Shima Onsen Tsuruya

The staff made our stay, especially our host Hinata. She spoke clear English and carefully explained everything, from cleaning times to meal preferences, and was welcoming and attentive throughout. When a typhoon warning came up for our next destination, we decided to extend our original two-night booking. The staff helped us think through the options, moved us to another available room, and arranged breakfast and dinner for the extra nights. Our room was spacious and had soft, cozy beds, a TV with Netflix and Disney, and made it easy to spend the day indoors doing nothing. The meals were exceptional, like an expensive Australian degustation. One night we ate delicious Wagyu steak at their sister restaurant down the road, with pickup and drop-off included. Snacks and alcoholic drinks were for sale, and there was a daily happy hour from 2-5pm. The private onsens in the room and public facility were perfect for unwinding, and free Yakult was a thoughtful touch. They also offered complimentary rides to and from the local bus stop, making arrival and departure easy. It was a relaxing, memorable escape from Tokyo's bustle and our favorite stay in Japan. I can't wait to return.

We booked a one-night stay in a clean room with a small private onsen that fit two people. The big private onsen was another highlight and available to use as well. The price is very competitive compared with other ryokan offering an in-room bath. Great onsen and ryokan, definitely worth a visit and at least one night.

I was with a friend.

We stayed in the Tsuki/Moon room and loved the semi-outdoor bath in the evening. The deck was a nice place to sit in the sun and read. The other rooms looked just as lovely, and I have no doubt they're all great. Yukatas, towels, socks, and toiletries were provided. There are two larger baths you can book privately, as well as two saunas. It felt luxurious. The food was incredible, from breakfast and kaiseki dinner to the à la carte dishes. The à la carte choices were better than we expected, and kaiseki included many dishes with ingredients we'd never heard of. We recommend the half-board option with breakfast. We hadn't planned other meals, but there was a separate menu in the room with a good range of choices. Having both breakfast and dinner included means the dishes rotate. Eating from the regular menu à la carte worked out well for us, and they were happy to add a kaiseki dinner to our schedule when we asked after arriving. Meals are planned daily around the kitchen schedule, with stock prepared ahead. The care from staff showed throughout. One day I misread the shuttle schedule and arrived far too early for a trip to Shima Onsen. Even though I apologized and said we could wait, Yamada-san insisted on driving us himself in his personal car. That was incredible omotenashi. Thank you to Seki-san, Yamada-san, and Saito-san for making the stay so good. Getting there from Tokyo was easy: one train from Ueno and one bus from Nakanojo to Shima Onsen, where staff can shuttle you to the hotel. The area is very quiet and calm. There were English-speaking staff, but if English is your only language, you may not understand every detail. Some menus and signs weren't translated. We had no problem using a translation or AI app such as ChatGPT to upload images, though. Just be flexible and as polite with staff as they are with you. Grace and respect go both ways. I can't imagine giving this place less than five stars. I usually hesitate both to give such high praise and to trust it when booking, but we weren't let down. It felt luxurious for a great price, and we'll definitely come back for a longer stay. Tip: If you have trouble reaching them for a pickup after arriving at the Shima Onsen bus stop, use the pay phone. It's helpful for foreigners.