Yu no yado Wadoh

We usually book one of the western rooms at Wado, but this visit we chose the larger, older-style Japanese room Hana Mizu Ki on the 5th floor. It was clean and spacious, though a little dated, and comfortably fits four. It faces the front of the Ryokan and the driveway, so you hear a car now and then. The futons were very comfortable and gave us a good night's sleep after hiking and walking. As on past visits, the staff were gracious and welcoming, especially with our young child. Dinner was delicious, and the host timed each dish just right. Breakfast was the same as before and delicious, particularly the miso soup with small clams. Wado offers a shuttle to and from Wado Kuroya station, but you need to mention it when you book. We have always had a great experience here. If you're visiting Wado in the Chichibu region, the surrounding area is worth exploring, including Nagatoro and Mitzumine shrine. The Chichibu region has beautiful mountain views and cozy, heartwarming food.

The kaiseki dinner in a private room was elegant and delicious, with a handwritten menu that felt personal. Breakfast was fantastic too, and from the breakfast hall I could see the lovely natural surroundings. The onsen was great, with the sound of the river in the background. The outdoor bath in the room isn't an onsen, but they provided onsen powder to imitate the hotel's bath, which was a nice touch. This elegant, warm ryokan was a real highlight of my Chichibu trip, maybe even my two weeks in Japan. The exterior looks a little retro, but inside it's clean, elegant, and very well maintained. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. I felt at ease as soon as I sat down with the welcome tea. I had such a good time here. Thank you!

We came for the weekend of the Chichibu Matsuri and had a peaceful stay. The room had its own bath, and the setting was a lovely place to relax. Nice ryokan and hot spring bath!

We visited in summer 2023 and paid around 70,000 yen for one night with two meals. The room was dated but clean, and I loved the terrace and greenery outside. The mattress, though, was extremely hard, worse than a standard thin futon. Dinner was a terrible experience for me at a ryokan, regardless of the price. The food itself was fine, and the serving staff member was nice and clearly trying, but we waited over an hour for the first few dishes and got so hungry sitting there. Then the rest of the dishes were suddenly brought all at once. My partner noticed a large group in the dining hall, so I guess the kitchen and serving staff may have been overwhelmed. We arrived by car in the rain. A staff member stood outside staring at us without greeting us or offering an umbrella, even though there was a whole umbrella stand beside him. He didn't help with our bags either. Then, still carrying our own luggage, we were asked to sit on a sofa in an area reached by going down a few steps, despite other empty sofas being accessible without steps. I wouldn't return unless they improve their service.