Tenku no Yado Daikanso

The hospitality felt warm and homely.

The futon team were impressively quick at laying everything out, and I enjoyed that the open-air bath was on the second floor. The bath itself wasn't far if you took a stroll around the inn. The TV was small, as other reviews mentioned, but we weren't there to watch it, so it didn't bother us. The food was tasty and there was plenty of it. The building is old, yet every corner was cleaned carefully. Modern, trendy places are nice too, but here we felt relaxed and a bit nostalgic. The staff were all polite, and our room attendant was cheerful and fun, telling us about the good things around Wakura. Reviews were mixed, but I grew up during the bubble era and felt like I'd stepped back in time to a nostalgic hot spring inn. From what I saw in the reviews, it may not suit young people or families with children. And if you want a big meal or lots of meat, you may want to look elsewhere. I'd definitely come back.

I stayed in March 2021, and the visit was such a letdown that I wouldn't return. The price was very low, but I still came away disappointed. If I were paying a proper lodging rate, I'd rather spend the day at a day spa, stay in a business hotel in Kanazawa, and have dinner at a local izakaya. That would be cheaper and more satisfying. I don't understand why the reviews differ so much, but this ryokan seems hit or miss, so be careful if you're considering it. The station pickup was in an old van with a big dent, very different from what other ryokans use, and that was when I started worrying. Both the outside and inside have Showa-era charm, which could appeal to retro fans. The room view wasn't bad, but the TV was far too small for the room. The waitress assigned to our room spoke to us informally the whole time. The indoor and outdoor hot springs were disappointing. The indoor bath floor was slippery and I nearly fell. The tub was only about 70-80% full, the water was lukewarm, and there seemed to be garbage under the tub, which felt unsanitary. I seriously doubt it was being cleaned. The outdoor bath was a long way from the indoor one, with a slippery floor and cooler water, so I couldn't get in. The sauna opened but didn't work, so I couldn't warm up there either. I gave up on the baths and looked forward to dinner, but it was just like the photos, and that was all. It was worse than food served on group tours. The chawanmushi was full of crusts and cold, even with bean paste on top. The simmered dishes and soup were cold too. Given the location, I expected better sashimi, but the supermarket's was better. It wasn't very tasty, so I left a lot. The futons were so thin I couldn't believe they were from a ryokan. It felt like sleeping on a floor cushion. That night I called the front desk to say I wanted to check out without breakfast, but nobody answered. I went to the desk in person and there was no one there either, so I had to tell the hostess on our floor. It made me question their crisis management. The next morning was outside service hours, so they didn't offer a ride to the station and I walked 40-50 minutes. At checkout, even though I'd told them my departure time the day before, there was no one at the desk. With my train approaching, I went back to the floor, handed my key to the hostess, and left. The place calls itself a ryokan and the review is long, but if you're thinking of staying here, read through it so you can avoid a disappointing trip and wasting money.

In April 2023, we stayed again, and the staff were just as kind. We went to Notojima Aquarium and did some fishing. When Nakai-san came to lay out our futons, I mentioned the aquarium. The next morning, another Nakai-san remembered and wished me fun. I was so happy they told me about discount coupons for the aquarium in the lobby and suggested the nearby glass art museum, which had coupons there too. I fished at Notojima Aquarium, brought the fish back, and they turned them into a delicious simmered dish. On the second day, I fished at Wakura Port, and when I brought back some Hanatare-eba (a type of fish), they made incredibly tasty fried fish. Thanks so much to both Nakai-san and the chef. The food is always great, the staff are so kind, and this is my favorite inn. I'll definitely come back next year! I'm 20, and my boyfriend and I first stayed here while sightseeing from Tokyo. The room had a great view, the hot springs were wonderful, and they provided a shuttle when we left. The food was delicious, especially the fresh fish. My boyfriend had lots of seconds of rice and seemed very happy. All the staff were incredibly kind, so it made a wonderful memory. The facilities are old, which I was worried about, but it wasn't noticeable at all. I'd compare it to a hotel used for a middle school field trip. The price was incredibly low for the excellent service, so it felt like amazing value. It seems you can arrange the shuttle by asking the front desk the day before you leave. Thank you so much for your kindness!