Ise Shinsen, Western-style room in the hotel

Ise Shinsen (Review)

Classy Hotel-ryokan Inn Near Ise Station

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Ise Shinsen is a 3-stars hotel located in Ise downtown in Mie Prefecture. The facility is also a ryokan inn with rooms suited with onsen hot baths and a restaurant serving traditional Japanese cuisine. It is a good base to settle while visiting Ise Jingu.

Ise City and more broadly the Shima peninsula, in the east of Mie prefecture, are worth staying a few days to discover their historical and natural gems. As for the accommodation, we recommend choosing a lodging at the city center, a location convenient for those who travel by trainĀ šŸš….

Ise Shinsen is a ryokan style hotelĀ šŸØ, that is to say an inn providing both a Western-style bedding and onsenĀ ā™Øļø traditional baths using water from a natural hot springĀ šŸŒø. The place is a comfy base to stay between two sightseeing trips.

Ise Shinsen, Lobby and hotel lounge 2

Central location near the station

Ise Shinsen is ideally located:

  • 200 meters from Ise-shi station;
  • At the start of the main Geku-sando path to walk to Geku Outer Shrine (Toyo'uke-daijingu), one of Ise Jinguā€™s two main sites; and,
  • Near the local bus route serving the surroundings, especially Naiku Inner Shrine (Kotai-jingu).

Driving is not necessary to reach Ise Shinsen or visiting its surroundings, but a carĀ šŸš™ parking is nonetheless available 50 meters from the hotel.

Ise Shinsen, Private outdoor onsen on the room's terrace

Comfortable private spaces with onsen

All of the 45 rooms are non-smoking and quite large: from 48 to 96m2 for the suite. They have a Japanese-style TV-lounge on a tatami flooring or arranged with a sofa. They are also fitted with the classical hotel equipment, such as:

  • Air conditioning;
  • InternetĀ šŸ“¶ Wi-Fi connection;
  • A phone;
  • A small refrigerator and an electric kettle, and,
  • A hygiene kit.

However the roomsā€™ true extra lies on the outdoor terrace: a rotenburo open-air bathtub, ideal for relaxing after a day of walking. Privacy is guaranteed by screens creating a warm and comfortable cocoon.

Shared bath amateurs can use the innā€™s classical indoor onsen, divided into men and womenā€™s sections, and don a yukataĀ šŸ‘˜ to roam the vicinity. The bath is open from 5 a.m. to midnight and is good without remarkable feature.

Ise Shinsen, Traditional Kaiseki dinner and sake tasting

A gastronomy typical of a traditional inn

As in any ryokan inn, a stay at Ise Shinsen includes dinner and breakfast, served at its restaurant, Isegin: traditional Japanese dishes cooked with fresh ingredients. The kaiseki type dinner offers to discover various seasonal dishes with a focus on the local specialties:

  • Matsuzaka tender beef;
  • Shellfish such as abalones and scallops; and,
  • Ise lobster.

Meals are paired with a tasting of various local sakeĀ šŸ¶.

The Japanese breakfast is served as a buffet in the main restaurant room. Otherwise, we recommend the cafe Asora no Chaya, located near the hotel at the upper floor of the omiyage souvenir shop Ise Sekiya Honten, as it serves a course based on "morning porridge" (Asa Kayu). The rice is cooked in a larger amount of water than usual, to which fish, tofu and vegetables are added. This dish is said to be good for hurting stomachs and is hearty enough to start a day of sightseeing.

This article was written after a tour sponsored and organized by Mie Prefecture Tourism Association. Kanpai has been invited and guided but keeps a total freedom of editorial content.

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ā¬‡ļø Further down this page, discover our visit guide in Ise Shinsen and around.
By Kanpai Updated on March 15, 2023 Ise Shinsen (avis)