Irodori Koyo

The meals were a highlight for me, with traditional Japanese dishes given a modern touch, and the outdoor onsen was lovely. The young staff were cheerful and thoughtful throughout our stay. It's simply one of the best Onsen hotels I've visited, and I'd highly recommend it.

I'm writing this from freezing New York, where gusty winds and snow showers have me longing for the hot springs at Irodori-koyo. My sister and I stayed there for four nights at the end of November 2016, and we thoroughly enjoyed the hot springs, both indoors and out, along with the food and service. The dining room team were attentive and remembered our preferred drinks after the first night. Our front-desk manager was pleasant and helpful, and spoke fluent English. The shuttle van driver was patient and courteous, too. When the weather is sunny, the surrounding area is well worth exploring.

The outdoor onsen was great, and the food was delicious. In the lobby, they had complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and a made-to-order healthy drink. Everyone was welcoming and thoughtful. The staff brought a low seat for my parents because they thought sitting on the floor for a Japanese-style meal might be difficult for them. Miss Aki Tanaka was so sweet. She knew I like hello kitty and even drew a lovely kitty with a thank-you note for me. Mr Yuta was also really nice and funny, and shared his travel photos with us. This is one of the best Japanese-style onsen hotels we've stayed at, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area.

The rooms were huge and had a great view. Dinner was amazing, with 11 interesting, high-quality courses, and both onsens were impeccable. The service felt world-class. Just to set expectations, neither onsen has a view. To me, an outdoor bath without a view is simply a less clean onsen. Still, it was an amazing place to stay, and I'd give it 5 stars.