Annex Turtle Hotori-An

Private Onsen

Nothing

Chose this location as it backed on to a river and we thought it would be nice and quiet with just that sound in the evenings. It was a short walk to the world heritage site, and up the hill to Lawson which was open 24/7, also the location of the bus stop for going up to the lake area. The private onsen was amazing. My partner and I never used them when we stayed at business hotels but here since it was private we were comfortable with the experience. The room we got was a traditional japanese one with tatami mats and futons for sleeping. We hopped on a bus to the Lawson and rolled our suitcases down the hill. On the way home to the station, we didn't have to take the bags up the hill because there is this mini electric bus that goes through this neighbourhood to the top of the hill so we hopped on that as the stop is right beside the hotel.

It didn't bother us but the walls are a bit thin and you can hear others sometimes. We had a private bathroom which was great, the toilet worked fine but for some reason I guess that design or model is super loud when you flush lol its like a jet taking off and I hope it didn't wake the neighbours :P

Hot spring with river view

Maybe because the high humidity in the area, the room spells very old. The furnitures are old as well.

Walkable location to Toshogu Shrine and related attractions. Quiet neighborhood. Onsen bath available for private use (on 1st-come-1st-serve basis). Newer building. Nice dinner at nearby Bell Cafe.

Minimal facilities, with few of the gracious touches that can make a ryokan experience special. Definitely feels like a hostel focused on foreign tourists. Only one onsen bath, always occupied when we wanted to use it in the evening (we got in the next morning), water cooler than typical onsens (for foreign tourists?). Opened window of our river-facing room to enjoy sound of rushing water, but overpowering smell of fuel exhaust from onsen area forced us to close it.