Motoyu Ryokan

The service was so impressive that I have trouble putting into words how much I enjoyed this place. I even posted some pictures because they still don't do it justice. If I could give it more than five stars, I would. I came to visit my father, who found this traditional ryokan while looking for an onsen I could use as a foreign visitor with quite a few tattoos. We chose a room with a private bath to avoid any possible issues, and the setup was fantastic. The bath is outside behind the rooms, with lovely views of the river and woods. You can also reserve the main bath for a period of time so it's just for your family or friends. The atmosphere is peaceful and traditional, and I'd recommend staying here to anyone visiting. I eat gluten-free because of a wheat allergy, which can be difficult with Japanese food since soy sauce is used in so many dishes. The chefs and servers were so accommodating that I could hardly believe they had made almost everything gluten-free. They adjusted every dish except perhaps two small sides. For the seasonal Ayu sweetfish and vegetable tempura, they cooked my portion separately, karaage-style with potato starch. It was so good! Ayu is a summer specialty in the Atsugi region, and they used it in most of the dishes. I was told boar is their specialty in winter, and I would have loved to try that too. They explained each dish in detail, including how to get the most flavor from it.