Goroukaku

We were a family of four and had a wonderful stay. The building is old but full of charming spots and decorations, and the food was tasty, plentiful, and nicely presented. We were warmly welcomed, and the staff were kind to our children. The outdoor rotenburo were spacious and really enjoyable. The mixed baths also had times set aside for single-sex bathing, while the ladies' and gentlemen's baths rotate so guests can try different ones. We used the baths as a family and as a couple. The male bathers were respectful and didn't stare, and my wife felt comfortable bathing without a swimsuit, which was available, or wrapping herself in a towel. A particularly romantic moment came late at night, soaking in the onsen and watching the moon rise over the mountains.

The heater and toilets can get a bit loud at night, which is the one thing I think could be improved. Otherwise it was an amazing experience, with super kind service. We were a little unsure about trying a mixed onsen for the first time, but it felt very safe and the atmosphere was healthy. Come with an empty stomach, there's a lot of food.

The onsen and food were spot on for our first ryokan stay, and my wife and I had a great one-night visit. The shuttle caused trouble, though. We had a hard time finding the right pickup driver because he only had a last name noted, not the name of our Ryokan. On departure, the driver was 10 minutes late, then took a detour of over 20 minutes, and we missed our train.

Of the nine hotels I've stayed at so far on this Japan trip, Gorokaku ryokan has been the best. The shuttle, cozy rooms, atmosphere, onsen, view, and FOOD were all 10/10. Special thanks to the friendly hosts!