The staff are very friendly at the desk. Of all the hotel and ryokan we stayed on this 12 days trip this is the only ryokan that truly provide service right from the start , even before complete our check in. They first start off in offering to park the car for us and greet us at the parking lot. Our foot not even at their door yet! Remember this is not some kind of 6 or 7 stars hotel, they even help us take our luggages back to our room. And our futons are already in placed for us to ready to sleep as we asked for late check in and arrived past 10pm. The public bath comes with outdoor onsen , and the whole place looks very new. Especially the area where you dry your hair. Love the Panasonic hair dryer they let the guest use. We end up looking at electronic store after but unfortunately don't have it in the voltage for overseas use. P.S. truly feel the strength of an old hotel trying to strive for growth and survive during harship. I don't like some online reviews saying they feel they got negative feelings about staying in this place as the nearby hotels are vacant and shut down , probably no business due from covid in the past couple years. This hotel renovated their facility , the room we stayed at got toilet renovated, the whole toilet is in sparkling clean state. And they got a new wing budiling fully refurbished with nicer room decor which I saw on the booking.com website. Of course comes in higher prices. But the Japanese style room we see them got wallpaper replaced so it wasn't so dull. The door even it was in old door frame but they switched to card access on their lo cks. Not all ryokan has it. Of the few I stayed on this trip only this one got card access. The other ones all still use those bulky key chain with keys to enter. In the area , got many other few nicer and pricey options. If feeling staying in a ryokan that is next to an empty abundant hotel is a concern to you , then is your problem.

Breakfast not as good as i expected. Taste average. But stiil ok. They tried to offer different variety. The breakfast is buffet style, I think their breakfast ends a bit early at 9.30am. But is okay for us, as we got plans anyways right after breakfast. They offer time slots for breakfast, I guess trying to control flow of the people.

I appreciate the Ryokan and Private onsen space - spacious, adequate facilities for a night or so. Staff are polite. Free bus shuttle available to and fro the station. Walking distance to nearby shops and restaurants (5-10mins). You get to experience the real rural area and explore at your own pace.

They didnt have laundromats so hope they can provide this service :)

The rooms with private dining and onsen was very beautiful.

The lobby area definitely needs some improvement but like a faded courtesan showed an elegant past.

Staff was very welcoming, helpful, and pleasant.

The hotel was clearly once a grand place, but now much of the facility feels old and run down.

We chose one of the rooms with its own bath, and it was among the best bath experiences I've ever had. Right outside the main room is a veranda with wood panels on all sides, a small shower and a big stone bath with constantly warm water. Laying there, listening to the rain pouring or the crickets singing is pure bliss. Together with among the best personnel I've met in a hotel and huge dinners in the room the experience is one I will not soon forget. Visit the local pottery if you are staying a while in Japan (it takes 5 or so days before it's finished after you have painted); they will send your finished goods with Kuroneko to your hotel wherever you are in Japan.

The hotel is old, which in itself is a point of charm, but may deter some. The hotel is not in the nearby town, it's only a short way away, but that way is a stone staircase that will not be an easy traverse for disabled or elderly visitors. The hotel will help with transportation to and from the train station and to and from the village.