Iyashi-no-Sato Kiyashiki

At ¥21,050 per person, I expected the usual warmth and attention from an onsen ryokan, but the service and hospitality fell short. The sweets normally found in the room at check-in was missing, even though the check-in instructions told us to enjoy tea and sweets. Dinner felt rushed from the start, and the meal was underwhelming, nowhere near the photos on the homepage. The grilled trout was the best part, though it came in the wrong order. The main protein was meant to be grilled or barbecued, but the pre-prepared grilling dish had so much oil that it boiled the meat. That didn’t suit highly marbled beef at all. Staff brought the next courses before clearing the previous dishes, and served food faster than we could eat. When the rice arrived, they even asked whether we wanted dessert at the same time. Tea came with the rice, so by the time we rushed through it and were ready for dessert, the tea was cold. No refills were offered. When we left the dining room, there wasn’t a single staff member around to ask how the meal had been. I was left wondering if they assumed foreign guests wouldn’t know what service to expect. It was disappointing, and there’s a lot of room for improvement.

The service was really good. The onsen itself was nice, though a bit underwhelming compared with the others here. The peaceful bath was interrupted by the sound of a machine working hard, maybe a compressor or something.

I went for day use. The men’s side has three onsen options, while the women’s has two. The rotenburo was a 3/5 for me, with cold spots and lots of floaties; I liked the inner bath better. Lockers are free, which is nice.

At check-in, staff had tea ready and helped with a few requests, going beyond what was needed during our stay. Someone was also waiting to greet us and help with our luggage when we arrived. Dinner was immaculate, the staff were quick, and the whole experience was 10/10. Highly recommend. I’ll be back for a yearly getaway.