Hotel New Momiji

There’s no supermarket nearby, though convenience stores and independent shops are both within a ten-minute walk. Getting here takes about two and a half hours by express train from Kita-Senju, and local buses run from Kamimiyori Shiobara Onsenguchi Station, which makes it manageable for younger visitors without cars. I found the staff very friendly, and the hotel and rooms were kept clean. On the day of your stay, you can book karaoke, table tennis, and private baths from 1:00 PM. Noise could be an issue. I was on the third floor and could hear conversations and the TV from next door clearly through the thin walls. The restaurant is one floor below, and chairs scraping around there were loud too, so light sleepers may not be comfortable. At dinner, the rice smelled so bad that I lost my appetite. It was crumbly and had no texture, almost like fried rice. I wondered whether it had gone bad or whether something was being mixed in to make it seem like new rice. When I mentioned it to a female staff member, she looked displeased, which felt unpleasant. It’s frustrating to pay a lot and then feel like you’re being served leftovers.

The room was spacious and comfortable, and the staff were polite and friendly. I only had one small complaint: the floor near the bathroom door was always slimy and slippery, perhaps because the floor layout lets water collect there. We chose this place for two nights because the hot spring water flows freely, and the onsen was wonderful. Having the mountains and river right in front of us made the setting feel very relaxing. Meals were half-buffet, and all-you-can-drink was included at this price, which was a nice extra. The matsutake mushroom rice on the second night was delicious. Breakfast had a good range, even if nothing was especially unusual. I liked the lightly seasoned shredded daikon and simmered hijiki.

We had a great family stay, with free table tennis, karaoke, and private baths to enjoy. The staff were friendly and polite, and the baths had comfortable temperatures, both in the large communal area and outdoors. The rooms were clean, spacious, and relaxing. Meals came as a half-buffet, so we could have both kaiseki dishes and buffet options, and the all-you-can-drink alcohol was very satisfying. Ito En Hotel felt like good value, with its clean interior, roomy accommodations, quality hot springs, and attentive staff. We’d like to come back.

We came as a group from a hobby club and found the hotel very good. The facilities were clean and attractive, and dinner was a creative Japanese set meal with a semi-buffet. Alcohol was included as all-you-can-drink at no extra cost. They also have karaoke and mahjong rooms.