A little disappointing.

One-day hot spring meal menu at Sumiya Kameho-an super public bath can also be a bit luxurious when you want to upgrade the grade of the meal a little. If it's a nearby day trip hot spring, it would be Kameoka Yunohana Onsen. In that case, you can enjoy dishes like this "nodoguro" (blackthroat seaperch). After visiting Izumo Oyashiro Shrine in Chiyogawa on the Kyoto Jukan Expressway, it was evening. I called ahead from the car and decided to have a meal first. I enjoyed some cold tea in the lobby, and felt like I was in a mini resort with the blue autumn leaves outside the large window. I was led to the dining area. A pre-meal drink and appetizers were served. The appetizers included conger eel sushi, simmered taro stem with sesame, ground cherry tamagoyaki, wood ear mushroom with shiraae, silk-wrapped shako shrimp, and it was a delightful spread. Following the winter melon soup with botan conger eel, the sashimi for the hassun course was sea bream and tuna. For more information, visit Sumiya Kameho-an's website or Facebook page.

Sumiya Kamehoan - Celebration of 77th and 70th Birthdays - [Travel] [Edit] My father will be turning 77 next year, and my mother will be turning 70, so we decided to celebrate by going on a family trip. Since we rarely leave our home due to my father's self-employment and the possibility of work-related issues, we chose to stay at Sumiya Kamehoan in Kameoka's Yunohana Onsen. The inn is cozy and has a traditional feel, but it has been renovated beautifully. The staff, including the maids and the owner, were very welcoming. It's an adult-oriented ryokan with no families with children, making it perfect for us elderly folks. We all had a great time and were very satisfied with our stay. The highlight was definitely the dinner. The dishes were delicious, each one served at the perfect timing. The rice, in particular, was amazing, freshly cooked in a pot with locally grown rice from Kameoka. The sukiyaki-style grilled conger eel was also a hit, with a perfectly balanced broth. Dining in a private room made the experience even more enjoyable. The drink menu was impressive, and we enjoyed a variety of wines during our banquet. As a special touch, the inn gave us a gift to celebrate my parents' birthdays, which made us all very happy. The wine selection was great, and we even got to enjoy some wine while listening to a jazz performance. The sake selection was limited but of high quality. We tried two types and particularly liked one brand. The sparkling rosé and Sauvignon Blanc were also excellent choices. Overall, it was a wonderful trip filled with relaxing baths, delicious food, and good company. We arrived at the ryokan around 5 pm, enjoyed the bath, had a leisurely dinner, and then retired to our rooms. We spent the evening playing games and chatting before heading to bed around 10 pm. I, however, couldn't resist taking another bath and enjoying the terrace under the moonlight before finally going to sleep around midnight. The next morning, we woke up early for another bath and enjoyed a delightful breakfast buffet. The pickled vegetables were a standout, especially those with tomato jelly. We even bought some to take home. After breakfast, we said goodbye to my brother, who had to leave early, and then explored the area before heading back home around 1 pm. Despite the short duration, it was a very satisfying and enjoyable trip. Seeing my parents happy and being able to spend quality time with my family made it all worthwhile. Our two cats, Nora and another, were also well-behaved during our absence, adding to the overall joy of the trip.

I won a one-night stay voucher for a luxury ryokan in Kyoto and decided to stay at Sumiya Kamehien. For dinner that day, I enjoyed a special seasonal meal featuring a variety of dishes with conger eel and sweetfish. The highlight was the conger eel, which was particularly delicious. However, I was disappointed when I discovered that the bottle of sake I ordered had already been opened. Sake is all about freshness, and the excitement of opening a new bottle was missing. The food overall was average, with nothing particularly impressive. The conger eel was the standout dish, and I recommend trying the conger eel hot pot over the conger eel shabu-shabu. Despite the reputation of the restaurant, I did not find the food to be exceptional or the atmosphere to be particularly special. For more details, please check out my blog.

Austria wine experience at Sumiya Kamehokian Inn I went to Kyoto for 2 nights and 3 days starting from Friday. I had made a reservation in advance to see the cherry blossoms, but this year the cherry blossoms were late blooming, so I couldn't see many of them. It was also very cold, so I had to wear a down jacket (laughs). Despite that, I had a wonderful trip and I am satisfied. Hopefully, I can visit during the full bloom season next year. I left work early on Friday and took the Shinkansen around 2 PM to head straight to the inn. The inn I stayed at was Sumiya Kamehokian Inn, known for serving Austria wine in Kyoto. I had been wanting to visit for a few years now, and I finally made it happen this time. We arrived at Kameoka station around 5:30 PM and took the last shuttle bus at 5:50 PM to the inn. We soaked in the hot spring and had dinner starting at 7:30 PM. I was looking forward to chatting with the sommelier Mr. Tanaka, who selects the Austria wines, but unfortunately, he was off that day (tears). I hope to confirm Mr. Tanaka's working days next time and visit again. (The inn was so lovely that I definitely want to visit again next time). We had our meal at a window seat overlooking the garden. We started with an appetizer and a dish paired with a glass of a pre-dinner drink. It was an Austria cassis wine in the glass, with a distinct blackcurrant flavor. It was a unique and interesting taste. I love berries, especially blackcurrants with a good balance of acidity and sweetness, so I really enjoyed this pre-dinner drink. I thought about buying it for home. The meal included a variety of dishes such as sashimi, sushi, and a soup served in a clamshell with clam dumplings. The main dish was a hot pot with wild boar meat in miso base, which surprisingly I enjoyed even though I usually don't like wild boar. The grilled bamboo shoots with wood mint miso were delicious, and the pickled fish with vinegar was a unique dish with a sweet and sour flavor. We also had a red Blaufränkisch wine, which had a silky texture and elegant tannins. It had a delicate flavor with hints of berries and floral notes, making it a wonderful wine. Overall, it was a delightful experience with great food and wine, and I look forward to visiting again in the future.