Yamanaka Grand Hotel

The food was a major disappointment. It felt like a cheap buffet of bland, unhealthy industrial food, nothing like what you'd expect from a ryokan for dinner and breakfast. The staff were scarce, with only a couple of people struggling to keep up. The rooms were badly designed and clearly hadn't been renovated in decades. The pool had the same neglected feel, and the building seemed like it had been designed by a drunk architect. I've never seen such a tiny locker room in such a large hotel. This sad ryokan seems to be struggling and lowering standards everywhere to survive. For the same money, there are much better ryokans in the area.

The room was clean and spacious, and the onsen was large and comfortable. The cafeteria had an all-you-can-eat setup, with alcohol costing extra. I think unlimited drinks were 1,500 yen. There was sushi, soba, ramen, curry, Japanese side dishes, ice cream, and more. It wasn't fancy, and some of it seemed frozen, but it was worth the price.

The hot spring was the best, and the room was nice. Even with not many people around because of covid, the staff were so kind, and I enjoyed dinner too. Do visit here.

Good value for money and a good experience. The crab buffet was delicious, and the staff were nice and polite.