Choubounoyado Shiori

The setting is quiet, tucked against a hillside and far enough from roads and trains that I mostly heard nothing except the occasional siren in the distance. It’s a lovely place to unwind peacefully in the city. The room was spacious and clean, with good loose-leaf green tea instead of the usual bags. The public onsen was clean and plenty hot, and private onsens are available too. There’s also a foot bath in the central garden with a scenic view of Beppu. The service was outstanding from start to finish. Yuta hurried outside when I arrived to guide me while parking and carry my bags. His English was very good, and he told me some history about Beppu and Oita. Staff were professional, polite, and went out of their way to make me feel welcome. I’d also recommend the kaisaki dinner if you can. Every plate was delicious and looked like a work of art. They were the best meals I had during my three weeks in Japan, and there was plenty to eat. It may cost a bit more than other Beppu hotels, but the value felt well above the price, even for just one night. Stay here, you won’t regret it.

We don’t drive, so the free train station pickup and drop-off was a big help. The onsens were nice and not crowded, and the food was tasty with generous portions. A really enjoyable stay.

The rooms and bedding do smell of smoke, though we knew this was a smoking facility. Otherwise, the public bath was lovely, with indoor and outdoor pools, and we could book the private family bath once a day. We splurged on an ocean view and were glad we did. The food was excellent, with a stunning range of dishes. They accommodated our vegetarian, but seafood featured heavily on the menu, which changed at every meal. Service was excellent throughout, from the train station pickup to the ride back. Call ahead to arrange pickup. We had the tourist information desk do it for us because our Japanese is limited.

Everyone was friendly, and the food was among the best I’ve had in Japan. The aji sashimi was especially good. Riya and the other staff made it easy to communicate even though my Japanese is limited, and I haven’t studied it for a number of years. Thanks for a great stay at this ryokan!