Hotel Ravie Kawaryo

A fantastic hotel, though I found the onsen a little small and less grand than others nearby. Highly recommended.

It’s a traditional place and a bit dated, and the staff don’t speak much English. But the service was immaculate, the best I’ve had in the country. Our room smelled smoky, and even though it was very late, the front desk worker immediately moved us to another one and made our futons. He explained everything as clearly as he could and was incredibly polite throughout. Despite what other reviews say, the place is very accommodating. I’d gladly come back.

I went in expecting the worst after reading some extremely negative reviews here, but was pleasantly surprised. I was the only Western person I noticed, and there’s almost no English signage. It was my first time at this kind of resort seeing a man with a tattoo. It was subtle, on his inner arm, but I noticed it when he reached for a plate. He looked a bit like a thug, very large and machine-tanned, with an earring. I guess no one spotted the tattoo when he checked in. I’m glad I didn’t run into him in the sauna. If I’d had a lot more money, I would have stayed at the Hoshino KAI down the street. For the value, though, I was happy with this place. There were lots of families with young kids over the holiday weekend. I have no real complaints; we got what we paid for. I wish I’d had more time to walk around the city. It looks really nice here.

This is my second stay, and I’m glad I came back despite all the other options nearby. The hotel is older, but the service and food are fantastic. Wi-Fi was reliable, and the room was spacious. You definitely need someone who speaks Japanese with you, but the staff made both me and my foreign husband feel welcome. We left a couple of things in the room after checkout, and they sent them back to our home in Tokyo that same day. I’m very satisfied and grateful for the kind staff.