Kannawaen

The tatami and onsen parts of our room were great, and the room itself was large, but the bedroom and bathroom let it down. We spent two nights in the main building in a room with a private onsen. The bedroom was dark with old furniture, and the bathroom smelled strongly of what seemed like sewage. Staff service was mediocre, and communication among them seemed poor. They mishandled our message appointment and nearly sent our luggage incorrectly before we checked at checkout. Most staff didn’t make much effort to create the memorable experience we expected at ¥150,000 a night. The first night’s kaiseki in the main dining room was below average. At that price, we expected a private or semi-private space, not a communal cafeteria-style restaurant connected to the lobby. The sashimi didn’t seem very fresh, and the meal felt low-effort. Teppanyaki was decent, with fresh seafood and quality beef, and good service. Overall, the food at Kannawaen felt average at best. The onsen itself was nice, with a large outdoor area, but amenities in the changing room weren’t restocked on time. The massage service was very good and fairly priced. Still, the room and food problems outweighed the good points for us, so I can’t recommend the ryokan.

This was easily the worst onsen hotel stay I’ve had in Japan, despite having stayed at many over the years. It spoiled the mood of my trip, and I wouldn’t return or recommend it. I honestly don’t think it deserves even one star. The public bath seemed poorly cleaned, with hair everywhere and used towels left on the floor. Scratches and stains across the guest-room flooring also made the place feel badly maintained. The food was nearly inedible, and plain white rice was the best thing we ate. Service was lacking, and staff didn’t seem well trained. The shared coffee and tea lounge was usually unattended, with no one there to look after guests. Much of the furniture felt cheap and worn. It’s less than ten years old, yet already feels neglected, with little attention to upkeep or details. To me, the hotel seemed poorly managed and more focused on charging guests than on offering a clean, sincere, comfortable stay. My impression was that it mainly caters to international tour groups or first-time visitors who may not know many traditional Japanese ryokans. Anyone hoping for authentic Japanese hospitality, cleanliness, comfort, relaxation, and attention to detail may be disappointed.

There was an omiyage shop stocked with local crafts, and the service was attentive. Our room had a private rotemburo, an outdoor hot spring that ran around the clock, which was a wonderful surprise. The in-room springs seemed endless. Breakfast and dinner are paid for at this ryokan, and both meals were incredible. For what you get, this luxurious place is a bargain.

The dinners and breakfast were excellent, with careful preparation and lovely presentation, and the staff were very friendly. Both connected tubs, one indoors and one on the balcony, felt heavenly. My only real complaint is that the balcony glass was completely opaque, so there was no view from the outdoor bath. A movable screen or something similar might have worked better. Driving up the first time was a little confusing, but the signs made sense once we followed them.