Machiya Ryokan Ichifuji

The proprietress at reception was really helpful and went through everything clearly. My main gripe was that I had reserved a non-smoking room, yet it smelled noticeably of cigarettes, though perhaps some rooms are different. The place has a retro Showa-era atmosphere, which I don't know much about as a young person. It's okay if all you need is somewhere to sleep, and since it's a hot spring town there are baths outside the hotel. If the lot is full, coin parking is available for just 1000 yen for 24 hours.

We had a good time exploring Hitoyoshi at night, with restaurants nearby and the Natsume's Book of Friends shadow puppet show. The receptionist was friendly and explained the hotel before we took our key cards upstairs. My friend and I had a room that was a comfortable size, with a big closet, fridge, TV, and amenities. Apparently, women are given canned fruit. There is a parking lot, a 24-hour elevator, card key access, and you can come and go whenever you like. For a reasonable price, we were glad we chose it. The walls and bathroom were a little dirty, though it didn't bother me much. It may just reflect how long the hotel has been operating. Thanks for looking after us during our short stay.

The building and facilities are dated, but the place was reasonably clean and I had no other complaints. It’s in a good location, the receptionist was friendly, and there were enough amenities. I skipped the bath in favor of a nearby natural hot spring fed directly from its source. It was great.

The unit bath is quite cramped, and the facilities are old. Compared with the attractive inns lined up on both sides of the intersection, this place does pale a bit, lol. There are several public baths nearby, so going out for a soak is a good option. I went to Nabeya Ryokan for a day-use bath. The closest convenience store is a bit of a walk, but there’s a souvenir shop and a supermarket nearby for food and drinks.