Ryokan Okunoyu

Dinner was a highlight: the kaiseki was creative, refined, and beautifully presented. But the staff seemed to hurry us along because the kitchen wanted to close, which took away from enjoying such a good meal at a relaxed pace. The Japanese breakfast was authentic, though very salty and not to everyone’s taste. A sweet or Western-style option, with real coffee instead of instant, would be welcome. The public onsens are beautiful and blend into the surroundings, but there were dead leaves in the water and on the paths, so a little more upkeep would help. Parking is convenient for overnight guests. We loved the secluded feel at Okunoyu Onsen, tucked among forests and rivers, with a serene atmosphere and traditional Japanese hospitality. Our spacious room was very clean and traditionally furnished. The private open-air bath on the terrace was a real treat, soaking in hot spring water while listening to the stream. The bedding and mattresses were excellent and very comfortable, though I’d prefer an option with a king-size bed instead of two singles. The harsh white ceiling light could be improved with softer, indirect lamps, and the TV looked like it was from the 1980s and was far too small, about 27 inches. Wi-Fi worked well. It’s a peaceful retreat with real charm. With softer lighting, a better TV, a breakfast choice and less pressure at dinner, it could be even better. For a quiet traditional onsen stay in nature, it’s worth visiting.

We treated ourselves to a large room, and it had the most comfortable Western-style beds I’d slept in during the last six weeks of traveling across Japan. The staff were the friendliest too. The shared outdoor onsen was special, as was the private one. Watching the leaves change color felt serene and thought-provoking.

A special place for an onsen stay, with lots of beautiful indoor and outdoor baths. Dinner and breakfast were both wonderful. The staff were caring, especially Mr. Tanaka, who drove us there and back. He was very kind.

We were four people in two rooms, each with a private hot spring bath. The property is gorgeous, the meals were incredible, and all the staff were lovely and helpful. They say they don’t cater to dietary requirements, but they were happy to make a few small changes for someone in our group who wouldn’t eat raw animal protein. I’m glad we booked the private baths because the other baths weren’t open before checkout, and we’d arrived later than expected the day before. I did get to try the public outdoor bath after dinner during women’s time, 8-10pm. Sitting in the warm water by the river with cold air on my face was quite magical. It’s a short walk into town, and in winter it’s worth going to see the illuminations over the river.