Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Japan / Yamashiro / Beniya Mukayu
Beniya Mukayu
Yamashiro, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan · Independent · High Luxury
Founded in 1928 by the Nakamichi family on Yakushiyama, the former site of Yakuoin Onsenji temple in Yamashiro Onsen near Kanazawa. The name Mukayu comes from Zhuangzi and means richness in emptiness. Architect Sei Takeyama of Amorphe helped pare the ryokan from about fifty rooms down to sixteen, and it has been a Relais and Chateaux member since 2008, with a MICHELIN One Key in 2025.
- 16 rooms
- Opened 1928
- Neighborhood: 山代温泉
- Rooms from 646 sq ft (60 m²)
- Architect: Sei Takeyama (Amorphe; 1996–2006 design and 2022–23 renovation)
About Beniya Mukayu
- Beniya Mukayu was founded in 1928 by the Nakamichi family on Yakushiyama, the site of the former Yakuoin Onsenji temple.
- Its name, Mukayu, derives from a concept in the writings of Zhuangzi meaning 'richness in emptiness.'
- The ryokan was pared down over the decades from around fifty rooms to just sixteen or seventeen.
- It has been a Relais & Châteaux member since 2008 and holds a MICHELIN One Key award from 2025.
- Set in a sacred forest above Yamashiro Onsen, with private onsen in the rooms.
History
Beniya Mukayu is a modern ryokan founded in 1928 by the Nakamichi family in the Yamashiro Onsen hot-spring district of Ishikawa Prefecture, near Kanazawa. The inn stands on Yakushiyama, the site of the former Yakuoin Onsenji temple, and takes its name — Mukayu — from a concept in the writings of Zhuangzi meaning 'richness in emptiness.'
Over the decades the ryokan was pared down from around fifty rooms to a serene sixteen or seventeen, embracing a minimalist, forested aesthetic. A member of Relais & Châteaux since 2008, it blends traditional Japanese hospitality with contemporary design, including work by architect Sei Takeyama of Amorphe.
Experiences
- Private open-air hot spring bath — Every room has a private open-air hot spring bath overlooking the Forest Garden, usable at any time and for as long as guests like.
- Forest Garden views — All rooms face the Forest Garden, where pines, mountain sakura, weeping sakura, maples and camellias stretch their branches freely.
- Gender-separated hot spring communal baths and sauna — Indoor and outdoor gender-separated hot spring communal baths and a sauna are available.
Amenities
- Hot tub
- Onsen
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
Open Beniya Mukayu in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.