A long-established Japanese Inn awaits you with good old-fashioned Japanese traditions and nature experiences

Last update : 24 Jul 2023

Asahikan, a long-established Japanese Inn, still retains good old-fashioned Japanese traditions. With relaxing guest rooms, dishes incorporating in-season produce, and homely hospitality, Asahikan is full of charm! While staying at the inn, guests can enjoy experiencing the nature characteristic of Kawakami village in Nara Prefecture through activities such as lake kayaking and icefall trekking.

Close to a World Heritage site! A restful Inn full of history

Asahikan was founded around 140 years ago. It is located in front of the trail entrance to the World Heritage site, Mt. Omine, and has long been popular as a restful Inn for mountain climbers. Cuisine served at the inn features a variety of local seasonal produce, with a wonderful array of dishes from sweetfish grilled with salt and fresh deer sashimi to wild mountain vegetable dishes.

You are welcomed by an attentive proprietress.

The beauty of the starry sky is one of the attractions of the area.
© Katsuhiko Tsujimoto Photo

Situated in the heart of the Omine mountains, midway along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route.

The finest hospitality to gently relieve the stress of your travels

The inn is a traditional Japanese wooden building. An interior of glass fittings, corridors with polished floorboards, and retro-style tiles gives it an air of nostalgia. The guest rooms feature two private adjoining rooms. Guests can enjoy their time relaxing in the extensive space with tatami mat flooring. The delightful bath is made of Japanese umbrella pine and is filled with heated water from a source in the nearby mountains. The hot water on the skin feels just like a natural skin lotion and will gently relieve the stresses of travel. Guests can fully enjoy the hospitality typical of a long-standing Japanese inn. They are treated with tea brewed from tea leaves from their own mountain nearby and the famous Yuzu yokan confectionery made by the proprietress in the KAMADO.

An exquisite Japanese-style room with a tokonoma alcove is perfect for relaxing.

Feel the beauty of the Japanese style in this mossy courtyard.

Nature experience tours await guests all year round

While staying at the inn, guests can enjoy a variety of nature experiences including mountain climbing and hiking in the surrounding mountains. They can enjoy getting to know the charms of the nature, culture, and history of Kawakami village in Nara Prefecture under the guidance of a professional guide. Different kinds of tours are offered in each of the four seasons. Popular tours are the 'caving' tour, where you explore natural caves; the 'moss walk (mountain trail trekking)', which offers a leisurely walk along old mossy paths; and lake kayaking, a tour that even beginners can freely participate in. Icefall trekking, which can only be enjoyed during the winter months, is also worthy of mention. Mysterious scenes of frozen waterfalls, which make it feel as if time has stopped, are sure to impress anybody who takes part.