Kamimokuonsen Tatsumikan

What a lovely experience. The hotel has a beautiful legacy feel, and the crew were so pleasant. They met us at the door, unloaded our luggage, and parked the car for us. The hospitality was impeccable. The Onsen was decent, and there were plenty of choices at both breakfast and dinner, which were delicious.

The building is old, and the service from the hotel staff was the worst I've experienced in Japan. I went for dinner and one night's stay. They said that because dinner wasn't prepaid in the booking, there was no way to get food at the hotel or nearby. The booking didn't say that if you didn't reserve dinner, you'd arrive and go hungry. There wasn't even an option to book dinner. The staff were rude and completely unhelpful. They made no effort to find food or offer useful suggestions, and nothing nearby was open in the countryside. Luckily, a kind old woman we met outside gave us an onigiri from her bag. Without that, we would've been starving. I've lived in Japan for six years and never had service this poor. They treated us dismissively and did nothing to help. I wouldn't treat my enemies this way, let alone paying guests.

We didn't have enough time to enjoy everything, but what we did experience was wonderful. The hotel is right by the station, the Onsen is fantastic, and its mostly rolling schedule makes it easy to try them all. Service was out of this world. Our stay included huge multi-course meals that we hadn't even realized were provided. The fireflies we came to see were fantastic too.

The pickup to the nearest station needs to be booked in advance, so keep transport in mind. The hotel is traditional but offers great hospitality. Rooms are especially clean and tidy, and drinks in the fridge cost about the same as at the convenience store. They serve nicely prepared traditional dinner and breakfast, and provide useful little things like USB ports and adjustable beds for watching TV or reading. I highly recommend a room with a private osen. You can relax with family or friends and rest on the sofa area right beside it, all along the attractive river.