Honke Bankyu

It took renting a car to reach the hotel, but for one night it was worth it. The place has a lot of charm and feels full of history. Best of all was the service. The man who welcomed us at reception, showed us our room, and explained dinner was fantastic. Thanks for making us feel so welcome!

The dinner was unlike anything I'd had before. I'm a picky eater, but I tried and enjoyed everything they served. The traditional feel of the rooms and the whole place was just right, and the Osen bath was great too. I was there with two friends and we had a blast.

The public outdoor Onsen was the standout for me. The clear, gentle river, little fish, small waterfall, and overflow from the hot spring all come together beautifully. In the daytime, sunlight on the water and spring leaves made it feel like a scene from a video game or Avatar. It was lovely at night too. Just be aware that if you lean out to look at the water from the women's side, people near the dinner venue and bridge can see you naked. This is a beautiful, magical riverside onsen at a 220-year-old inn. You smell the irori fire as you enter. The place is ancient but refurbished and extremely clean, nicer than I expected for its age. We went in late April, and I imagine it would be even prettier in the snow. A few downsides: our private bath was nice, but harsh white lighting blocked much of the river view. The window in our room was broken and wouldn't open. We also accidentally booked a room with no shower, just a toilet and sink area. Crossing the bridge to the dinner venue was special, and the whole setup was unique. The food was good overall, though the service staff weren't very attentive. It was a really good, one-of-a-kind stay, and I'd highly recommend it if you're after a special, unique ryokan experience.

The snow made the trip to the Kamakura Festival at Heike no Sato feel otherworldly. The lights and kamakuras were beautiful, and even the walk back to Honke was lovely. The inn felt like stepping back in time, and you could sense the building's history right away. Check-in was well organized, and being welcomed with a drum was a fun touch. Our room was spacious, and we were lucky to book one with its own onsen. The water was extremely hot, but sitting in it as snow fell and a breeze came from the river felt wonderful. From our room we could see the river, rope bridge, and illuminated icicles across the way. Dinner was delicious. Even in the snow, crossing the rope bridge to get there was fun and made the meal feel extra special.