We had an amazing time at this traditional Japanese hotel! Our dinner and breakfast were especially wonderful

After arriving in Japan and staying in bustling Tokyo, this hotel was a refreshing rustic getaway. The surrounding scenery is fabulous, world class views along the small river that flows by the hotel. There is a very long hiking trail literally 200 yards down the road that goes for miles and miles. Be aware that this is a traditional Japanese hotel, there are no beds, just padded mats on the floor and a short table with leg-less chairs, so be ready for some together time with the family. Shoes must be removed at the front door, traded for slippers they provide, and the slippers are then removed in the dining hall used for meals, and those slippers are removed for the bathroom slippers when needed. Meals must be ordered in advance so it takes a bit of planning to fully enjoy, the food seemed quite authentic, be ready for fish for breakfast, and all manner of cool little flame powered mini grills that cook, boil, or roast your items right at the table. Robes are provided to wear to dinner, which makes it a fun experience. The staff speaks functional English for the typical hotel duties they are responsible for, and they are very friendly. This is not the Four Seasons, but you've come up the hill out of town for a reason, embrace the local experience, its very cool as long as you have the right mindset and expectations. We rented a car to get here, first time with a right-hand drive on the left side of the road, it was a trial by fire, but awesome to have a car.

Owner is very nice and everyone is very hospitable

Friendly staff, great food, beautiful location. A very charming and warm place to stay. We enjoyed hiking to the various temples and having lunch by the river.

Ive never felt more immersed in nature, waking up beside the river to an authentic japanese breakfast made my heart so full. Additionally we had transpo trouble getting to the hotel and the hosts had made it so easy for us. Totally coming back next time im in kyoto

Reserved a room and dinner for 3 people, but had a single cancellation day of. Staff was very kind and accomodating. We took a bus to get there, and they offered us a free shuttle back to the train station in the morning after we checked out. Dinner and breakfast were filling and delicious, with lots of fish and pickled vegetables. The food was very different from what I get in the US, so it helps if you are adventurous. You and able to order a beer or soft drink, but hot tea will be provided for free. The futon style beds were different than what we're used to but there was a good variety of pillows to find something we liked. Our room had its own toilet and shower, but the onsen is open to all customers and split into men's and women's sections. There are only 19 rooms, and the baths are only closed 11am-6:30am, so you may be able to find a time to dip in solo if you're lucky.

This hotel allows you to experience a traditional jape as experience. Would love to come back!

Wonderful location and terrific staff. An absolute hidden gem and really enjoyed my stay!

This Hotel Japanese style was amazing, the location has the most beautiful view, the owner and her assistant were exceptional, Food was delicious.

The staff was very friendly and hospitable throughout. Though there was a language barrier they did everything to ensure the stay was perfect. Which it was. A bit of a trek to get there, but worth it! The dinner was awesome and breakfast too.

Absolutely spectacular. If you are looking for a unique Japanese cultural experience, wonderful food, breathtaking nature and super attentive staff this is your place. We had remarkable cuisine for breakfast and dinner. Often staff would come and cook it at our table. The location is remote but shuttle service compensates well for this.

The area around the property is beautiful! The owners are amazing and make you feel welcome

This property and the surrounding area offers guest a serene, tranquil escape amongst lush greenery and the sound of a babbling river. The staff are friendly, helpful and very solicitous. I enjoyed the traditional Japanese ryokan, spa and meals. My only regret is not staying longer.

If I could give this inn more stars, I would. It surpassed expectations and was a very memorable stay. First, our party of 8 was given a private bus ride from Hanazono station up the mountain through lush forests, then greeted by the entire crew and guided to our rooms. Then, we were given a traditional Japanese dinner by the riverside dining hall, which we had reserved and ordered beforehand so the food was already ready for us to eat as soon as we sat down. The service here is excellent. The rooms for 2 are a great size and are traditional layout with futons, tatami, etc. There is also a good view of the river and valley from the room window. The bathhouse is also high quality. Breakfast was again a traditional meal, served to us in the banquet hall. We were given plenty of time to hike up the mountain and explore the town after checkout and given another private bus ride back down to the station whenever we felt ready to leave. The inn, rooms and bathrooms were all spotless. The atmosphere is what we wanted - a traditional Japanese stay in nature. The hostess and crew were all very friendly and gave local hiking recommendations. They will do their best in English as well. Very pleased with the experience and hope many more people can stay here too.

This place is amazing. A little dated and some reviews reflect this but that adds to the charm. You must eat at the hotel as breakfast and evening meals are fantastic. Be hungry before you eat however as there is a lot. Slightly pricey but worth it. Use the local trails for walks as they are fantastic. We were here for early April and the cherry blossom was beautiful.

Absolutely amazing experience. The staff went above and beyond. We are so happy we stayed here. The grounds were beautiful. This hotel completed our trip to Japan!

Lovely staff who provided excellent service. Beautiful location!

Everything was amazing, staff was very friendly

Lovely area. Out of the way but nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle. Staff were gracious and sweet. The only suggestion would be to remove the smoke smell from the public areas. That detracted from the experience a bit.

Lovely area. Out of the way but nice to take a break from the hustle and bustle. Staff were gracious and sweet. The only suggestion would be to remove the smoke smell from the public areas. That detracted from the experience a bit.

This was a proper rural retreat, the staff were so friendly and helpful. There isn’t a lot in the area and we walked round the shrines and temples in one morning so caught the bus into town. Everything is only open for lunchtime so take your own amusement for the evening! I didn’t like the shower room so used the onsen

Super helpful staff. Special arrangement for a kareoke room to us.