beds were very comfortable as well. In all my travels to Japan, i can safely say that this is the house with the highest quality to price ratio and the experience offered was a very special one! We left as friends of the house :)

Everything about our stay was really excellent with good food, a great wine cellar and friendly hosts who went out of there way to make you feel comfortable and at ease in what is basically is their own home. Access to a washing machine was an added bonus as we had just completed soem long walks so we needed to rest and refresh.

We were more than happy with envying about our stay!

I lived in Kiryu over 20 years ago, and it was such a surprise and delight to learn of this unique and affordable lodging option when I came to visit this past spring. I highly recommend it. CULTURE: A very well-restored and CLEAN establishment. A Japanese carpenter friend was impressed as we dined at the bar/restaurant, where there’s also a wall with the okiya’s history. FOOD: Wonderful Argentinian cuisine. I wish I could’ve tried more. PROPRIETORS: Very kind, generous owners. The early morning shuttle to the station for our departure in the rain was very much appreciated. LOCATION: In the heart of Kiryu, so everything you need is within close walking distance.

I don’t have any dislikes, but here are some things to note for other travelers: 1) As an old, traditional house, it’s easy to hear sounds from the neighboring room(s), so please be courteous, especially at night, and bring earplugs if you’re sensitive to sound. 2) If you have trouble with stairs, this is not for you. While relatively short, the steps to the second floor are narrow and steep. Again, this is a restored, historical home.

The highlight for us were the hosts, Gabriel and Yuko. it is rare in our travels to find more attentive hosts who were generous with their time and in a relaxed manner. They brought their guests together and we sat as a communal table for breakfast sharing stories and information about their town of Kiryu. Although it’s not a big tourist town, Kiryu has many quirky shops and artisans plying their handmade trades. A magic show organised in the guest house on Saturday night was the icing on the cake as tables of locals and travellers shared the thrill of seeing a traditional magician weave his magic. Fantastic, this place is what travel is all about.

nothing to dislike here.

Very nice hosts. Nice and cosy renovated traditional Japanese house. Excellent food. Well located.

Traditional but renovated, very nice owners. Not far from the JR station. Will not disappoint.

Yoko and Gabriel are great owner/ operator. They kindly offered early check in, and allowed us to store our huge luggages in an extra room. The place is nicely restored traditionally, while you can also see some of Gabriel’s Argentinian touch to the Great Room area. We dined in here for lunch and breakfast, and most of the food here tasted great. We forgot our plug converter and Yoko was so kind to chase after us all the way to the train station just to return it. Highly recommend to whomever plans to visit Kiryu / Ashikaga area.

The stair steps are a bit steep and small - probably from the original building design. Just have to carefully go up/ down.