Sekitaitei Ishida

The staff turned a stressful travel problem around for my family. We missed the last bus from Nagiso station, so we called to ask what we could do. They called back with an alternative bus stop and sent their driver to collect us there. Everyone we dealt with was incredibly friendly and helpful. We picked this traditional countryside ryokan because it was near the Nakasendo trail, where we were hiking the next day. Achi is a village in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Our room was spacious and comfortable, and the traditional Japanese dinner and breakfast were spectacular. This stay was the highlight of our nine-day trip in Japan.

They helped with everything from explaining how to book transportation to picking us up and dropping us off at the bus stops. The service was perfect, the food excellent, and the whole hotel had an amazing zen vibe. It was a true Japanese experience. If you want to stay at a Japanese five-star ryokan and feel immersed in it, this is the spot.

The hot spring was the best part for us, cozy and high quality. We also loved the traditional Japanese performance after dinner, and the two Japanese dinners we had were prepared with real care. Ishida gave my family an amazing two-day stay. The building keeps its traditional Japanese architecture and room design, and walking through it felt like stepping back into ancient Japan. It’s about 15 minutes from Lida and the entrance to Mount Ena, making it convenient for visitors who want to move between city and nature.

The regular performance at 8:30 PM was a highlight, with things like singing or drumming. The people were very nice, greeted us warmly, and spoke English. I also liked the souvenirs, which would be great for people you care about. Sekitaitei Ishida is a five-star hotel in Achi. It’s just one floor high, and the rooms have a distinctly Japanese style. The food was nice, even though Japanese cuisine isn’t usually my favorite. The area is quiet and low-density, with nice people around. One downside is that if you rely on convenience stores for food, you’ll have to walk quite a way to reach one.