The Story

Deep in the mountains of Miyagi, perched on the looped meander of a hidden river, is a place of serenity and sophistication. THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch is the long-awaited second property from Yunushi Ichijoh, a ryokan with 600 years of history.

The amber waters of Kamasaki have long drawn those seeking healing, the chloride-rich spring said to mend wounds. In the late 1500s, the scion of a noble Kyoto house, Ichibei Ichijoh, spent his own fortune to transform the remote springs into a wellness destination, building roads, bathhouses, and an inn at the center of it all. Yunushi Ichijoh still operates today in historic buildings listed as national cultural properties.

THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch is the newest chapter in that long history. The 11-room boutique ryokan is the passion project of the 20th-generation proprietary okami, an elevation in design and comfort yet still defined by the renowned hospitality of the original.

Inspired by the understated elegance of imperial villas, THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch seamlessly blends Japanese reverence for regional food and craft culture with the early 20th-century vogue for European luxury. Brocaded silk armchairs and parquet floors meet Kutani porcelain and Nambu ironware in a blend of old and new that renders the experience timeless—or rather outside of time, a moment apart.

Surrounded by untouched old growth forest and the burbling lullaby of THE YUKAWA River, this haven on the far shore of the mundane invokes a spiritual communion with nature that unravels the contours of the self amid the grand beauty of existence.

ROOMS

  • River View YUKAWA Suite SUITES River View YUKAWA Suite The largest room available, the Yukawa Suite, is located on the third floor of the main buildin…
  • River view Panorama Suite SUITES River view Panorama Suite The Panorama Suite has the largest veranda, with plenty of room for two to lounge, sipping wine…
  • River View Villa Suite SUITES River View Villa Suite The three Villa Suites are located in a detached building closer to the river, where the proxim…
  • River View Suite SUITES River View Suite The six River View Suites are located in a detached building closer to the river, giving guests…
    SUITES River View YUKAWA Suite
    1-3 90 sqm Private Open-air Bath Bed The largest room available, the Yukawa Suite, is located on the third floor of the main building with panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The added elevation makes the veranda and outdoor bath appear to be floating at the horizon, with lush greenery below and the boundless sky above. In the spacious living room, furnished with an overstuffed sofa and chaise lounge, a picture window faces east, creating the perfect aerie for watching the sunrise burn away the morning mists or napping through a languid afternoon. ¥ 187,150~ per person (based on double occupancy) *Room rates at the Ryokan vary depending on the season and booking status. Therefore, we provide an estimated amount as a reference.
    SUITES River view Panorama Suite
    1-2 85 sqm Private Open-air Bath Bed The Panorama Suite has the largest veranda, with plenty of room for two to lounge, sipping wine or coffee in the fresh air or cooling down from the bath. The adjoining bedroom and living room, furnished in THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch’s signature East-meets-West style, face the veranda’s floor-to-ceiling doors, allowing guests to throw them open and create one seamless open-air space in fine weather. Above the treetops, the occasional black kite can be seen circling on thermal drafts by day, while the stars come out to decorate the sky by night. ¥ 165,150~ per person (based on double occupancy) *Room rates at the Ryokan vary depending on the season and booking status. Therefore, we provide an estimated amount as a reference.
    SUITES River View Villa Suite
    1-2 80 sqm Private Open-air Bath Bed The three Villa Suites are located in a detached building closer to the river, where the proximity to the natural surroundings feels intimate and immediate. Serrated zelkova leaves stretch close enough to touch, the washboard cries of frogs resound in stereo, and the clarity of the water flowing over moss-slicked boulders will always reveal local weather upstream. Tall ceilings and sunken loungers create an expansive sense of space, while the toe-curling plushness of hand-made carpets from Yamagata Dantsu provide a grounding tactility, leaving guests firmly anchored in the now. ¥ 110,150~ per person (based on double occupancy) *Room rates at the Ryokan vary depending on the season and booking status. Therefore, we provide an estimated amount as a reference.
    SUITES River View Suite
    1-2 72 sqm Private Open-air Bath Bed The six River View Suites are located in a detached building closer to the river, giving guests a front row seat for the everyday dramas of nature. From the veranda or through the living room’s 4-meter-tall windows, guests can watch bulbuls and white-eyes dart and swoop, competing for sweet sakura nectar, squirrels foraging for stores to survive the winter under the cover of andromeda bushes grown tall as trees, and cicadas vibrating their raucous songs of love. Especially from the warm embrace of the natural hot-spring bath, this charming entertainment is a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things. ¥ 90,350~ per person (based on double occupancy) *Room rates at the Ryokan vary depending on the season and booking status. Therefore, we provide an estimated amount as a reference.

FACILITIES &
SERVICES

  • Lobby Lounge Lobby Lounge
  • Cuisine Cuisine
  • River Dining River Dining
  • Private Baths Kodama and Kyokoku Private Baths Kodama and Kyokoku
  • Bar Origin Bar Origin
  • Relaxation Relaxation
    Lobby Lounge The entrance to the lounge is flanked by antique glass doors preserved from a Yunushi Ichijo outpost that welcomed guests at the closest station a century ago, sheltering them for a night before they traveled on to the main ryokan. The doors provide a throughline to history as well as a clear demarcation of a quieter, more contemplative space. With plush armchairs arranged around a wood-burning stove and wrap-around picture windows framing the surrounding forest, guests are invited to linger and be transported into a tranquil frame of mind. Free-flow drinks and snacks are available all day, making it a pleasant nook to flip through the books provided or just watch the quality of the light change as day shifts to night.
    Cuisine The cuisine draws from the rich agriculture of Tohoku, as well as seafood from the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Japan, presented with imperial elegance and a touch of Western flair. Delicate crab meat is presented on lace-like bone porcelain with a Hollandaise of rich tomalley and sudachi citrus. Bamboo shoots and wild greens foraged in the surrounding hills share the table with Beluga caviar and French Champagne, gold-embossed lacquer with hand-blown glass. The historical and cultural narratives of local specialties like Shiroishi’s oil-free “U-men” noodles are winningly supplied by the attentive staff, as are frequent elements of table-side preparation, including green tea aromatically roasted with wrist-flipping panache with dessert.
    River Dining Private dining rooms line up along the riverfront, each extending on to an open-air veranda where guests can choose to take their meals in full or in part as the mood strikes. A simple décor of sturdy marble and wood leaves the focus where it rightly belongs: the lush natural scenery. Towering Japanese zelkova and forest trees fill the sky, accented by seasonal blooms of wild wisteria and the vibrant wild berries. In spring and summer, tiny fleabane daisies attract butterflies the size of saucers. In fall, the firework red and yellows of the changing leaves give way to the silent beauty of falling snow. Through it all, the gentle murmur of the river entreats everyone to slow down, breathe deep, and be present.
    Private Baths Kodama and Kyokoku While every room features an open-air hot spring bath, THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch also offers two private baths on a small cliff overlooking the river for guests wanting a change of scenery. Both have a private dressing room equipped with Miyagi-made organic amenities and a spacious shower leading to a stone soaking tub on a veranda shaded by the surrounding trees. At night, the distance from the main buildings and the natural shield of the mountains allows the stars to shine their brightest.
    Bar Origin Located next to the Lobby Lounge, the focal point of this sleek bar is its handsome bartop, a single 10-meter-long piece of African sapele, the polished reddish-brown grain like aged mahogany. Pondering their drink selection, chatting with the bartender, or watching for the swallows and meadow buntings that often swoop past the panoramic windows, guests find themselves running their hands along its smooth edges, an unthinking tactile response that will only deepen the wood’s gloss over time, their evening of relaxed cocktails becoming a part of its abiding memory.
    Relaxation THE YUKAWA has two private treatment rooms for full-body massages with all-natural jojoba oil, skin-lightening body scrubs, and rosehip oil facials to stimulate lymphatic drainage. Located in a quiet corner of the main building and insulated from sound and light for intense relaxation, the two rooms offer a private sanctuary and can also be combined for couple’s treatments. In-room reflexology massages can also be booked.

Map &
Transportation

Closest Train Station Shiroishi Zao Station / Shiroishi Station
Closest Bus Station Kamasaki Onsen
Free pick-up service Yes
The shuttle runs daily between Shiroishi-Zao station, Shiroishi station, and THE YUKAWA.
Key Gate Way Int'l Airport and Train (Shinkansen) Station

Movie

Ryokan Data

Area Kamasaki Onsen / 鎌先温泉
Name of Ryokan THE YUKAWA Ichijoh Branch / THE YUKAWA 一條支店
Address 1-1 Kamasaki-ichiban, Fukuoka-kuramoto, Shiroishi-shi, Miyagi 989-0231
〒989-0231 宮城県白石市福岡蔵本鎌先一番1-1
Total Number of Rooms 11 room(s)
Check-in Time 15:00
Check-Out Time 11:00
Credit Card Yes

Meals

Dinner Start Time 17:00 ~ 19:00
Breakfast Start Time 7:30 ~ 9:00
In Room Dining Available Not Available
Bar 20:30 ~ 23:00
Special Dietary Arrangements Available upon request
Vegan Friendly No
Western Breakfast Available Available

Other Facilities & Services

Communal Bath N/A
Family Bath Yes
Private indoor bath in room N/A
Private open-air bath in the room Yes

Room Rates

Room Type Minimum Rate (JPY)
River View YUKAWA Suite JPY187,150~
River view Panorama Suite JPY165,150~
River View Villa Suite JPY110,150~
River View Suite JPY90,350~
** The room rate is per person per night when 2 adults stay in one room. **
- The rate will change depending on the number of guests and dates. Please contact us for details.
- Ryokan rate includes a full-course dinner, breakfast, service charge, and tax.
- The mentioned rates and service are available only for LRC Members who book through The Ryokan Collection's website.
- The rates are subject to change without any prior notice.
- A particular room cannot be guaranteed in advance unless otherwise stated by The Ryokan Collection.