Ryounkaku

The main letdown was that nobody at the hotel warned us ahead of time that the weather might be unsuitable for hiking. I can only guess they were keen to keep the booking. The visibility was poor, with snow and strong wind, so the mountains and scenery were hidden. Given how slowly we moved, I doubt even the full 2.5 hours would have let us see much or go very far. Maybe hiking in another season would be more enjoyable, I hope so. We booked snow trekking with the hotel in Dec. 2025. Staff member Ai o was helpful and responsive. After struggling to drive through fog and poor visibility, we arrived, paid in full, and set off. The guide tried hard to get us to rent their boots for 2k yen a pair. They weren't cheap, and later it seemed unnecessary: our own boots were adequate, though not as deep or protective. The guide said the trek would be about an hour, which surprised and upset me since we'd paid for 2.5 hours. The counter staff hadn't mentioned that the duration would be one hour. If the trip had to be shortened, I felt the fee should have been reduced proportionally. I asked for two hours because of the bad weather, and the guide agreed. It ended up lasting about 1 hour 40 minutes. Apart from the boot rental pressure, the guide was professional and carried a shovel in case it was needed. His English wasn't very good, but he tried to explain interesting spots along the way and had a folder of notes to show us. Visibility was so poor that we couldn't see anything, though he did a very helpful job taking photos, which was probably the best part. Afterward, we took photos with him, and when hotel staff asked if they could post them on Facebook, we politely declined. My wife wanted to see the onsen bath, but staff said it would cost 800 yen, discounted from 1k, so we decided against it.

I’d wanted to stay at this ryokan for a long time after seeing the beautiful scenery from its open-air hot spring in the photos. I finally got to go, and even with a budget room, we could enjoy the views and delicious food. It was absolutely worth the trip and lived up to my hopes.

The hand-drawn infographic in the room about the hotel and surrounding area stood out most to me. It gets updated regularly and made it easy to learn about the hotel's history and other local onsens. This is an old-fashioned onsen hotel high on a mountain, with stunning views of the surroundings and the famous Takachi Volcanic group. The rooms are quite dated, and most don't have toilets; the bathroom is shared at the onsen. If that doesn't suit you, consider another place or book a room with its own bathroom. There are two onsens, one clear and cooler, the other a distinctive iron spring at a much higher temperature. The outdoor bath also has nice views. The food was alright, with local produce and brewery items. Breakfast is buffet style, with Japanese and Western choices like bread, cereal, sausages, and eggs. A pleasant stay and a unique experience.

I booked Ryounkaku Onsen and drove toward it, but winter made the decision for me. The dark, icy roads, drifting snow, and whiteout gusts made visibility almost nonexistent. With so little room for error, I turned back before reaching the property. My risk tolerance ended there. I can't speak to the baths or rooms. The drive alone showed me that this is a remote mountain onsen in serious winter conditions, where nature doesn't negotiate. If you're expecting convenience, guardrails, or an easy walk from the car, this isn't that kind of place. Reaching it in winter would make the soak feel earned. I'd try driving up again in better conditions. Winter beginners, myself included, shouldn't bluff their way up. The stars reflect the access conditions and my partial experience, not the onsen itself.