Kappo Ryokan Seizanso

The young proprietress was so warm and welcoming, and the Japanese food was delicious. I was touched that they made a very cute children’s plate for my 1.5-year-old daughter. The hamburger steak had chunks of onion and a mild flavor, with a strong meaty taste. My husband and I enjoyed it the most, haha. Some seasonings may be a little strong for a child that age, but trying new flavors now and then is good. My daughter loved the rice and asked for more. I was also happy that she had natto at breakfast. The handwritten notes about the inn, the head proprietress’s homemade brown sugar buns, and the hand-sewn children’s jinbei all felt thoughtful and personal. I’d like to come back for another meal.

It’s getting popular and reservations are harder to get, so I’d book early. The value is excellent, and I’d choose this over a nearby hotel without dinner. The dinner and breakfast are both truly delicious, and I’ll definitely return when I get the chance. Every Kyoto-style dish is carefully made, and you can taste that care once you eat it. I found myself smiling through the meal. You can enjoy food this good right in Joetsu Takada. There’s a cat at the inn, so mention it beforehand if you don’t like cats. It’s a very calm, laid-back cat, though.

The room and bathroom were showing their age, but the food more than made up for it. Dinner was truly delicious, with each dish prepared very carefully. Breakfast the next morning was wonderful too, and I went home feeling happy and refreshed. I was visiting for the Takada Castle cherry blossom viewing event. I needed to change my reservation to include dinner because of my own circumstances, and they kindly accommodated me. The inn is quite close to Takada Park, and I’d stay again if I had the chance.

Breakfast was delicious, but I don’t think I’ll stay here again. I chose a cheaper plan, so the room may have been the small, old-fashioned kind with futons. The customer service felt careless. The inn didn’t pay attention to guests monopolizing the bath, leaving us waiting. On a hot summer night, I’d wanted an early bath and then to relax, but another guest, probably a couple, had locked the bath and kept it to themselves. I couldn’t even get a proper soak. It was a busy day, and I was told the family bath wasn’t available. I asked the landlady, who said she’d contact me once the couple came out. She got in touch a while later, but by then the mood of the trip was gone. I went to bed feeling unwell without even having a drink.