Hoshino Resorts has opened its 23rd "KAI" brand hot spring inn, "KAI Akiu," in Akiu Onsen, Miyagi Prefecture. This is the second KAI brand facility in the Tohoku area, following "KAI Tsugaru" in Aomori Prefecture, and it is the first time for the brand to enter Miyagi Prefecture. The interior design and hospitality of the inn are inspired by the culture nurtured around the warlord Date Masamune, who was active during the Sengoku period (1467-1615).
About Hoshino Resorts' "KAI Akiu" that opened in Miyagi
Akiu Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture is a hot spring area often referred to as the back parlor of Sendai, and is counted as one of the three famous hot springs in Oshu. Its history is old, and it is said to be a hot spring where emperors and feudal lords have healed their bodies (from the official HP of the Akiu Onsen Ryokan Association).
KAI Akiu is a hot spring inn located in a quiet, secluded location within Akiu Onsen, standing along the Natori River and surrounded by abundant nature. From spring to summer, you can enjoy the beauty of the vivid greenery that deepens in color, the vibrant autumn leaves in fall, and the snowscapes in winter, each season distinctly beautiful.
Furthermore, there is a sophisticated and innovative culture brought about by the warlord Date Masamune, who built the prosperity of the Tohoku region centered around Sendai and had a global perspective. This culture is referred to as "Date Culture". During your stay, you will be treated to arrangements incorporating local materials and traditional crafts, and hospitality inspired by Date culture.
Features of KAI Akiu
1. Guest Room: "Konpeki no Ma" capturing the mountain stream in a deep blue space
At "KAI", they offer local rooms where you can experience the culture of the region. The local room of KAI Akiu is called "Konpeki no Ma" (Azure Room). It is inspired by the "Rairai Gorge" of the Akiu Hot Springs, a scenic spot on the Natori River, which was once described as a "deep azure abyss". You can enjoy the seasonal scenery and the stream outside, as if it were framed in azure. The desk in the room is adorned with art from "Sendai Glass". The room number tag that welcomes guests uses "Shiroishi Washi", a traditional craft that has been passed down from the Edo period, and the shoji screens in the bedroom have hidden kokeshi patterns. You can spend a moment touching the local elements of Miyagi incorporated into the room.
About Sendai Glass Art
The art in the rooms is created by Koji Murayama of the "Kaiba Glass Work", which is located in Akiu. Sendai glass, which was made in the castle town of Sendai during the Edo period (1603-1868), is said to have once lost its technique. Murayama-san has recreated this glass through extensive research and continues to work on the research of glass materials using various materials, as well as the planning, design, and production of sculptures. The glass, made from the sand of the rivers flowing through Sendai city, is characterized by a beautiful green color that symbolizes the nature-rich Sendai. The art, which shines when it catches the light, expresses the babbling of the river and the sparkle of the water surface.
2. Hot Spring: Enjoy bathing in the midst of nature in a large public bath
The large public bath features an open-air bath made of rocks, where you can enjoy a bath while feeling the sound of the stream surrounded by trees. The history of Akiu Onsen is old, and it is said to have existed more than 1400 years ago. At that time, the emperor also healed his illness here, and it is known as one of the "Three Imperial Hot Springs of Japan (Nihon Sanmiyu)" recognized by the emperor, and it is still a hot spring area loved by many people.
The indoor bath has two bathtubs, "Atsu-yu", a self-sourced hot spring that draws from two sources on the premises, and "Nuru-yu", where you can relax both physically and mentally. The spring quality is "Sodium-Calcium-Chloride Hot Spring", which warms the body well and is a hot spring that is hard to cool down, making it an ideal hot spring to soak in and heal the fatigue of the mind and body.
3. Meals: "Shin Date Kaiseki" inspired by the meals of the feudal lords
Dinner is served in a dining area with semi-private rooms, offering a kaiseki cuisine that makes use of local food culture. The dinner at KAI Akiu starts with an appetizer of oxtail and Sendai miso rillettes. This dish is enjoyed by dipping the rillettes into Sendaifu, a specialty of Miyagi Prefecture. They have incorporated the pattern of the polka-dot jinbaori, said to have been worn by the Sengoku warlord Date Masamune, into the dishware.
The "Horaku Mori", which combines appetizers, vinegar dishes, hassun, and sashimi, is served on a legged tray, evoking the image of a daimyo's meal. The small pot of the special kaiseki is the "Beef Sankai Tawara Nabe". Miyagi Prefecture is located in a rich natural environment, abundant in both seafood and mountain delicacies.
Inspired by the fact that Miyagi Prefecture is a rice-producing region, this dish features beef shaped like a straw rice bag, dipped in a broth with floating truffles, and served with sea urchin. Enjoy it with beef tongue, seri, and other ingredients typical of Miyagi.
4. Public Space: "Seseragi Lounge" inspired by streams and Date culture
They have set up the "Seseragi Lounge" in a space facing the stream inside the building. It is equipped with a footbath terrace and is a space where you can enjoy the scenery of the four seasons facing the Natori River. The word "seseragi" is an old term for a murmuring brook, representing the sound of water flowing in a shallow stream. In addition, the word "sese" has meanings other than "shallow water", such as "from time to time". This is a word that Date Masamune also sang in a waka poem, and it is filled with the hope that you will feel the sound of the stream, the air of nature, and the seasons of each moment.
Date Masamune was known for his love of flowers, often bringing back flowers from overseas or cultivating flowers he liked from places he visited. In addition to this, he was known for entertaining his guests with food, Noh performances, and even playing the small drum himself. Inspired by this, at the "Seseragi Lounge", the space is decorated with flowers such as peonies and wisteria in spring, and white bush clover in summer, some of which are associated with Date Masamune. In addition, while listening to live music played every night, we offer a moment to immerse yourself in nature, with a glass of wine from a local winery or a seasonal drink, and snacks such as "Sendai Dagashi", a tradition that has continued since the Sendai Domain era, prepared according to the season's taste.
What is the Hoshino Resorts' brand "KAI"?
"KAI" is a hot spring inn brand developed by Hoshino Resorts in 22 facilities nationwide. With the theme of "Classic yet new", they pursue hospitality that meets the needs of the modern day while incorporating the changing seasons, Japanese charm, and tradition. In addition, the "Local Fun" program, where you can experience local traditional culture and crafts, and the "Local Room" where you can experience local culture, are distinctive features. In April 2024, they will open "KAI Akiu" in Akiu Onsen, Miyagi Prefecture, and "KAI Okuhida" in Okuhida Onsen Village, Gifu Prefecture in September.
URL：https://hoshinoresorts.com/ja/brands/kai/
Facility Overview
- Facility Name: KAI Akiu
- Location: 1 Yumoto Hirakura, Akiu-cho, Taihaku-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
- Number of Rooms: 49
- Room Breakdown: Japanese-style rooms (capacity 2 people) 9 rooms, Japanese-style rooms (capacity 3 people) 30 rooms, Japanese-style rooms (capacity 4 people) 8 rooms, special room 1 room, pet-friendly room 1 room
- Facilities: Lobby, Seseragi Lounge, Shop, Dining Area
- Large public bath (separate for men and women, 1 open-air bath each, 2 indoor baths each), post-bath relaxation area
- Price: From 31,000 yen per night (per person when 2 people use 1 room, including tax and service charge, with dinner and breakfast)
- Access: About 30 minutes by car or bus from JR Sendai Station, about 45 minutes by car from Sendai Airport
- URL: https://hoshinoresorts.com/en/hotels/kaiakiu/
- Opening Date: April 25, 2024
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