Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Masuya

I visited only for the onsen using the tourist association's "onsen meguri" ticket, and didn’t stay overnight. The bathhouse is spacious and on the eighth floor. Its main, largest bath sits by panoramic windows overlooking nature. There’s a second indoor round bath at about the same temperature, and a smaller outdoor bath with nice airflow.

The place was comfortable and the buffet was delicious, but I found it unfriendly for foreign visitors. There were no signs in English, and three quarters of the staff didn’t know English, so you have to guess which bath is for men and which is for women. Staff also weren’t happy when I made a cultural mistake. The onsen water smelled unpleasant and didn’t feel refreshing. Maybe Naruko onsen water usually tastes that way, but I’m not sure.

The service and food were good, and the onsen was average. The accommodation itself felt old and run down, with very poor quality for the price. It’s far too expensive for what you get, and I wouldn’t recommend it.

Masuya is another Ooedo onsen group hotel in Narukoonsen town, just a few minutes' walk from Naruko onsen station. It’s smaller than Kounkaku, the other Ooedoonsen group hotel in Naruko-onsen. We visited both within two days and liked the meals better here, though there wasn’t any free entertainment. We had pleasant stays at both.