Kashobou Fukumatsu

The reception had a great atmosphere, with lots of interesting artifacts, and the staff were very friendly. I felt welcome as soon as I arrived. There are a few restaurants nearby and a Lawson three minutes away on foot. I spent one night here while travelling through Nikko and Kinugawa. The bath was lovely, and waking up to the breathtaking view felt rejuvenating between two days of hiking. Great value. I’d absolutely stay again.

For what I paid, the room was enormous, big enough for a whole family, though I was there alone. The river view was great, and the onsen was nice, even if it wasn’t in the best shape. The room was rather dirty but okay, and the toilet had lots of broken and dirty things and smelled a bit. The bathtub had been covered over, but the room was sold to me without a bath, so that was fine. The hotel has clearly seen better days, but it was worth the price I paid. It’s hard to rate fairly because I saw the same room I booked listed for more than twice as much just one day later.

The receptionist was nice, and the price was cheap for a Friday and Saturday. But my room was in awful shape: everything was dusty, and there were bugs in the bed. It seemed like nobody had stayed in that room before I arrived, and I bet they’d just left it that way. The tap water smelled like iron, which made me extremely uncomfortable.

Waking up to the mountain and river view was so refreshing. I felt very welcome by the owner and loved the whole stay. If you want a down-to-earth trip back to an earlier time, with beautiful valleys, hiking, and stunning nature, this place might suit you. The room didn’t have a shower and felt old, but I thought it was wonderful if you don’t compare it with high-tech hotels or arrive with blown-up expectations. The experience had its own specific vibe, and nothing about it felt negative to me.