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Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town

Chain Hotels
5-Star 9.5(28 reviews)
上野相生町2842 NIPPONIA HOTEL 伊賀上野 城下町 KANMURI棟, 518-0859 Iga, Japan

Overview

Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town is a luxury boutique hotel in the castle town of Iga. The most unique part about this hotel is its decentralized concept. The property is spread across several buildings within walking distance. This makes it ideal for travelers who love to explore and really immerse themselves in local cultures and traditions. The hotel offers top-notch services and unmatched hospitality. You'll find a beautiful synergy between the traditional features of the past and the modern updates added more recently. Although the hotel opened in late 2020, the buildings that constitute it are from the Edo, Meiji, Taishō, and Shōwa periods.

History

Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town's location itself is historic. It's in the castle of Iga, which was built around Iga Ueno Castle. During the Edo Period, Iga used to be a popular stop for people traveling between Osaka and Nagoya. However, it soon lost significance after the emergence of newer, more modern cities and towns. The traditional buildings in Iga, belonging to different eras, were abandoned, which gradually led to their dilapidation.

History
A bedroom at Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

The Nipponia Hotel group saw an opportunity to salvage the town's rich heritage by renovating the old houses and transforming them into heritage hotels. Since they started the venture in 2020, the group has been able to restore several historic buildings. One of them is the hotel's main building, Kanmuri, which is designated as a Nationally Registered Tangible Cultural Property. The buildings used to play totally different roles in the past. For example, one of them was a hardware store, one was a lumber store, while another was a medicinal herb wholesaler.

Hotel image
A tatami room at Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

Design and Architecture

Although recently renovated, the hotel retains most of its period features from the Edo and Meiji eras, including wood-framed ceilings. Local designers and artisans have also contributed to enhancing its heritage vibe.

Hotel image
Wood-framed ceilings at Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

You can find hand-crafted furniture and folk artwork adorning the property. Moreover, the walls of Kanmuri showcase a unique raised plaster technique called tsutsumi tsunagi. The building named Kourai offers distinct architecture as well. Under the architectural firm Kirin, it was meticulously restored with features such as red-eye pine finishes. You'll find artwork here as well, created by Gallery Yamahon. This building also has a quintessential Japanese garden. Another building, Mitake, which used to be a lumber store, retains its tsuba-shaped Mushiko windows and box staircases. Meanwhile, the building Nomatsu stands out with its latticework.

Hotel image
Folk artwork at Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

Amenities

Rooms

Superior Twin Room


Guest

Room 2 Bed Type 1, 2 Bed Type 7

Room size 80 m2

Price per night

$227.81

Economy Twin Room


Guest

Room 2 Bed Type 1

Room size 41 m2

Price per night

$143.34

Dining

Iga is located in a basin tucked amidst verdant mountains. This stunning location with mineral-rich soil and pure underground water works in favor of its gastronomy. The castle town produces some excellent products unique to the area, such as Koshihikari rice and a local variant of wagyu beef. The beef is so rare that many travelers visit just to taste it! You'll also find Iga sake, made with the excellent-quality rice of Iga. All these fresh local products are used in preparing delectable Japanese-French cuisine or Igamono at Le Un, the on-site restaurant.

Dining
Breakfast served in Iga ware at Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

Headed by Chef Yukihiro Ishii, Le Un offers a memorable experience with its traditional decor and presentation. It's housed in Eirakukan, a former ryokan from the Edo era. You'll enjoy kaiseki meals made with French techniques here, served in Iga ware. Enjoy scrumptious breakfasts with Iga rice, Iga beef, and soup. In-room drinking sets are also available, featuring sake and three specialty snacks. The items on the menu have been carefully selected after consulting with locals, only to bring the area's best produce to your plates. All the products are sourced from local producers.

Opening hours: 7:30 am - 10 am (breakfast), 11:30 am - 3 pm (lunch), 5:30 pm - 10 pm (dinner)
Reservation: Reservations can be made on the hotel's official website.

Hotel image
Le Un at Nipponia Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

Destination wedding

Nothing's more magical than a wedding surrounded by lush greenery in a castle town with a rich heritage. You can choose between three types of ceremony, including one at a shrine. Public ceremonies and Japanese-style banquets are also possible. For your reception, you can book the retro-style reception hall. The catering will be taken care of by the restaurant team. Your guests will fall in love with the local specialties as they explore the Japanese-French cuisine. Grand Chef Ishii Noriyuki will make sure the menu includes your preferences or any item from your hometown. Other logistics, such as dress and decor, will also be handled by skilled teams, so you can just kick back and enjoy your special day. If you wish to capture photos of the ceremony, book a photo wedding plan. Prices differ for Japanese- and Western-style weddings, so be sure to check the hotel's website for the updated prices.

Book Venue
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

Events and experiences

Cultural Experiences

Iga offers cultural experiences for all ages, and Nippono Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town is the perfect home base to explore it all. Start by diving into the town's ninja heritage. You can join ninja training, wear ninja costumes, throw shurikens, tour a ninja house, or go on a ninja rickshaw ride with a local guide. The town is also known for its Ueno Tenjin Festival, and you can experience this UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage with assistance from the hotel. Enjoy participating in the Yoiyama Procession or indulge in the night music experience during this festival. Artistic travelers can try their hand at pottery by taking an Iga-yaki pottery class at Mitagama. Whatever you create will be delivered to your address later!

Events and experiences
The beautiful garden at Nippono Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

Visiting Iga Ueno Castle is a must if you wish to learn more about the castle town. Meanwhile, outdoor lovers can embark on a hiking trail to explore the Reizan mountain and admire the scenic Reizan Temple. You can also enjoy an outdoor bath at the nearby Oyamada Onsen.

Hotel image
Iga Ueno Castle by baggio4ever Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

Other Celebrations

Nippono Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town welcomes private events and celebrations like birthdays and anniversaries. The restaurant, Le Un, offers special plans, such as lunch/dinner plus cake with a message or lunch/dinner plus a glass of sparkling wine. Private rooms can also be booked for your event.

Hotel image
A gourmet meal at Nippono Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

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.
$143.00 /night for 2 adults

Local Info

Iga-ryu Ninja Museum

Museum dedicated to the ninja heritage of Iga, offering a ninja residence, ninja shows, and more (14-minute walk)

Iga Ueno Castle

Feudal castle dating back to the late 16th century and featuring a traditional white facade (15-minute walk)

Ueno Park

Relaxing park offering cherry blossoms in April and access to Haiseiden, a memorial for poet and traveler Matsuo Basho (10-minute walk)

Nearest Airport

The nearest airport to Nippono Hotel Iga Ueno Castle Town is Chubu Centrair International Airport, about a 90-minute drive away.

Nearest Railway Station

The nearest railway station to the hotel is Uenoshi Station, only a 6-minute walk away.

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Customer Reviews

Location

The hotel consists of several properties in separate location within easy walking distance.

Amenities

The staff was unbelievable and natural wood decor was beautiful.

Price

Despite having four rooms and two stories in my suite, it was very affordable and I wish I had stayed there a few more nights.

Dining

The restaurant is SUPER good. For me is is close to a 1 star Michelin restaurant.