Tamatsukuri Grand Hotel Choseikaku

I really love this onsen hotel and its lovely staff. The hotel is Tamatsukuri Ground hotel “Chosei Kaku”, a historical onsen ryokan dating back to 1802, in the EDO era. They’ve renovated the rooms and are preparing play areas for kids. The local ingredients made for tasty, fresh food, and the beautiful jades in the onsen looked gorgeous. They left my skin feeling silky and smooth. If you’re considering where to stay for a local, historic Japanese onsen ryokan experience, I highly recommend checking it out. Thanks to all the staff for another amazing experience in Shimane. A note about manners: please help keep the rooms and onsen areas clean by using the cleaner and being considerate. In Japan, places like hotels, restaurants, and public toilets are expected to be kept clean, including by customers. When visitors follow local manners, Japanese people are happy to look after them and help make their stay memorable.

We wanted a feel for Japanese culture, and this traditional, beautifully quaint hotel was just right. The location is breathtaking, the onsens were beautiful, and the food was amazing. The English-speaking manager took great care of us, went out of their way to make us feel at home, and helped us find our way. I can’t imagine that happening anywhere else.

The village is worth exploring too, with a picturesque walk along the river where you can catch some of the plays. Our onsen visits were clean, relaxing, and inviting, and rotating among the different ones gave us a fresh experience each day. Breakfast had a wide selection of Japanese food as well as some European options, and the fresh Tamagoyaki each morning was a highlight. We were in Matsue for a conference, and the professional staff drove us to the train station and picked us up every day. The English-speaking manager also prepared a daily guide to activities and highlights nearby. The staff were extremely friendly and went far beyond what we expected. Even four years after our first trip to Japan, this hotel remains one of our best experiences in the country.

On December 27, 2014, my family of five arrived late at the hotel in our SUV from Hong Kong. The English-speaking manager quickly arranged a full Japanese dinner for us. He then invited us to the hotel’s Saturday performance in the lobby at 9.00 pm. It was an entertaining folklore dance about good and evil, with lively movement and heavy Japanese percussion. I filmed it, and was very surprised to learn that the unmasked main performer was the hotel manager himself!