Kurokawaso

Of the six onsens I’ve tried with the hopping pass, this was the most beautiful hotel so far. The staff were very courteous, and I’d choose to stay here if I were booking a Ryokan. You can’t see the rock formation from the women’s bath, but there are flowers, and the resting room is comfortable.

I’d already stayed at two ryokans in the area when I came here for a day visit. Day visitors can use just one open-air bath, and it’s tiny. Even with only 1-3 people it feels crowded. The attractive photos on the hotel website and reviews show the larger open-air bath, which is reserved for hotel guests. Other ryokans nearby offer much better choices for day trippers, so I wouldn’t spend time coming here for the onsen.

The room was the best part for me. It had everything we needed, even a microwave, and the beds were comfortable with an incredibly soft blanket. The staff were very friendly, and they kindly picked us up at the bus station and took us back afterward. The onsens were wonderful, especially the largest open-air one. I was absolutely delighted with our stay and would love to return.

The Kaiseki was wonderful, and the onsen was quiet, spacious and clean, with beautiful nature around it. It’s easy to get to the center, too. This was my first time in Kurokawa, and I loved the quiet location surrounded by nature. The staff were all friendly. The ryokan is historic, so I’d highly recommend it if you’re after a classical Japanese style.