Waterside Cottage Heron

We stayed at the Heron Waterside Cottages at the end of our 3 weeks in Japan, and it was hands down THE best lodging and dining experience of our entire trip. Suda-san was an exceptional host and made us feel at home. If you do not opt for breakfast and dinner, you are missing out! We’re still talking about the sumptuous meals as some of our most amazing culinary experiences EVER. The cottage and inn facilities were romantic and comfortable, especially sleeping “outside” with the glass doors wide open or baths overlooking the river surrounded by nature. We made use of the e-bikes and kayaks (for small fee) to explore Kyotango, which was incredibly charming and beautifully surrounded by Kumihama Bay and its several inlet rivers. We left with tears in our eyes and will be forever grateful to our delightful host for helping us make so many wonderful memories. We cannot wait to return for a longer stay.

素晴らしいロケーションや建物、内装は当然のこととして、おいしすぎて笑うしかない食事内容、こまやかな心配りに滞在中ずっと幸福に満たされました。なにより、オーナーの人柄がとても良い。基本お一人で全てを担っておられるのですが、健康に気をつけて過ごしていてほしいなと切に思います。友人家族など大切な人と過ごすのに適した場所です。

建物もインテリアも本当に素敵で、滞在中ずっと心地よく過ごすことができました。空間全体に統一感があり、どこを切り取っても絵になるような美しさでした。

お料理もとても印象的で、夕食・朝食ともに一品一品が丁寧で本当に美味しく、ゆっくりと味わう時間がとても贅沢に感じられました。

オーナーさんとのお話もとても楽しく、温かいお人柄に触れられたことも、この宿の大きな魅力だと思います。

アメニティも細部までセンスがよく、ひとつひとつにこだわりを感じました。

これまで泊まった中でも、たぶん一番好きなホテルです。
また必ず伺いたいと思える、特別な場所でした。

お食事の創意工夫と美味しさに感動。お部屋のテラスから望む久美浜湾の景色のすばらしさ、お庭も含めて自然なしつらえがステキで✨心地よい特別な時間を過ごすことができました。

A quiet and pristine place to refresh, to pause and to enjoy. Itsuko san fed me very well with her delicious cooking and I look forward to the meal times enjoying the dishes and casual chats with her. I feel very well rested and cared for here.

The owner prepared the excellent meals (breakfasts and dinners) for us.
Each meals consist of four to six courses with freshly prepared with the local and seasonal ingredients.
The linens and amenities are exceptional.
The hotel is surrounded by the rich nature of wild birds, fishes and star gazing at night.
The area has the old understated historical sites to stroll.
Kumihama is not a topical tourist town in which provides relaxed and unassuming atmosphere, yet one can easily overlook its charm.

Our charming hostess Etsuko greeted us and immediately made us feel comfortable and at home. What a beautiful space. Incredibly peaceful and a wonderful jumping off point for walks, kayaking (provided) and seaside jaunts. Etsuko prepared delicious meals for us I have to say that her prepared wagu steak was the BEST I have ever tasted. She made our stay very special and we miss her and her lovely cottage already.

Spacious bedroom, lovely bathroom, perfect setting by the water, beautiful garden, tranquil setting, a charming and interesting host and the most incredible food.

Beautiful light, airy room (and house) in a picturesque, peaceful situation right on the water's edge surrounded by greenery and old japanese houses. Modern private bath with a view of the water. We stayed 4 nights, self drive was easy, plenty of things to do within cycling distance: walks by the sea or up the forested hillsides, local museum, beautiful temple with hillside gardens overlooking the sea. We could have just chilled out here for a week. Lovely welcome from the owner, she cooks excellent beautifully presented food for breakfast and dinner, and was very adaptive to our preferences. We explored the area with her electric bikes and 2 kayaks. It was all so easy, everything was on hand. We visited the bay also on a small motor boat. Great icecream parlour and saké manufacturer on the edge of the little town. Journeyed for 3 weeks in Japan, this was our favourite place! 1 hour drive from Iné fishing village to the east. Didn't have time to visit the villages to the west along the coast. Beautiful drive to Himeji in 2.5hours to continue our travels. We really saw some rural Japan to complement the towns. No crowds! Also a great get away for people living in Japan, working in a city.

Insane inn experience with a wonderful hostess/chef Suda and her accomplice Keiko.

We spent 3 weeks in Japan (two nights at Cottage Heron)and Suda’s interpretation of French/Japanese fusion was spectacular at breakfast and dinner. Forget about Japan, her cooking was some of the best I’ve had internationally in the last decade!! The presentation, delivery, and quality of her dishes were outstanding. We had two breakfasts and two dinners and each was so memorable.

The accommodations are rustic/modern with wood floors and ceilings, large separate sleeping areas, baths, and bathrooms

It sits on a tidal stream/canal and is very quiet. Beautiful farmhouse vibe.

We visited in November and the town was quiet. The surrounding nearby seashore is beautiful with beaches to walk, hikes to take, and kayaks to explore the bay. we saw bicycles to rent as well.

For a quaint inn experience, and incredible cuisine, it doesn’t get better than this.

One of the BEST OF JAPAN.

The breakfast each day was an extravaganza.....amazing and delightful each day.
Staff are engaging

First of all, Etsuko is a master chef and culinary artist. She made some of the best meals we have ever had in our lives and that is no exaggeration. Everyday was something new and creative with fresh home grown ingredients and local+western infusions in every meal. I’m now inspired to cook better myself. Both her and her staff are extremely kind and welcoming and we enjoyed getting to know them and learning more about the area. This is a very authentic experience in a town nearby but away from the Onsen tourist attractions. The location is beautiful and quiet right on the water with beautiful views from the room and deck and kayaks and bikes available to use (biking around the area was my favorite). We saw so many birds, jumping fish, and rays. This is the perfect place for nature lovers wanting a quiet escape from the city. We both feel that this was our favorite place we stayed in Japan and will remember and think back fondly on these 4 days always. Thank you for making our time there such a special experience!

Waterside Cottage Heron was on of the best experience we had in Japan. The room was beautiful, with a perfect view to the river. It was so relaxing to sit in the room balcony and drink tea by the river side.
The hospitality of the owner and her staff was extraordinary! They where very kind to us and give us a welcoming filling. The breakfast , the owner made by her self where so good! everday she made us a 4 different courses with a fresh product.
She lend us her bicycle and we did a beautiful trip around the bay.
The only thing that was a little bit challenging is to find a restaurant in the evening, there is only 3 restaurants and one of time requires advance reservations.
We are highly recommended to you to come!

Style, location, food, bikes, kayaks, attention to detail, gentle attitude.