{"id":4767,"date":"2026-08-05T16:46:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T07:46:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/r-journal\/shizuoka-mariko-bringing-margin-to-daily-life-and-craftsmanship-to-life-the-old-folk-house-inn-kogei-no-yado-waraku-_copied\/"},"modified":"2026-08-10T20:51:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T11:51:35","slug":"interview-okaya","status":"publish","type":"r-journal","link":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/r-journal\/interview-okaya\/","title":{"rendered":"[Shizuoka \/ Okitsu] 300 Years of Tradition on the Tokaido: An Inn for Recovery through the Warmth of Tatami and Gourmet Cuisine &#8220;Kaiseki Inn Okaya Ryokan&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Okitsu, Shizuoka City\u2014once a bustling post town as the 17th (or 18th) stop on the old Tokaido road\u2014stands Okaya Ryokan. Since the Edo period, this establishment has preserved its legacy as a &#8220;<em>Hatago<\/em>&#8221; (traditional traveler\u2019s inn) in a land where travelers crossing the difficult Satta Pass once rested their wings. While carrying nearly 300 years of history, the inn continues to innovate today with a mission to &#8220;heal the exhaustion of modern people&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We spoke with the manager, Keigo Oda, who returned to the family business after gaining experience in the outside world and now works to revitalize local tourism. We delved into his philosophy of &#8220;Recovery,&#8221; the historic gardens, and the inn&#8217;s dedication to fine dining.<\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"r-journal-author\">\n        <div class=\"r-journal__wrap\">\n            <figure class=\"r-journal-author__pic\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/IMG_8339.webp\" alt=\"\u5927\u5d0e\u5eb8\u5e73\"\/>\n            <\/figure>\n            <div class=\"r-journal-author__meta\">\n                <p class=\"r-journal-author__position\">\u682a\u5f0f\u4f1a\u793e Hinotori \u4ee3\u8868\u53d6\u7de0\u5f79<\/p>\n                <p class=\"r-journal-author__name\">\n                    <span>\u5927\u5d0e\u5eb8\u5e73<\/span>\n                <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            <button class=\"r-journal-author__open\"><\/button>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"r-journal-author__detail\">\n            <p class=\"intro_esc\">Hello! My name is Osaki, and I\u2019m the editor-in-chief of Ryokanbook.<br \/>\r\nEvery year, I stay at about 100 ryokans and interview around 70 of them.<br \/>\r\nToday, I want to introduce a very special ryokan \u2014 the one that first made me fall in love with this world of traditional inns. It is full of heartfelt hospitality (magokoro), and honestly, I almost don\u2019t want to share it because it still feels like a hidden gem.<\/p>\n            <a class=\"url\" href=\"http:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/hinotori-trip.com\/media<\/a>\n            <button class=\"r-journal-author__close\"><\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:39% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A5408-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5639 size-full\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Okaya Ryokan Manager Tomoya Oda (left) and Mr. Osaki (right)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:39% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/ryokan\/toryukan\/\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3212-1-1-2048x1365-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4768 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3212-1-1-2048x1365-1-1024x683.webp 1024w, https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3212-1-1-2048x1365-1-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3212-1-1-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.webp 1536w, https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3212-1-1-2048x1365-1-2x1.webp 2w, https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3212-1-1-2048x1365-1.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inn with the warmth of tatami and gourmet cuisine<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/ryokan\/kappo-ryokan-okaya\/\">Click here for OKAYA<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-pride-of-a-hatago-continuous-from-the-edo-period\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Pride_of_a_%E2%80%9CHatago%E2%80%9D_Continuous_from_the_Edo_Period\"><\/span><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>The Pride of a &#8220;Hatago&#8221; Continuous from the Edo Period<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A4728-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5640\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 To begin, could you tell us about the history of Okaya Ryokan?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> Although few precise documents remain, we know the name &#8220;Okaya&#8221; has existed as a <em>Hatago<\/em> since the Edo period. Okitsu has long been famous as a post town where travelers could rest before or after the challenging Satta Pass. We carry that history into the modern era to welcome our guests today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 Did you always intend to take over the inn?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> To be honest, during my high school and university years, I didn&#8217;t think I would work at the ryokan at all. However, having grown up in a ryokan family, hospitality was always close to me. Realizing again the joy of interacting with guests prompted my decision to return to this path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mental-rest-brought-by-the-gardens-the-100-year-old-five-needle-pine\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CMental_Rest%E2%80%9D_Brought_by_the_Gardens_The_100-Year-Old_Five-Needle_Pine\"><\/span><strong><strong><strong>&#8220;Mental Rest&#8221; Brought by the Gardens: The 100-Year-Old Five-Needle Pine<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3769-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4812\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3769-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3769-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3769-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3769-2x1.jpg 2w, https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3769.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 The beautiful gardens are the first thing that catches the eye upon entering.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> Our gardens are a great source of pride. We have three: the &#8220;Pond Garden,&#8221; the &#8220;Goyomatsu (Five-Needle Pine) Garden,&#8221; and the &#8220;Back Garden&#8221;. We recently renovated them, and our primary focus was to ensure that the sight of the greenery makes our guests&#8217; hearts feel lighter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 There is a particularly magnificent pine tree here.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> Yes, the main <strong>Goyomatsu pine has been marking time in this garden for over 100 years<\/strong>, or perhaps much longer. I am committed to protecting this tree, just as generations of my ancestors have carefully tended to it. Not only Japanese guests but also visitors from overseas are greatly surprised and delighted by the beauty of the pine and the Nishikigoi (koi fish).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A4866-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5642\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-leisurely-time-invested-in-one-by-one-course-serving\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Leisurely_Time_Invested_in_%E2%80%9COne-by-One%E2%80%9D_Course_Serving\"><\/span><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong><strong>A Leisurely Time Invested in &#8220;One-by-One&#8221; Course Serving<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A5311-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5644\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 I can feel Shizuoka&#8217;s unique dedication in your cuisine as well.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> Our cuisine is centered around the seafood Shizuoka City is famous for. A staple of our menu is &#8220;Amadai no Matsukasa-yaki&#8221; (Tilefish with crispy scales), an arrangement of a local Okitsu specialty. As Shizuoka is the top producer of tuna in Japan, we are also very selective about the freshness of the tuna we source from Shimizu Port.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 Your serving style seems slightly different from a typical ryokan.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> Taking the renovation as an opportunity, we changed to a &#8220;Kappo style,&#8221; where dishes are served one by one. By intentionally taking time to serve, we want our guests to savor the meal while enjoying conversation with their companions in a relaxed atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A5566-1-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5645\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"restoring-the-body-and-mind-through-all-tatami-flooring\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Restoring_the_Body_and_Mind_through_All-Tatami_Flooring\"><\/span><strong><strong><strong><strong>Restoring the Body and Mind through All-Tatami Flooring<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3700-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5649\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 Your philosophy that &#8220;staying is helping people&#8221; is very moving.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> Through my activities in the industry, I have explored how a ryokan can truly help people. The answer I reached was to <strong>&#8220;let guests recover from their daily fatigue by fully enjoying a single day&#8221;<\/strong>. I want our inn to be a place where guests feel healed and ready to face tomorrow when they check out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3324-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5648\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 You have made specific improvements to the facilities for this purpose.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> During the renovation amid the pandemic, we made the <strong>entire inn floor covered with tatami<\/strong>. We abolished slippers because walking barefoot on hardwood floors can actually accumulate fatigue. We chose tatami to reduce the burden on the feet. If a business hotel is a &#8220;place to sleep,&#8221; then a ryokan is a <strong>&#8220;place to stay and recover.&#8221;<\/strong> I value that distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\u2014 Finally, do you have a message for future guests?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mr. Oda:<\/strong> We put our full effort into providing hospitality that makes our guests feel excited and healed. In the historic air of Okitsu, I would be most happy if you could touch the warmth of the tatami, eat delicious fish, and return to your daily life fully &#8220;recovered&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ryokan-book.com\/jp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/DSC00390-1024x683.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5647\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stepping into a building that holds 300 years of history, one finds the coexistence of modern functional beauty and traditional peace. The hospitality of &#8220;Recovery&#8221; championed by Manager Oda lives quietly within the garden where the Goyomatsu sways and in each carefully served dish. Just as the travelers of the Tokaido once did, a luxurious time to forget the daily hustle and find oneself flows here at Okaya Ryokan.<br><\/p>\n\n\n    <div class=\"recommend-post-cards\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card\">\n                <div class=\"recommend-post-card__container\">\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__eyecatch\">\n                                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0Q8A3212-1024x683-1.webp\" alt=\"Kappo Ryokan Okaya\">\n                                            <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"recommend-post-card__content\">\n                        <p class=\"recommend-post-card__title\">\n                            Kappo Ryokan Okaya                        <\/p>\n                        <a class=\"recommend-post-card__link btn-brand\" href=\"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/ryokan\/kappo-ryokan-okaya\/\">\n                            View Details                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Okitsu, Shizuoka City\u2014once a bustling post town as the 17th (or 18th) stop on the old Tokaido road\u2014stands Okaya Ryokan. Since the Edo period, this establishment has preserved its legacy as a &#8220;Hatago&#8221; (traditional traveler\u2019s inn) in a land where travelers crossing the difficult Satta Pass once rested their wings. While carrying nearly 300 years of history, the inn continues to innovate today with a mission to &#8220;heal the exhaustion of modern people&#8221;. We spoke with the manager, Keigo Oda, who returned to the family business after gaining experience in the outside world and now works to revitalize local tourism. We delved into his philosophy of &#8220;Recovery,&#8221; the historic gardens, and the inn&#8217;s dedication to fine dining. Okaya Ryokan Manager Tomoya Oda (left) and Mr. Osaki (right) The Pride of a &#8220;Hatago&#8221; Continuous from the Edo Period \u2014 To begin, could you tell us about the history of Okaya Ryokan? Mr. Oda: Although few precise document<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":4773,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"blog_author_id":1699},"area":[130],"r-journal-category":[137],"r-journal-tag":[138],"class_list":["post-4767","r-journal","type-r-journal","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","area-shizuoka","r-journal-category-interview","r-journal-tag-interview"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal\/4767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/r-journal"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4773"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"area","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/area?post=4767"},{"taxonomy":"r-journal-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal-category?post=4767"},{"taxonomy":"r-journal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ryokan-book.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/r-journal-tag?post=4767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}