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Monzen Okagero

Ryokans
Interwar & Early Modern Heritage
3-Star
Monzencho 16-3, 630-0266 Ikoma, Japan
$47.00 /night for 2 adults View Deal

Popular Amenities

  • Parking
  • Restaurant
  • Meeting/banquet facilities

Overview

Situated on the outskirts of Nara, in the city of Ikoma, Monzen Okagero is a rustic ryokan nestled near Hozan-ji Temple. It's actually situated halfway up the ascent to the temple at the top of Mount Ikoma and offers great views of the cityscape. It is quite an atmospheric space nestled close to other properties and opening right onto the stairs, and with its preserved traditional aspects, the ryokan is a perfect option for those visiting the temple. Standard Japanese-style rooms are available here, and there's even a gallery where local artists can put up their art!

Read on to learn more about the incredible Monzen Okagero, a traditional ryokan in Ikoma!

Fabulous 9.0
30 reviews

map Monzencho 16-3, 630-0266 Ikoma, Japan
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Local Info

Hozan-ji Temple
Ikoma-sanroku Park
(2.7 km)
Ikoma Cable
Nearest Airport
(38.1 km)
Nearest Railway Station
(1.9 km)
View All

History

Monzen Okagero dates back to 1916 when it functioned as a restaurant and inn; however, it had to close down and was reintegrated as a local event venue. Renovated in 2014, the property hosted the Nara Prefecture Art Festival before it re-opened in 2015 as a ryokan accommodation.

History
Front of Monzen Okagero by the stairs leading up to Hozan-ji Temple

Design and Architecture

The property has the hallmarks of Taisho-era construction and embraces traditional Japanese aesthetics with its rooms fitted with tatami mats, shoji doors, chabudai, and tatami chairs. The large rental room used for events also follows the same aesthetics with tatami mats and shoji doors and windows. The overall design of the rest of the ryokan's public spaces follow the same aesthetic dedication to traditional Japanese architecture, and the structure is still composed of wood.

Hotel image
A typical room at the ryokan

Amenities

Popular Amenities

  • Parking
  • Restaurant
  • Meeting/banquet facilities

Rooms

Japanese Style Standard Room


Guest

Room 1 Bed Type 7

Room size 30 m2

Price per night

$47.00

per night price includes taxes and charges
View deal

Dining

The on-site restaurant, Rokkon-tei, is inspired by the ideals of "rokkon seiho-shoku": that the six roots (root vegetables such as daikon radish, burdock, carrot, lotus root, mountain yam, and water chestnut) are pivotal in purifying the body, so you'll find these vegetables aplenty in the dishes here. The eatery is small with a long Western-style dining table where the guests can have communal lunches and dinners and other standalone tables.

The restaurant uses fresh buckwheat (sourced from all over Japan) to make their noodles. The buckwheat is ground into flour in-house and the soba is made without binders, so you can savor the freshest Juwari soba here! Their stock is made from dried bonito flakes, dried mackerel, and dried urume (sardines), and chemical seasonings are not added.

Note: Reservations are required for dinner and you need to make them at least by noon the day before. For parties of two or more people, reservations must be made the morning of the day before. Rokkon-tei will be closed on Mondays.

Dining
The dining area

Lunch

You can either have a la carte meal options or set menus. Dishes served here include tempura soba, duck steamed soba noodles, herring soba, and chicken namba soba, to name a few. Set menus are added on to your soba, and you have the option of getting a seasonal dish with buckwheat rice balls and pickles or a dessert option with buckwheat cake, cookies, and ice cream. A la carte options include shrimp tempura, chicken tempura, sweet simmered herring, deep-fried porridge, and grilled Yamato chicken.
Serving hours: 11 am - 3 pm

Dinner

Meal options include vegetable dishes, otsukuri (a type of sashimi that's hinged on aesthetic presentation), nabeyori (a hotpot dish), and mizumono (a dessert dish composed of fresh fruit, confectionaries, or cake!). The menu can change according to the season and what's in stock. Sake will be provided.
Serving hours: 6 pm - 7 pm

Hotel image
A yummy meal

Cultural Experiences

Okage-ro has an art gallery where exhibitions are organized every now and then by local artists. You can find some of these paintings all over the property. Coupled with their event rental space, the property allows guests to immerse themselves in the contemporary art scene of Ikoma. Some of the exhibitions and events held here in the recent past include a retro photo contest, exhibits of Sumi ink painting, and an exhibition by Masaya Kato with his photographs of Ikoma.

Cultural Experiences
The gallery

Destination Wedding

Event Space

The large event space measuring about 28 tatami mats might just be a great spot to celebrate a toned-down wedding with close friends and family. The daily rental fee is 12,000 JPY (80 USD) on weekdays and 15,000 JPY (100 USD) on holidays, and you're allotted the space from 11 am to 5 pm. A projector, screen, and table are provided, and Wi-Fi is available as well.

Other spaces are available for rent as well, though they may just be suitable for exhibitions, but you can rent these out to add a unique twist to your celebrations! The Wall Gallery/Lounge Area is available for a fee of 3,000 JPY (20 USD) on weekdays (4,000 JPY (27 USD) on holidays), the terrace is available for 2,000 JPY (14 USD) on weekdays and 2,500 JPY (17 USD) on weekends and holidays, and the counter kitchen is available for a fee of 4,000 JPY (27 USD) on weekdays and 5,000 JPY (34 USD) on holidays.

Book Venue

Cultural etiquette

  • Bowing (ojigi): It's advisable to bow to show respect when greeting someone. It can also be done to show gratitude or convey an apology.
  • Shoe etiquette: You must remove your outside footwear before stepping on the elevated area of the genkan (entrance) and entering a house. You should also ensure not to step on the lower area of the genkan without your shoes on. Shoes must be kept facing the entrance. If you wear socks, they should be clean and without any holes.
  • Slipper etiquette: It's usually better to wear fresh socks or slippers inside the house, especially for formal situations. Make sure to remove your slippers before stepping into a room with tatami mats on the floor. There should also be a separate set of slippers for the washroom.
  • Dining etiquette: How you hold and place your chopsticks while dining is crucial. For example, they shouldn't be held upright when eating rice. You must also place them on a holder when you're not using them. It's good to say "Itadakimasu" before starting a meal and "Gochisousama deshita" after completing it.
  • Tipping etiquette: Tipping isn't a common practice in Japan and may be considered rude.
  • Luggage etiquette: Luggage, especially those with wheels, should be carried instead of being dragged across the floor as it might damage the tatami mats or wooden flooring.
  • Photography etiquette: Photography rules can change from place to place, so make sure to check for signs or ask the staff before taking pictures anywhere.
  • Queueing etiquette: Make sure to maintain queues and never cut in line.
  • Onsen etiquette: Some onsens don't allow tattoos, so check with the staff before getting into one. You must also shower and be clean before entering a shared onsen bath.
  • Bathing etiquette: Japanese baths include separate areas for washing while the tub itself is meant only for soaking. This means bathers must first wash, scrub, and rinse themselves before entering the bath tub.

Local Info

Hozan-ji Temple

Unique temple with an interesting Buddhist icon of an elephant's head said to have been inspired by the Hindu god, Ganesh. (10-minute walk)

Ikoma-sanroku Park

2.7 km

Beautiful park with an athletics area and popular for cultural activities. (5-minute drive)

Ikoma Cable

Iconic cable line connecting Ikoma Station and Hozan-ji Temple with themed cable cars. (1-minute walk)

Nearest Airport

38.1 km

The nearest airport to Monzen Okagero is Osaka Itami Airport, which is a 50-minute drive away.

Nearest Railway Station

1.9 km

The ryokan is only a 5-minute drive from Ikoma Station, or you can take the cable car to Hozanji station, which is an 11-minute trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Customer Reviews

Location

The location is majestic! You get to travel there by the cute Ikoma cable train shaped as a neko.

Amenities

The room was very spacious, well-equipped, and comfortable, and the breakfast was delicious and plentiful.

Dining

The breakfast was the best I've had so far during my stay in Japan!