Daikans

The rooms and facilities were a little dated and had some minor damage. We also heard the air conditioner running noisily all night, and the smell of meat grilling in another guest’s room drifted into ours. Still, I thought this hotel offered remarkable value for money, and I’d recommend it for a couple of nights. What made the stay especially good was the staff. Almost all the employees looking after the rooms were friendly, honest, sincere, and humble. They greeted us warmly, brought dinner to our room, and laid out the FUTON mats after dinner, always with a smile. The spring water was just right, neither too hot nor lukewarm, and there was plenty of it. I was amazed that the bath and washbasin in each room also used hot spring water. Everything we ate at dinner and breakfast was excellent, and we didn’t find any remnants of MSG. I don’t think many hotels offer this kind of service at this price.

A traditional Japanese-style hotel with a public bath.

The staff’s hospitality really stayed with me. Many of them were older, but they put so much care into welcoming us that I was moved. I’d like to stay here again when I return to pay my respects. We spent two nights here to visit Dazaifu Tenmangu. It’s an old-fashioned ryokan, and there weren’t many inbound tourists around lately, so I felt at ease using the bath. The building is old, but you can still see the generous, luxurious design from a time when Japan was strong. It made me feel how much the times have changed.

I liked the hot springs, which include a large bath underground, an observation bath, and a family bath. The staff were kind, and the inn had a retro Showa-era feel that I really enjoyed. I stayed one night in a Japanese-style room in the new wing with breakfast. The building is on the older side, but it was clean, and breakfast was delicious, better than I expected. The air conditioning was already running when I checked in at night, so the room was warm, and having plenty of hot and cold water was reassuring. I didn’t expect much comfort from a tatami room, but the futon mattress had a bit of give and was much more comfortable than I thought. I slept well.