Hotel Sekifu

The food felt authentically Japanese, and the rooms and spa had a traditional Japanese style. The service was excellent.

Really enjoyed the hot springs. They were great.

The location worked really well for sightseeing. Fuefuki Minna no Hiroba (Fuefuki Everyone's Square) is about a three-minute walk away, and Monde Brewery is right next door. The building is compact too, so getting around it didn't wear us out. The koi in the garden were fun to feed, with food sold at reception for 100 yen. I was surprised by how much I liked the place, especially for the price. We paid about 12,000 yen per person for one night with two meals. Maybe it was cheaper because it was the off-season after Golden Week and there were no fruit-picking activities. I went in ready to overlook some things, but came away much more satisfied than expected. The open-air bath was lukewarm, which was just right for kids. The indoor bath in the women's area, though, was extremely hot. Food tasted a bit cheap, which I can understand at that price, and I did feel awkward complaining about either issue given what we paid. The room was clean and Japanese-style. Jalan listed the hotel as a smoking property, but I didn't notice cigarette smell in the room. ReFa was everywhere in the bathroom, from the hairdryer and iron to the shampoo and other toiletries, and even the showers in the washing area. That felt like a real luxury. The decor was lavish, with stained-glass-like patterns all over that brought back the Showa-era bubble economy. There were welcome drinks at the bar, including red and white wine, Calpis, and oolong tea. My child was thrilled when the bartender congratulated them on their first bar experience after they got Calpis at the counter. I'd had no expectations at this price, so the inn was a very pleasant surprise. I'd happily stay again.

The second and third floors still felt like a traditional Japanese inn, and they were clean and well cared for. Downstairs had changed a lot since my last stay before the pandemic, with a more luxurious design and a different feel. My room was especially plush. It had a reclining bath, a massage chair, two TVs, and a very nice bed. The lounge was roomy and comfortable too. Isawa Onsen Station is within walking distance. It was a very good stay.