Okuiki no Sennenyu Hirayama Ryokan

Nestled in Yumoto Onsen on Iki Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Okuiki no Sennenyu Hirayama Ryokan is a hot spring inn with a source said to have more than 1,700 years of history. Long known as a fertility hot spring, it is also famed as a celebrated bath associated with Empress Jingu. The reddish-brown, iron-rich salt spring water flows directly from the source. It is said to help improve circulation and relieve fatigue, and is well known for warming the body to its core.

The cuisine features creative local dishes made with homegrown pesticide-free vegetables, free-range eggs, and seafood from the waters around Iki. Much of the fish served is caught by the head chef himself, who goes out on his own boat. When the catch is poor, he carefully selects seafood from local fishermen instead, using seasonal fish that can only be enjoyed at that time of year. Additional à la carte dishes include a wide variety of options such as grouper hot pot, wild boar hot pot, and Iki beef sukiyaki.

There are just eight guest rooms, each offering a calm space with the warmth of wood. These include the open-air bath room Tsuki no Ma, along with Japanese and Western-style rooms named after elements of nature. Seasonal events are also plentiful, including the spring sea urchin festival and firefly viewing around mid-May. Through its thousand-year hot spring, fine cuisine, and heartfelt hospitality, this inn shares the charm of Iki.