伝心庵 Garden Villa Denshin-An

It’s been a dream for many decades to stay in a traditional Japanese house. Denshin-An did not disappoint. The 100 year old details, the gardens, the rituals, we absolutely loved our stay here! Highly recommend the traditional breakfast.

The only thing that was tricky was that our 16 year old was noted down as a baby. Strange as we always have the same settings on our Booking.com account. We were able to sort it all out and we’re happy to pay the difference but it was quite time consuming on our final night 1 of 2) at the house. The staff were wonderful though. Very helpful with organising a local restaurant on our first night and the traditional breakfast on our last morning.

The plants and trees adorning the garden and entrance beautifully showcase the lush greenery, enhanced by stones, wood, and soft lighting. On a lovely morning, bright sunlight floods the garden, streaming into the inner rooms through the sliding doors and corridors. Everything seems to glow with a layer of vitality, adding a sense of blessing to the space. As night falls, I find the lighting design at the entrance even more captivating than the garden itself. I appreciate the harmony created by the floor lanterns and their gentle illumination on the large stepping stone with a plant hollow at its center. Even when I step on it, the plants beneath remain unharmed. Perhaps the garden will be even more enchanting at night, illuminated by lights when the autumn leaves are ready to fall. Beyond the beauty of the garden, I also cherish the atmosphere. Like many city dwellers captivated by the internet, I often find myself staying up until midnight, engrossed in my electronic devices after a long day of activities. However, there’s a certain magic in this house that makes me want to rest or retire to bed as soon as I arrive. Perhaps this is the charm of living in a Japanese-style home: surrounded by nature and natural materials, it has a calming effect that clears the mind. To enhance this relaxation, I recommend playing some elegant background music through a Bluetooth speaker.

On the flip side, there are some inconveniences to staying in the house. The wooden door locks can be tricky to adjust, and I found myself accidentally locking myself in the bedroom for a few minutes. Managing a detached house is no small feat. While I appreciate the cleanliness and tidiness, it would be ideal if malfunctioning equipment, like the perfume machine in the bedroom, were not accessible to guests. A helpful tip for visitors exploring the garden: be wary of tiny white flying bugs that tend to gather in the bright sunlight. Remember to wake up early to enjoy the peaceful walk.

Everything about the property has been so well considered by the welcoming hosts, making for a wonderful experience. The photos on Booking.com really don't do the property justice - it's just so stunning in real life. Every small detail, down to the lighting and ikebana, was exceptional. Cannot recommend highly enough!

Nothing - we loved everything.

Exceptional experience. Out of all the visits and experiences we had in Japan, this is definitely one of the most memorable - I doubt you can find a more beautiful, typical, traditional Japanese house, as well preserved and with such a garden. Our host Hiro-san was also really nice and always happy to help.

Futons take a bit of getting used to if that's not how you usually sleep