Niji-no-Matsubara

Top notch ryokan experience. The ladies were all so welcoming, helpful, kind, polite, and hospitable. It is an intimate 8 room ryokan, all facing the Karatsu Bay (Sea of Japan). The service is personal because of the small size. You can walk out onto a sandy beach. The two large suites also face Karatsu Castle. We arrived at 4pm and had not ordered dinner. We had even received a confirmation email saying that 3 days notice was required and dinner cannot be ordered upon arrival. Despite that, they accommodated us, and prepared a most wonderful delicious dinner. It was all served on fine (and expensive!) Karatsu ceramics and pottery. The ryokan even has 3 corfs where they keep fresh lobster, fish, and transparent squid. They take the preparation of fresh food very seriously. Breakfast was equally delightful. Our one regret was not staying longer. We would recommend two nights stay to enjoy what Mizuno has to offer.