Syoubun

The meals were amazing, with course after course for both dinner and breakfast. We had a room with a private onsen and also tried one of the shared baths, which is used by one room at a time. Both were beautiful and relaxing in the snow. The ryokan is in a great location, with what looks like good skiing right next door, so I’d happily return to ski and finish the day with a warm bath. We don’t speak Japanese, but we could generally communicate with our hosts and only needed Google Translate once or twice. The hotel helped confirm our travel plans and booked a taxi back to the train station because we needed to leave before its shuttle would run. We took the shuttle from Minakami station to Syoubun, and it arrived right on time.

The food was our favorite part: everything was fresh, delicious, interesting, and beautifully plated. There were also complimentary snacks like popsicles and drinks, including sparkling wine and sake, in a shared area. We stayed at Syoubun for our honeymoon and couldn’t have picked a better ryokan. Our room was spacious, with a private open-air bath that felt secluded without being cramped. Service was phenomenal, even though the staff didn’t speak much English. I’d highly recommend it for a relaxing escape from the busy city.

I’m new to ryokans, so take my impressions with a grain of salt, but this was one of the best stays I’ve had. The inn has only 9 rooms. Ours was exceptionally clean and huge, about the size of a one-bedroom apartment, with a private onsen lined in wood on a covered open-air balcony. It was convenient and therapeutic to use before bed. The thoughtful, courteous staff paid attention to details, and our booking included breakfast and dinner, with each meal worthy of its own review. The view from the room was like a painting, and the massage chair was good. The futon was very comfortable, and the toilet had hot air. My one small complaint is that the inn is set off the main road, outside walking distance of some conveniences in the onsen towns. A car would be essential. If you want quality lodging and dining, I’d highly recommend it.

The staff were friendly, and although they spoke only a little English, it was enough for simple conversations. We had a good stay in a large room by Japanese inn standards, with two beds and an open-air bath, though we would have preferred futons. Parking is right in front, but it’s easy to drive past because there’s no sign in English. We found it in the end. I wish the food had been better. Dinner was served in a private room downstairs rather than in our room. Breakfast was more family-style, not a buffet or a kaiseki set. The mountain cuisine means you can expect mushrooms and wild boar. Checkout is between 10 and 11 a.m.