Waseido Zen

The location might have earned this a 4 or 5 from me, but getting in from the street is difficult with medium-sized luggage. You have to climb stairs or go up a pretty steep stretch, then cross a stone path once you’re on the property. There are more stairs to reach the rooms with big luggage.

This place was such a relaxing, Zen spot. The food was amazing and authentic, and the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. We weren’t sure about booking without a private bathroom, but did anyway. It felt like sleeping at home, with the toilets just outside the room. The staff were also flexible about accommodating requests when they could. The location is very convenient, close to everything in town but tucked into a quiet pocket, just a stone’s throw from onsens, restaurants, and shops. Ignore the racist comments about “staff are not Japanese.” So what? They’re in Japan and respectful of the culture, food, and people. Thanks for making our stay so pleasant and relaxing.

The rough walkway makes this less convenient if you’re carrying heavy luggage. Google Maps takes you up a lot of stairs from the train station, but there’s a longer route around the other side without stairs. It’s a tranquil, Zen place, with traditional architecture and modern features like showers and bathtubs that regulate their own temperature.

I was disappointed by the stay. There’s no pickup service, despite there being 100 stairs to climb, and the hotel doesn’t have an in-house hot spring. The meals were subpar, more like food from a low-end fast-food chain than what I expected from an onsen hotel. The owner also didn’t tell us soft drinks would cost extra with our meals. I only found that out when I saw the charges at checkout. It didn’t meet my expectations.