京都和束荘(Kyoto Wazukaso)

I arrived into Wazuka (a small tea village approximately one hour outside of Kyoto) by way of train to Kizu station, and then took a taxi straight to the ryokan in Wazuka. No one spoke a word of English but that made the experience all the more authentic! Removed my shoes immediately upon arrival. A hilly area, where the Japanese maples were changing colors. The hills covered in tea plants. This ryokan is located ON a tea plantation. My host checked me in, and showed me to my room. The room was warmly lit, with two incredibly cozy looking beds. A tea/sitting room, and a private patio overlooking the hills and draped with Japanese maples. So incredibly beautiful! I had just enough time before dinner to go for a nice long walk amongst the plants along the hillside. So quiet. So peaceful. So amazing. Reminded me of Japanese version of Tuscany, but with tea plants instead of grape vines. I will never ever forget it. I rested in the room for a few minutes before dinner was served. At exactly 5pm, little soft bell music started playing and I couldn’t figure out if it was coming from inside the hotel or outside, but it was such a sweet little song. Very “Japanese.” They had tea incense you could burn and it smelled sooo magnificent. The dinner was a literal edible art exhibit. Each course more beautiful and tasty than the previous one. I was absolutely blown away by the surrounding beauty, and the food offered by this ryokan. All of it was simply breathtaking. I made sure to get up early enough in the morning to enjoy a good soak in the bath (steeped with tea from the plantation outside!!) before going for a morning walk out in the plantation. At exactly 8am a similar song of bells started up again and was played over the loud speakers around the plantation. Is it something related to religion? Are they serenading the tea plants with loving songs? I don’t know and there was no one to ask, but I absolutely loved it. Breakfast was another Japanese style feast. It’s such an adventure to have no idea what you are eating, but loving each new taste in your mouth with every bite. What a drastic change in surroundings from Tokyo one day to Wazuka the next. I would urge everyone to take a deep breath and relax for a day or two or three in this picturesque little tea village! I loved it!