Asahikan

The dining room was big enough for around 50 people, and dinner was so generous that the young baseball players were very happy with it. The shared bath and toilets were clean, though there aren’t any in the rooms. The dining room is on the ground floor, toilets are on every floor, and the large bath is on the third floor and open around the clock. We came from Tokyo for a youth baseball training camp with about 40 parents and children. We booked through a travel agency for a reasonable rate, but won’t share the price since commissions may mean it wasn’t the official fee. We were looked after very well, and the accommodations were comfortable. Although the map called it a business hotel/ryokan and left us a little unsure, the rooms were spacious and the amenities very clean. For parking, there’s room for about seven cars up the stairs by the entrance, about ten on the first floor, and apparently another lot too. Take care when turning off the prefectural road just after crossing the Ryomo Line overpass. There’s a junior high school right across from the inn.

The food is both delicious and unbelievably plentiful. You can book a big tatami room, spread out futons, and sleep alongside your friends, then have dinner together in a separate room. It’s easy to spend two or three hours singing karaoke, then keep drinking and playing games in your room until suddenly it’s past midnight. Bring your favorite snacks, drinks, retro games, or mahjong and it can be morning before you know it. Just remember to be considerate of guests in the other rooms at night. Maybe nostalgia is coloring my view, but I really think this is a wonderful inn. They have a website, and apparently take reservations by phone only, which I love.

The room was clean, the food was delicious, and we had a great time at our company year-end party. The banquet package with upgraded food, all-you-can-drink, and lodging came to about 13,000 yen per person, which felt surprisingly reasonable. We were very satisfied. I booked by phone, and the staff kindly talked me through everything, which put me at ease. When we arrived, the landlady was just as friendly and welcoming as I’d expected. I’ll definitely come back next time I’m in the Sano area.

The women’s bath is small, but it was spotless, the jacuzzi was great, and it’s open 24 hours. I also appreciated the warm, welcoming service and facilities. For the price, I almost felt bad about how much we got. My only wish was for a toilet in the room, although the shared one was clean and had an automatic cleaning function, so I felt comfortable using it. I was struck by how carefully the whole inn was kept, from the entrance to the corridors and restrooms. The furnishings were in good shape, and the paintings, photos, and other artwork were lovely to look at. Even the tatami in my room was sparkling clean. There was a kettle, plus a kettle of hot water already provided at check-in, which I appreciated since using a room kettle can feel a little worrying these days. Every meal was delicious, right through to dessert. Thank you so much. I hope the inn keeps going for a long time, and I hope to stay again soon.