Kaga, Japan
Beniya Mukayu Yamashiro Onsen: Minimalist Kenya Hara designed Relais & Châteaux onsen ryokan in Yamashiro with private hot springs and kaiseki
Nestled on the tranquil forested slopes of Yakushiyama in the historic hot spring town of Yamashiro Onsen in Kaga, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, Beniya Mukayu opened as a world-renowned onsen ryokan sanctuary. Operating as a proud member of Relais & Châteaux, the 16-room architectural haven was artfully designed in minimalist elegance by legendary designer Kenya Hara (Creative Director of MUJI). The philosophy of ‘Mukayu’ (meaning ‘rich emptiness’ or ‘non-existence’) permeates every tranquil space, where every single guest room features a private outdoor open-air hot spring bath (rotenburo) overlooking a Japanese moss garden. Featuring sublime multi-course Kaiseki seasonal dining at Kaiseki Kaiseki, the innovative Spa Mukayu (utilizing Yakushiyama medicinal herbs), and tea ceremony pavilions, this property is Japan’s ultimate onsen ryokan retreat.
Arrival introduces travelers to unvarnished Japanese onsen meditative serenity: guests are welcomed at the minimalist entrance by the ryokan masters (the Nakamichi family) with matcha green tea and seasonal wagashi confections while gazing out over the ancient red pine and maple garden. Day-one logistics focus on coordinating bespoke Kaga artisanal, cultural, and hot spring pursuits: touring the historic Kutani ceramic kilns and Yamanaka lacquerware workshops (10 minutes away), exploring the historic Kanazawa geisha and samurai districts (35 minutes away), soaking in your private outdoor mineral onsen bath on your forest deck, indulging in medicinal herbal ball massage at Spa Mukayu, experiencing a private tea ceremony, and savoring multi-course seasonal Kaiseki dining.
Ryokan living balances deep mineral wellness with master Japanese hospitality: Spa Mukayu features private treatment rooms, communal indoor and outdoor onsen baths filled with natural hot spring waters, and therapies utilizing local Yakushiyama medicinal herbs, sake lees, and camellia oil. Dining is extraordinary: sublime multi-course seasonal Kaiseki gastronomy (featuring fresh Noto Peninsula seafood, seasonal snow crab, Kaga vegetables, and Ishikawa Grand Cru sakes), paired with local Kutani porcelain tableware.
Accommodations comprise 16 private minimalist rooms and suites ranging from 55 to 110 square metres. Each residence features traditional tatami mat salons, floor-to-ceiling glass framing the forest garden, plush futon bedding or Western beds, and private outdoor cedar hot spring baths.
Onsen purists, design lovers, and luxury travelers seeking Kenya Hara minimalism, private rotenburo baths, and Relais & Châteaux Kaiseki dining in Japan should book Beniya Mukayu without hesitation. Travelers seeking generic western city towers should look elsewhere. Grounded review consensus confirms legendary standing with a 4.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor across 680 reviews and a 4.8 out of 5 on Google across 820 reviews.
First day
- Arrive at Kaga-Onsen Station, take the 15-minute transfer to Beniya Mukayu, and sip matcha green tea.
- Check into your suite, step onto your terrace, and soak in your private hot spring bath.
- Dine on multi-course seasonal Kaiseki.
What guests say
Hotel Flock Score
Exceptional
Based on 1.5k published ratings
Category breakdown
Guests Love
Private Rotenburo Baths & Kenya Hara Minimalism
Guests revere the private hot springs, peaceful moss garden, Kenya Hara design, Kaiseki dining, and Nakamichi family care.
Kaiseki Dining & Spa Mukayu Herbal Balls
Reviewers consistently praise the seasonal snow crab, Kutani ceramics, hot spring healing, and serene Japanese aesthetic.
Guests Warn
Ultimate Meditative Ryokan Retreat
Visitors love the pure tranquility and ‘rich emptiness’ philosophy.
Master Japanese Hospitality (Omotenashi)
Travelers celebrate the warm, attentive, and discreet service standard.
The overall score is a review-count-weighted average of named public platforms, normalized to /10. Category scores — including cleanliness and location — are Hotel Flock editorial readings of those reviews, not a platform's private formula. Hotel Flock is not affiliated with Tripadvisor, Booking.com, Trivago, or any other review site.
Awards & Recognition
Relais & Châteaux Japanese Onsen Ryokan Landmark
Relais & Châteaux
Kenya Hara Minimalist Architectural Design Icon
Condé Nast Traveler
Top Hot Spring Ryokan in Japan
Travel + Leisure
In the stay
- Full access to communal indoor/outdoor onsen baths, sauna, and tea pavilion
- Complimentary train station transfers to/from Kaga-Onsen Station on the Shinkansen line
- Full multi-course gourmet Japanese breakfast daily and high-speed Wi-Fi throughout
Usually extra
- –Seasonal snow crab Kaiseki upgrades and sommelier Ishikawa sake pairings
- –Spa Mukayu customized herbal ball therapies and private tea ceremony sessions
- –Private guided excursions to Kutani ceramic workshops and Kanazawa
Good to Know
- The 16-room minimalist onsen ryokan sits in Yamashiro Onsen in Kaga, Japan, Relais & Châteaux.
- Designed by Kenya Hara; includes private outdoor onsen bath in every room, Kaiseki, and Spa Mukayu.
- Located in Yamashiro Onsen, a 15-minute drive from Kaga-Onsen Station (Hokuriku Shinkansen).
Editor's Note
Book a Special Wafu Suite with a private outdoor cedar onsen bath on a private wooden terrace overlooking the red pine garden, and take the private tea ceremony with the master.
Reviewed by Hotel Flock · Last updated September 2026