Hashimotoya Ryokan

The five of us in my family stayed one night from January 4th, with dinner and breakfast included. We paid just under 12,000 yen per person, which felt almost too reasonable considering how much we ate: Tajima beef teppanyaki, crab, and salt-grilled blackthroat seaperch at dinner. Our reservation was supposed to be for a room without a toilet, but it actually had one. The men’s and women’s baths are separate, though the showers stayed lukewarm and never really got hot. There’s a public hot spring about a two-minute walk away, which might be more comfortable to use.

A cozy place for families or small groups, and the location is excellent. If you’re mainly coming for the food, especially crab, it’s a good-value choice.

Dinner was delicious, with every dish carefully prepared, and the landlady made a point of chatting with us. We visited on a weekday in August and were the only group staying, but everyone treated us warmly and courteously. It made for a fun trip. Arayu is close enough for an evening stroll, too. I’d like to come back.

I felt completely at ease in the traditional-inn style facilities, like the ones I remember from childhood. The location, the landlady’s hospitality, and both dinner and breakfast were all impeccable. It was amazing, and a world away from modern hotels with cramped unit baths and thin walls where you can hear someone hanging up clothes next door.