Himeyado Hanakazashi (Women-Only Ryokan)

The main reason I'm writing this time is the drop in hospitality. When my mother started giving our room number, the staff member didn't respond at first, then cut her off with, “Our rooms are not on the fifth floor!” She only said “5...” and there was no need to snap at her. Compared with two years ago, the staff seemed more used to the work, but I didn't feel the service had improved. Everyone seemed to be trying their best, and there were some lovely staff too, which made the incident feel like a shame. This is still a wonderful inn, and I hope it does well. One other thing for anyone with allergies: the mascot cat seems to groom itself on the lounge sofas where guests sit. There are plenty of things I like here. Every room faces the ocean, the lounge has a well-stocked drink bar, and I especially enjoy grinding my own coffee and choosing from the teas, including black and oolong. One employee's menus are thoughtful, and the meals use a wide range of ingredients. On my first visit, the food variety and one employee's hospitality really impressed me. I've spent precious family time here three years running, which is why I felt I should write about the things that may make me reconsider. The Wi-Fi is free, but the signal is unreliable and, when it connects, far too slow to use. The drink bar hours, 8:00-10:00 AM and 3:00-9:00 PM, are awkward. There are no drinks early in the morning or after a late bath, and people staying multiple nights can't use the bar. Some food that should be served hot arrived cold: the rice croquettes and fried Mexican sardines were completely cold, and the clam chowder was lukewarm. Maybe the plates weren't preheated. It's a shame the fried food was cold. The room has been renovated and was very clean, though the building as a whole still feels old. I understand that, but bathroom tiles were being fixed with cellophane tape, and I think they could have done a better job. There was also a dusty spiderweb beside the stairs that looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a while.

In Nishiura Onsen, the building has an old-fashioned feel, but the interior and furniture are lovingly kept and charming. I had thought only women could stay here, though it now accepts other guests too. I was with my elderly parents and asked for a room near the dining area to reduce walking. They were close by, which was a relief. We enjoyed the meal, which was delicious and nicely presented. The menu was cute, and they even showed us a book and explained which vegetables were in the salad. There was welcome tea with dessert, complimentary drinks, yukata to choose from, and nail care. A photo studio had costumes you could wear for free for a picture. The mascot cat greeted us at reception. cat I heard a drama was filmed here in 2024, and there were often interviews, autographs, and photos.

The staff serving meals were very pleasant, and both dinner and breakfast were tasty, creative, and beautifully presented, with a focus on women's beauty and health. At dinner, you can pick chopsticks in your favorite design and take them home. The guest rooms have lovely ocean views, and with the good weather, we saw a beautiful sunset. Some of the building is old, but everything was very clean, and it was reassuring to know the room air conditioners are regularly maintained. The open-air bath wasn't operating when I visited in April last year. The spring water is mild and low-alkaline, so it doesn't really give you that hot-spring feeling. There are no toilets on the guest room floors, which can cause a scramble. You have to go all the way down to the first floor to find one.

The biggest drawback is getting there. It's not much of an issue by car, but if you live in the city and don't own one, reaching the nearest station can be a real hassle. I'd like to tell my acquaintances what a nice little luxury this inn is, but none of them have cars, so it's hard to spread the word. The location isn't something I can change. If you do have a car, I highly recommend it. My family and I stayed in the fall and found the hotel quiet and relaxing, with a lovely room and a soothing hot spring. The food looked as good as it tasted, and the mascot cat, Oyakata, was very friendly. The lounge had excellent service and a wide range of free drinks. I hadn't expected freshly ground coffee in the morning.