SI

Steven Iv

5/5Google· a month ago

Back in 2017, I took a trip here with my school, Kyoto University alongside the village of Shirakawa-go and it's still one of the strongest memories I have in Japan. The whole experience of this traditional Japanese Inn I highly recommend for those who have not experienced a "ryokan" before. I distinctly remember the set meals we had in the banquet area, the traditional inn clothing that was carefully setup for us in our rooms and especially the amazing onsen bath that was outside during the Winter months. I don't think anything will replace the memory of snow falling in a hot spring surrounded with my friends as we all experienced something completely foreign to us and I hope you feel the same when visiting this hotel. Hope to come back soon one day.

LP

Liana Politi

3/5Google· a month ago

This is a wonderful onsen experience, their onsens are truly great. But, the rooms aren’t ok: they do not appear to be very clean, and there is a distinctive overpowering musty smell of mold: I know that smell, it is because the rooms are poorly ventilated and there are old tatami that trap moisture due to high humidity and now have microbial growth. New tatami does not smell like that, neither old tatami that is clean and properly taken care off. This points to mold, a health hazard and it is not ok to inhale. The hotel should start deep cleaning and replacing the tatami and checking the walls in these rooms asap. We know what we smelled and it was overpowering, can’t mistake it for anything else. Sevice was also perfect. No other complaints.

H

Himanage

4/5Tripadvisor· 5 months ago

This was a short but very memorable stay during our trip through the Japanese Alps. Although we only spent one night, the experience was rich, authentic, and culturally immersive. From the moment we arrived until departure, everything felt carefully designed to provide a true traditional Japanese experience. As usual, I will divide this review into several sections to make it easier to follow. Location – Excellent|The hotel is perfectly located in the heart of the Japanese Alps, surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and nature. For those travelling by car (which I strongly recommend), it’s an ideal base to explore the region. Even without a car, it still offers good access to nearby points of interest.|Being a true onsen hotel, it features natural thermal waters with the characteristic sulfur smell — authentic, not artificial — which really enhances the experience. Staff – Outstanding|The staff were extremely friendly, attentive, and professional. Even before we fully arrived, there was already a staff member waiting for us at the entrance with a list including my name, guiding us to the parking spot.|Throughout the stay, they were consistently helpful and detail-oriented. A truly excellent level of service. Facilities & Rooms – Traditional and Comfortable|The hotel is well-equipped with all necessary amenities and offers generous space compared to typical Japanese standards.|The rooms are spacious, clean, and very traditional. We slept on tatami mats with futons, which added authenticity to the experience. Everything was well-organized and comfortable, providing a genuine Japanese stay. Cleanliness – Impeccable|Cleanliness was excellent throughout the entire hotel. Everything felt extremely well-maintained and hygienic.|Honestly, I couldn’t find a single negative point in this regard. Food & Dining – Exceptional Cultural Experience|We had both dinner and breakfast at the hotel, and it exceeded expectations. Dinner: A traditional Japanese meal prepared specifically for our family. The presentation, atmosphere, and variety of dishes were outstanding. For anyone wanting a true Japanese culinary experience, this is simply phenomenal.|Breakfast: Also fully traditional Japanese style, not a buffet or Western option. It was an authentic and memorable experience, especially for those open to trying something different. As a vegetarian, I should note that Japanese cuisine is not particularly vegetarian-focused. While it wasn’t a limitation, it is something to be aware of. Still, the cultural experience more than made up for it — even my children enjoyed it despite some unusual dishes. Onsen – Excellent|The onsen facilities are spacious, well-maintained, and very enjoyable. Multiple indoor hot spring pools|High-quality shower areas|Separate areas for men and women|A mixed outdoor area with limited hours The overall experience was fantastic — relaxing, authentic, and with great conditions. Downsides – Slightly Outdated|If there is one point to mention, it’s that the hotel feels a bit dated.|While the traditional style is part of the charm, some areas show signs of aging and could benefit from a light renovation or modernization to improve overall comfort and aesthetics. Overall Impression – Great Value for Money|For me, the biggest highlight was the quality-to-price ratio. Experiences like this — especially in the Japanese Alps — can easily be much more expensive.|Considering the price, I believe the hotel delivers excellent value. It’s a perfect choice for anyone looking for an authentic Japanese experience in a natural mountain setting.|I only regret not staying longer — the location is ideal for hiking and relaxing in the onsen after a day in nature. Final Verdict A highly recommended stay for those seeking: Authentic Japanese culture|Traditional onsen experience|Beautiful mountain surroundings A unique and memorable experience that perfectly fulfilled the purpose of our trip.

TM

Trip.com Member

5/5Trip.com· 5 months ago

We had a wonderful stay at this hotel as we enjoyed the dinner and the onsen onsite. The room is very spacious and clean. There is a bus stop right in front of the hotel and make it easy for traveling to Shinhotaka Ropeway and Takayama.b

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Pat Shu

5/5Google· 7 months ago

The hotel offers breathtaking mountain and river views from the balcony. From inside the room, we could hear the soothing sound of water flowing through the Hirayu River. The live volcano, Mount Yakedake, stands directly in front of the hotel’s balcony sliding doors. We also enjoyed walking along the river and streams formed by melting snow. It was truly memorable to walk through the snow in the woods near the hotel. There is even a waterfall visible through the hotel hallway windows. On the second floor of their traditional Japanese restaurant, there is a calligraphy sign that reads “River Sound,” which perfectly describes the hotel. Falling asleep to the sound of the river was an unforgettable experience. We truly felt that every penny we paid for the room was worth it for the views alone.Two of us are vegetarians, and one of us does not eat seafood. The hotel specially prepared our meals three days in advance. We were extremely impressed by both the vegetarian kaiseki and the no-seafood kaiseki. Since chefs do not usually prepare vegetarian kaiseki, we deeply appreciated the effort. The vegetarian kaiseki was gourmet, and the portion sizes were far from the typical “bird-sized” Japanese servings. We were completely full — one of us even fell asleep in the restaurant! We had to request takeout containers to finish the delicious food. Just when we thought a dish was the last course, more dishes kept arriving. It is very difficult to find truly vegetarian food in onsen areas or in Japan in general, as many dishes include fish or dashi broth. We paid separately for the meals after booking the room because we only needed four meals during our three-day stay. We were guided into a private Japanese dining room with tatami flooring, sliding doors, and traditional roofing. The room was beautiful. For just one meal, there were multiple heating devices — steamers, heated metal plates, and small stoves warmed by candles. It was truly impressive. We felt completely spoiled.The hotel service was equally impressive. Each day, they confirmed our preferred meal times and prepared our beds while we were dining. On the first night, I thought the hotel had made a mistake because the quilt covers and pillowcases were gone. I contacted the staff to request replacements, only to realize they had simply moved the table and chairs back to the tatami area and set up our beds while we were at dinner. I didn’t know they prepared the beds every night during our meals. I felt like a queen! The hotel also has two new washer/dryer machines that were not listed in their amenities. Some of our clothes, such as snow pants and raincoats, could not be placed in the dryer. These machines can function as washer-dryer combos or as washer-only or dryer-only units. They were usually available, which was very convenient. We also tried the public onsens. From the mixed-gender outdoor onsen, we could see the entire mountain view — it was stunning. One of the mixed-gender baths provided swimsuits for both men and women. This allowed my husband, my mother, and me to enjoy the onsen together comfortably, like being in a swimming pool. We visited at the end of February and had hoped to experience snow falling on our heads while soaking in the outdoor onsen. Unfortunately, the temperature rose just before our arrival, so we did not get to see snow around the baths. The indoor baths are partially covered by bamboo fencing, through which you can still see half of the mountain. It was still quite nice.Regarding transportation, the bus stops at the hotel only every two hours during certain times of the day, while it runs more frequently at the bear park. Since my mother has knee problems and cannot walk long distances — even though the park and hotel are only one bus stop apart — I contacted the hotel. To our surprise, they came to pick us up before the bus arrived. We were so grateful. I studied many hotels before selecting this hotel. "outdated or not clean" were mentioned in some reviewers. After my stay, those comments were incorrect. This hotel is beautiful!!!!

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137bubbaf

2/5Tripadvisor· 8 months ago

I had high hopes for this hotel because of the onsen, so we booked three nights in a japanese-style room with half- board (breakfast and dinner). |First, this hotel is located in the middle of nowhere. You cannot walk to town or any restaurants outside of the hotel property. The closest town is Hirayu Onsen, which is a ten-minute bus ride. We should've stayed there instead. We've been traveling all over Japan for the past five weeks so we've stayed at several hotels before this one. This hotel is the worst so far. If I had to pick one main reason for my low rating, it would be the front desk staff, specifically the Japanese male manager. He was borderline rude. Did not speak a lick of English. The foreign workers are the nice ones. Here, the japanese service staff are surprisingly cold and unwelcoming. They gave us the impression that they do not like western tourists. |As I mentioned earlier, we pre--paid for the kaiseki breakfast and dinners. All but one (dinner on the second night) were huge disappointments. We should've just eaten in town, even with the inconvenience. |The Japanese-style rooms are subjective. I would never do it again. The tatami beds are just too hard on my back. |The onsen is nice. We tried all of them and found the ones outside (shared) were just too hot for us. I guess this is the only redeeming feature of this hotel, but you can also find a better hotel option in town (Hirayu Onsen) where you can walk to many restaurants and the bus station. |I would not recommend this hotel since there are so many other options to choose from in this area.

TM

Trip.com Member

5/5Trip.com· 5 months ago

Very excellent onsen hotel, doinner and breakfast is good. The wonderful thing is this hotel have a mixed onsen, can enjoy onsen with your wife and son together.

DA

Daniel Amital

5/5Google· a year ago

It was an excellent experience! We were warmly welcomed from the very first moment. The Japanese-style room was very nice, with futon beds and amazing blankets that helped us sleep wonderfully. The onsen at the property is simply stunning, and the meals were very interesting - each day we were served delicious dishes from the local Japanese cuisine, with the menu changing daily.