This ryokan was a last minute decision as I decided to embrace the traditional accommodations as opposed to my originally planned modern hotel room. While my stay at this accommodation only lasted a night, I can absolutely recommend this to other travelers who wish to have a low-key and comfortable/homey environment. There was an issue with my booking which confused the owner, however, he was very respectful and resolved all concerns professionally. For instance, my booking was not displayed and resulted in my requested room to be unavailable, however I was offered another suite. Breakfast must be requested earlier (assuming the morning prior(?)) for the owners to prepare beforehand due to their operation limitations. I checked in at 1600 and was informed I would not be receiving breakfast as it was too late. The owner reviewed my booking and noticed I had paid for the meal, insisting to make my breakfast the following day, despite the fact that I was fine without it - amazing hospitality. The ryokan is absolutely old (i.e., televisions, general infrastructure...) and has certain corners of the building with random antiques and/or local information, which some may deem to be excessive clutter, though it almost feels like being in a person's house displaying interesting connections to the area. It exudes a natural atmosphere and gives the facility some life, unlike many hotels which aim to be spotless and fixated on minimalistic presentation. Guests sleep on futons on a floor covered by tatami mats and have a kotatsu in their room to sit and relax as well. Windows and doors are the sliding variant, but due to the aging of the wood, functionality is not as smooth. There is an indoor onsen for use, but there may be a fee that is not included with Booking.com; price was 150 yen at time of review). As I cannot make this review any longer, I would just wish for other travellers to visit.

This is not a major problem, but the layout of the facility and the style of the accommodation can be uncomfortable for individuals who are not comfortable with shared bathrooms or generally shared spaces. I am that person, but it was not a predicament during my stay. The toilets are shared, so you cannot go into a washroom and lock the door to have your own "private time." The onsen/shower is shared as well, therefore you will have to strip down in front of others. Of course, if you ever use gym locker rooms or community center showers, perhaps this is nothing new to you. Brushing your teeth or doing your morning routine will, needless to say, be in a shared space.

The owner was incredibly kind. Despite my late check-in, he patiently waited for me, which I truly appreciated. I absolutely adored my room. Though the ryokan is old, it has a warm, homey atmosphere. A welcoming snack was thoughtfully provided, along with tea and coffee. My futon was already laid out, and a yukata and towels were prepared for me. The bath is available 24 hours, and since no one else was using it, I had the luxury of enjoying my own private onsen. The decor transported me back to the ’90s-’00s—it had a nostalgic charm that reminded me of home in a way I can’t quite explain. Breakfast was a traditional Japanese meal, and I enjoyed every bite. I even finished all the rice in the mini rice cooker! One of the most memorable gestures was when the owner kindly drove me to the monkey park. It was snowing heavily, and the shuttle bus had already left, but he went out of his way to help me. Overall, I loved my stay here and would definitely return.

Nothing

The host that owned the hostel was accommodating in my experience. The hostel itself can be a love it or hate it. I personally loved staying there. I do understand the other comments that says "needs cleaning" or "needs to be maintained better", etc. But, I was able to enjoy myself in a traditional Ryokan. I enjoyed wearing a Yukata and the Tanzen provided. The host was kind enough to also leave a complimentary cake. I also enjoyed the old onsen where the water it uses comes from the hot spring itself. He also offered a ride to the Snow Monkey entrance and also told stories about the area's history. I think you'd love this old Ryokan and being able to stay and find yourself back in time, this is a place I would recommend. Oh! Also, you would have to pay ¥350 for tax (either city or lodging tax. I forgot where it goes)

None

A lovely friendly place to stay. Very helpful owner/manager.

I use a powered mobility device (Omeo which is based on a Segway) and the electricity was not of adequate wattage to charge it despite leaving it on to charge for 24 hours. The control panel indicated that the battery was able to charge but it wouldn't. This left me trapped at the accommodation after the first day. Once we got to Kyoto we were able to charge the Omeo again. Just a warning for anyone else travelling with a mobility device.

Super sweet host! He offered to help with my laundry, left a whole jug of hot water outside the room every morning, and got a smaller sized yukata for me. They also gave me a traditional handkerchief for a souvenir. Futon beds were super comfortable - great for my back and onsen water was great:)

Downside of a traditional ryokan is paper thin walls and some areas (outside the room) were not cleanest. Honestly all the important things (room, bedding, towels, yukata) were clean so it’s fine!

Hosts were incredibly helpful and kind. They even helped us forward our luggage to our next destination. I loved having an onsen on site, was such a great way to end a busy day in the cold. The Ryokan is old, yet charming. It's very traditional - you sleep on futons, which are adequate, the hosts bring you hot water every morning for tea. It's simple and no fuss, but everything you need and perfect for the price you pay.

Nothing, everything met expectations

Breakfast was great! The hot spring bath was very nice as well, albeit a little run down owing to the age of the property. But it added to the charm! An inn run single-handedly by the owner. You'll find a lot of Japanese memorabilia there, which will give you a glimpse into the owner's life. He also has a list of recommended restaurants to make your stay more convenient. The place is a 10-15 mins walk from the railway station and is close to a pretty large drug store as well. We walked all the way from the ryokan to the snow monkey park (which took us ~1.5 hours, including the random stops and detours)

The floors are tatami with futons to sleep on. While the room has a heater, there was a draft coming up from the floor, which gave me a cold.

Breakfast, made by the owners, was excellent. The place is a very traditional ryokan and has nice old world charm. I had the onsen to my self and it was deliciously hot and relaxing. The owner is a lovely man. His wife gave me a couple of local apples as a going away present.

The shared bathroom down the corridor was a bit inconvenient. I couldn't figure out the lights and heating in the onsen shower room and the owner in the evening was not available to ask for help.

Miyasaka (the innkeeper) was very kind and helpful. As mentioned in previous comments, he drove us to the base of the walk to the monkey park. This is quite kind, in my opinion. He also made suggestions for places to eat and visit, and provided the forecast suggesting we go to see the monkeys the day of arrival rather than the following day (which ended up raining all day). He was also generous enough to do a demonstration of the Japanese Archery, despite feeling off due to his recent COVID-19 vaccination. It was a great walking town. Very beautiful. The Inn is older which made it feel like a genuine experience (rather than something prepped for show). My mother (70’s) and I truly enjoyed it.

Many businesses in the area were closed, making it hard to find a place to eat before 11am.

Staying here felt like staying with your Grandparents, the nice comforting room to stay in and in the morning and at night he would come grab you and feed you a wonderful filling meal The host was incredibly polite and would greet us and ask us about our day. I would definitely recommend staying here and getting the breakfast/dinner

It was perfect