Chigira Jinsentei

We stayed on a weekday and found it quiet and peaceful, with a lovely mountain view. The staff were very friendly and helpful, and the food was delicious. You can choose a private bath or the outdoor one, and both felt great. I highly recommend staying here.

The onsen is among the best in the country, and the ryokan is well placed right beside the lively shops along the onsen street. Our room had a great view and seemed recently renovated despite the property’s long history. The one letdown was dinner in the room. It was lovely to eat in such a spacious room with a view, and our server was exceptionally kind; we had a pleasant chat with her. But the meal came out too quickly. Maybe staffing was limited or the inn was full, but more than 80% of the kaiseki dinner arrived at once. We had to rush through the dishes before they cooled, which took away from the relaxed pace a kaiseki meal should have. Three or four serving rounds would have kept the food warmer and made the meal much more enjoyable.

My husband and I have stayed at many inns, and this was easily our favorite. The building has a bit of history to it, but it was spotless, the room felt relaxing, and we loved the cute retro-style door. Having meals in our room made it easy to enjoy breakfast and dinner with our small children. Every dish was delicious and portions were generous, almost too much to finish. The soy milk soup was especially good. The sukiyaki tasted a little bland at first, but we realized as we ate that the flavor was just right. They made meals for the children too, and our child, who usually doesn’t eat much, finished everything. I’m sure the children’s food was delicious as well. We also appreciated being able to use the family bath whenever we wanted, so we could relax without worrying about others. This is a favorite for both of us, and we’ll definitely return.

We rarely ran into other guests because we had private rooms for meals and baths, which made the stay especially peaceful and comfortable. The one thing I missed was coffee after breakfast, but otherwise everything was high quality and I left very satisfied. I’d definitely stay here again. Though the building is old, it’s been renovated in many places and kept clean and pleasant. Fresh flowers and a lovely scent throughout made it feel comfortable. The large public and open-air baths sit alongside four private baths that you can use as often and as long as you like when available. The rounded stone tub feels nice, and the windows look out to impressive mountains. Opening them fully for a semi-open-air soak was fantastic. The spring water was soft and gentle on my skin, and I didn’t feel chilled after bathing. There were flowers in the room too, complimentary cold spring water, and an unobstructed view of snow-covered mountains. Meals are served in a private room on the same floor, with in-room dining also available. The food was carefully prepared and high quality, and the Akagi beef was tender and delicious. The staff were friendly and welcoming, and service was excellent. As I headed to the parking lot, a staff member who was just finishing work hurried over to help carry my luggage. Before check-in and after checkout, I visited Rakusui Rakuzan Cafe and enjoyed its calm atmosphere and carefully prepared menu. The bittersweet pudding was especially delicious, and I’d like to come back for more.