Shirahone Onsen Tsuruya Ryokan

The inn felt worn and poorly maintained, without much of the warmth or charm I expect from a traditional ryokan. The meals were disappointing too: both breakfast and dinner were basic and low quality, and breakfast was more like something from a budget business hotel. For the room rate, we expected much better. We arrived at 3:10 pm, just after the 3:00 pm check-in time, but there was nobody at reception. We waited nearly 15 minutes for someone to show up. There was no apology or explanation, just an indifferent greeting. We left feeling the stay wasn’t worth the price. There are better options nearby, and we won’t be back.

The onsen was the highlight for us. It’s unusual to find water this healing with no chemicals added, and this place draws it straight from the spring without adding anything or diluting it. The food was outstanding, and the service was excellent too. We had a truly wonderful stay at this Ryokan.

We came for the bath and left the next morning feeling revived and refreshed. The rooms were very comfortable, and the large windows made a striking first impression, with views of autumn leaves or snow. The building is aging and was undergoing some renovation when we visited in October 2025, but it was still a pleasure to stay here.

The snowy view from the room was beautiful, and the hotel was quiet with hardly any tourists around. I stayed in February 2025. The room was quite big, but cold. The heater couldn’t really keep up, so I spent most of the time under the blanket.