Ryokan Ginrinso Kotobuki

Come hungry if you stay here, or you’ll regret it, lol. The fish on the boat-shaped platter was fresh and delicious, even though I’m not a big fan of raw fish. There were other dishes too, including oysters in tomato sauce and whale steak. I spent one night here at the end of the year in a standard Japanese-style room. Nothing about the room stood out in particular, but it had lots of thoughtful little touches that made it feel like they’d thought of whatever guests might need. The food really is as good as people say. It’s good value, easy to reach from Tokyo, and a great option if you’re tired of traveling.

We chose this place for my father-in-law’s 80th birthday, and the six of us stayed together: my in-laws, sister-in-law, wife, child, and me. My child is in fourth grade and loves seafood. The food was outstanding, including my first taste of whale yakiniku. We couldn’t finish everything, dessert included, and were allowed to take it to our room. Breakfast rice was freshly cooked and glossy; my child ate four bowls and I had three. The staff were very attentive. We enjoyed the bath without worrying about other people, and Showa-no-Yu was spacious and felt luxurious. The water seemed a bit hot, around 41-42°C by my estimate, so I couldn’t soak for long. Since it was a private bath, that was probably just as well, as a long soak might have inconvenienced the next group. We booked the rooftop open-air bath from 7:00-8:00, which gave us a better view. It was quiet and peaceful with hardly any traffic. I definitely want to go again. Minami-Boso is nice because there are no inbound tourists or traffic jams. I’m from the Asaka area of Saitama, and while it has fewer sights than Izu or Hakone, I think it’s excellent value if you want to relax and eat well.

The local fish dishes and sake were delicious, as were the wines. I ordered four bottles of Chikura’s local beer. The special room had gorgeous furniture and a Dyson hairdryer, and the private jacuzzi in the room was excellent. There are several other hot springs too, and the dining venues feel luxurious. The facilities have a retro Showa-era feel, though the rooms have been beautifully renovated. I stayed overnight and would like to come back every year. I highly recommend this inn.

The food is generous and the quality is second to none. Dinner includes abalone, turban shells, spiny lobster, grilled whale meat, grilled oysters, seafood chanko, appetizers, and a huge boat-shaped sashimi platter. It’s best to skip lunch or keep it light before your stay. All the rooms have private hot springs, which generally aren’t available in the rooms. There’s only one open-air bath, and it can only be used at set times, so check in early and reserve if you have a particular time in mind.