Sasaya Ryokan

We slept well in a traditional room and enjoyed a soak in the bath. The landlady was lovely and very friendly, and the 100-year-old house has a lot of history and charm.

The rooms were clean, spacious, and comfortable, and the location was great, just a few blocks from the interesting spots. No one spoke English, but the people were pleasant and got things done. An excellent choice in Kitakata.

The location is quite good, with a 7-Eleven a short walk away and local supermarkets, Kitakata ramen shops, and lots of izakayas within a few hundred meters. You might want to bring an extension cord, since there seems to be only one outlet you can use freely in the guest room. The futon was already laid out when we arrived. In the room there was a kettle, a 19-inch LCD TV, and a teapot with tea leaves, and not much else. Towels are the only amenities provided. There is one shared bath, and it feels cramped even with just two people in it. The toilet is shared too, rather than inside the guest room, and it's dim even when the light is on. To put it kindly, this is a Showa-era retro inn. Less kindly, it's old and run-down.

Kitakata's tourist area is right outside, so it's convenient for visiting sake breweries, wandering around town, and getting morning ramen. The proprietress and her son were both kind. The inn has an old Meiji and Taisho era romantic feel, and the adjacent art museum is closed to guests during winter, so I'd like to come back another time. The inn was peaceful and relaxing, with Wi-Fi, though I had to ask for it because there was no sign in the room, then enter my phone number to connect. The toilet was Western-style and clean despite the retro exterior. The bath had Tsubaki shampoo and conditioner and body soap, plus Chifure lotion and emulsion, so you can come without toiletries. The Panasonic hairdryer was a nice touch. There were some dusty areas, and it seemed like only the owner's son was able to move around, so I wondered if the cleaning could have been more thorough. My room heater wouldn't turn on, so I used the air conditioner's heat instead. It was a mild winter, luckily. The futon was straight on the floor with no mattress, and my back hurt so much I couldn't sleep. If you're used to a bed, keep that in mind.