Choosing the Venue Part 1

Our mission was clear, to find a wedding venue that is traditional, beautiful, has an onsen, 15-20 rooms, in nature, accessible from Tokyo, and willing to host us. The last criteria was a lot more difficult than we realized. Jen and I had gone through every English and Chinese website about the best onsen in Japan, cross referenced the nearest catholic church and cataloged the number of rooms. After extensive research we had a long list of two possibilities. After discussing which of these two would work for us we had an even split of opinions, Jen for Asaba and me for Beniya Mukayu. The only way to settle the decision, set off to Japan with Greg and Kelsey to try them out.

On August 18th the three musketeers ventured off to Japan to roam the countryside looking for suitable locations to host a spectacle. As this was Kelsey’s first trip to Japan we had to do a little sight seeing in Tokyo before we set off to our first onsen. While wondering Ginza we came across the greatest find short of the holy grail; we found Waldo.

With this great achievement we made our way to Ishikawa prefecture to visit Beniya Mukayu in Kana-onsen.

The first venue we checked out was a nestled away in the foothills of Yakushiyama mountains in Ishikawa prefecture. A modern design, feeling of zen and bilingual staff greeted us after the bustle of Tokyo. Beniya is owned by a couple who treat their guests as this was their home. We were lucky to enjoy a tea ceremony perfomed by Kazunari Nakamichi, owner of Beniya and master of tea ceremony.

After our tea ceremony is was off to the baths for a much needed soak. Relaxed and bathed we enjoyed a wonderful dinner together before Kelsey went off for a massage and Greg and I went for another soak before returning to our room to lie in the hammock and read.

Our time was short, only one night but the morning we had our breakfast together and headed into town for a short walk. There is a little funicular that takes you down to the town that is a short 2 min ride. There wasn’t much open in the morning but we stopped by a little store for Kelsey and Greg to buy Japanese ceramic tea pots. We visited a small shrine and then made out way back up to the onsen to depart back to Toyko. A short one night visit but enough to get a sense of the place.