Kotohira Onsen Kotosankaku

Dinner was sensational, and breakfast was one of the best buffets I’ve ever had. I also found the room very comfortable. The location is perfect, the staff service is great, and the outdoor onsen is lovely.

⚠️ I had a really bad experience. I’d paid for dinner in advance, but when it came time to eat, they said there was no alternative because the menu only had meat and I don’t eat meat. So I wasn’t given dinner at all. The hotel itself is old, too.

The staff were so responsive. I emailed from the JR train just 30 minutes before reaching Kotohira Station to ask about a pickup, and they quickly arranged it. They were attentive throughout my stay, and I’d love to return. The rooms are spacious, spotless, and relaxing. I stayed in Hitenkan (Hitenkan), where there’s a quieter, more secluded onsen bath. Dinner in a private dining room was peaceful and elegant, and the meals were thoughtfully arranged. It’s also easy to reach from Takamatsu Airport, with a direct airport limousine bus taking less than an hour. This is a comfortable, well-appointed traditional ryokan, and it was wonderful to check into a hot spring inn so soon after landing.

The private-room kaiseki dinner was excellent, both the food and the service. The lobby staff were helpful and professional, and I liked the view. The room, onsen water, and facilities were all great. There were a couple of letdowns. We didn’t get an explanation of our dishes because of the language barrier. In my experience, service staff in Japan usually try to describe the food, even if they need to do so without a translator. Also, loud footsteps outside our dining room didn’t fit the otherwise high level of service.