Izumiya Zenbe

The staff were welcoming and friendly, and the food was good. We had a lovely time at this ryokan in Matsumoto. The onsens were nice too, though we only tried the private baths.

Dinner and breakfast were a real feast, with lots of little dishes to try. The staff were extremely polite, and staying here felt like being in the Shogun series. Definitely worth a visit if you want to try a traditional Japanese ryokan.

Dinner and breakfast were delicious, with fresh local ingredients and helpful explanations for each dish. There was almost too much food, though I can't complain about that. While we ate, the staff quietly set up our futon, like ninjas. Our room was spacious, full of lovely quaint furniture, and had useful things like face mask packs, gels, foot care products, and even a full-size massage chair. The staff were incredible throughout. When we arrived as a typhoon was coming, our shoes were soaked, and they put newspapers inside to help dry them before we even asked. They really went above and beyond. Our room's private onsen was at the end of the corridor, just beside our room, and we had about 45 minutes to use it. The outdoor onsen was spacious and had a nice view. The hotel atmosphere added a lot too, with beautiful furniture and portraits everywhere. I kept stopping in the corridors to take photos. It’s in a quiet neighbourhood, about a 20-minute bus or taxi ride from Matsumoto station. We took a taxi. We loved every bit of our stay and would happily come back. There's nothing to complain about, if anything, the staff were almost too perfect.

The rooms are cute and thoughtfully put together, the staff are really friendly, and the food is great. The outdoor onsen is a must, so make sure to book it. We loved staying here and would highly recommend it if you want an authentic experience in Japan. Hope we can come back soon!