Hyakurakusou Ryokan

The cave onsen was an adventure on its own, and the ocean-spring water felt great on my skin. There are a couple of onsen, and the food was fresh and top quality, with nothing to complain about. From my room, the bay looked especially lovely in the morning sun. The staff greeted us warmly, and the clifftop setting has stunning views over the bay and sea. The place feels contemporary, but the fine timber and overall design have a distinctly Japanese feel. I could say a lot more, but I’ll save it for another visit, hopefully soon. Maybe our stay also offered a tiny bit of support for Noto’s long recovery from the earthquake. One of my best stays in Japan, and I can’t wait to return. Keep going, Noto!

Meals are served in individual rooms, and check-in happens in a separate reception room. This is a well-established classic hotel with lovely Japanese omotenashi hospitality. Its out-of-the-way location makes it quiet and peaceful. My one issue was the communal onsen bath: the water didn’t drain very well, so it pooled where you wanted to sit.

We had a memorable anniversary here, and both meals were a treat. The room was nice, the staff were warm and friendly, and the public hot spring baths were pleasant. The bath in our room was spectacular. Guests can fish from a pier if that interests them, and we enjoyed looking around the gift shop. They accept cash, cards, and PayPay. I’d love to stay again and would recommend it to family or friends wanting a nice getaway.

The hot spring was really good, and the food wasn’t bad, though the meat we ordered was very fatty and oily. Our room stayed cold all night even with the heaters running. We had trouble catching a big fish and only got little ones, but the hotel can cool your fish or keep it for you. I’d say it wasn’t bad overall.