Auberge Homachi Mikuniminato — Hotel in Sakai

Style. Meticulously renovated restored and recently opened hotel of 9 separate houses throughout town

Setting. Upcycled machiyas for a sense of nostalgia in a once busy coastal merchant town. An escape from touristy Kyoto, I drove in but the train is only 90 min ride from Kyoto station

Explore. The under the radar quiet little seaside town including the splendid bank from 1920s, cute shops and restaurants, and other historical machiyas, several of which have been turned into hotel accommodations, each one unique

Rooms. My lovely spacious two storey townhouse Konoji, built early Showa period, more an uncluttered private home (with laundry machine, books etc) was super close to “downtown” and just hidden behind the hotel’s French restaurant, in the heart of town, 1163 square feet with two bedrooms, meticulously rebuilt, except for the wood beamed roof of the ground floor living room, the house looks completely brand new, the facade of the other townhouses (all in separate buildings) looked more authentically old

@ the hotel I love the historical colorful stories of the town. A short walk from the once bustling but still shimmering Kuzuryu River. Most staff spoke English well especially the staff that checked me in.

Food & drinks. Upscale delicious French cuisine using local ingredients, one of Michelin star chef Tateru Yoshino’s restaurants

Prices. $590 included dinner &...

I recently stayed at Auberge Homachi Mikuni Minato, and it was such a great experience. The renovated machiya had the perfect mix of traditional charm and modern comfort, making it really easy to relax.

Dinner was seriously impressive. Every dish was made with local ingredients, looked amazing, and tasted even better. The beef and fish were especially memorable. The staff were super friendly and made the whole experience feel extra special.

Walking around the area was also a lot of fun. The old streets are full of history, and it felt like stepping back in time. There were lots of interesting places to check out, like traditional houses and small museums, which made for a really enjoyable walk.

If you’re looking for somewhere to relax and take in some history, I’d totally recommend this place. I can’t...

Beautiful, diffused hotel-style accommodation with rooms that strike a fine balance between modern comforts and traditional Japanese design. There's not an awful lot going on in the town - so it's a great place to kick back and do nothing - but if you are looking for excursions, it's best to have a car. The French restaurant in the hotel is nice, and some of the dinner dishes were genuinely exceptional, but I found the breakfast (which included eggs in a thick red wine sauce) a little too rich for 7am, and the dinner service felt quite uptight - opera music filtered out of the speakers and the staff were walking around stiff-backed and in suits. A more relaxed approach to the dining side of the experience would have...