Mine Ryokan

My partner and I stayed one night, starting on the last day of a three-day weekend. The town and inn were both quiet and peaceful. We didn't go out much; nearby there were houses and vineyards, along with a surprising number of inns that gave the area a sense of history. The inn was perfectly adequate. A few magnificent koi swam by the entrance, and the ornaments were arranged beautifully, making for a pleasant atmosphere. We really enjoyed the food and hot springs. There are seasonal reasons to visit throughout the year: cherry blossoms in spring, fireworks in summer, grapes and autumn leaves in fall, and temple visits.

I was traveling solo in Yamanashi and got far more food than I could finish, so it was a great deal. Being able to eat in my room meant I could take my time and relax without worrying about anyone else.

I had the hot springs to myself, probably because I stayed on a weekday, and that was great. The service was excellent too: they explained everything carefully when I got to my room, and were very accommodating when a friend who lives nearby came by with her child. I booked the standard plan and ate in my room. Maybe they had an extra room available, because the futons were already laid out in my room and the meal was set up in the adjacent room. Almost everything came out at once, except the soup and dessert, so the tempura had gone a little cold. There were no explanations or menus for the food. I was looking forward to the grilled spiny lobster in its shell, which the website listed as the main dish in the restaurant's homemade standard menu of about 15 dishes, advertised as “our popular Japanese meal.” But there was no lobster, just one ordinary boiled shrimp. It was supposed to be around 15 dishes, but even counting the pickles there were only 14. Isn't the standard plan meant to be a standard kaiseki meal? I went in with high expectations based on the website, so I was disappointed about the lobster. If spiny lobster isn't guaranteed, maybe the website should be updated? 😅 The sashimi wasn't especially good, though I suppose that's how it goes in a landlocked prefecture. Overall the meal wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly tasty either. Maybe don't order sashimi as an extra. The horse sashimi we ordered was delicious and filling.

The baths are surprisingly spacious for an inn of this size. There are four in all, two indoors and two outdoors, rotated in use. On weekdays, you can nearly have the place to yourself and relax. Meals come to your room, there's bottled beer in the fridge, and you can bring your own wine for a set fee, so it's easy to settle in and enjoy your stay.