Bear Luxe Japan

Accommodation

Hatago Wakatsu

Oumihachiman / Shiga

BLJ Tips & Insights

A 190-year-old former tatami shop gets the contemporary and elevated treatment as a chic new ryokan outside Kyoto Omi Hachiman, on the periphery of Japan’s largest freshwater lake, Biwa, is the traditional home of Omi merchants, collectively credited with having helped fuel the country’s economy during the prosperous Edo period. Here, in its well-preserved old town, the luxury ryokan Hatago Wakatsu opened in November 2020, in a structure originally built in 1830 as a tatami shop. The ryokan offers two types of suites: a wood-themed room, which offers the full traditional Japanese inn experience, complete with thin straw mattresses on tatami floors; and a stone-themed room, which features Western-style beds and a stone bath. The property’s thoughtful design details, tightly edited dining menu and exceptional arrival experience speak to the care and attention its owner has poured into it. But the real draw is how all these seamlessly come together for a singular immersive experience of historical Japan in a contemporary and chic setting.