Ryujin Onsen Sakaiya Ryokan

The scenery here is magical, especially when it rains, and I’ll definitely come back. I’ve stayed at two other ryokans in the area, and this is easily the best. The dishes are delicious and inventive, and the staff are warm and caring, especially Ryu ko san, who speaks good English. She told me the onsen water was the secret to her wonderful complexion.

What I’ll remember most is how the family helped us through a serious problem with our car. They stayed with us through the whole situation and helped us sort it out. Their kindness was remarkable. The hotel sits in a beautiful onsen town, with a river and mountains visible from the window. There’s also a private onsen right by the river, intimate and surrounded by nature. Our accommodation was excellent, and the chef who runs the hotel prepared very high-quality breakfasts and dinners with all the touches of authentic Japanese hospitality. I enjoyed every moment and wholeheartedly recommend it.

The only downside was how dated the hotel looked, especially the walls and ceilings, though some people might find that charming. We really enjoyed our two-night stay otherwise. The food was outstanding, made with fresh local specialties, and the indoor and outdoor onsen left our skin smooth as silk. We also slept very well on the futon laid out on the tatami mats.

The river and the whole valley felt magical, and the town was quiet and quaint. Our room looked out over the river, which made the stay feel special, as did the onsen overlooking it. The staff were so welcoming and kind. They let us check in a little early and stored our luggage the next day. We also loved having coffee and chocolates in the tatami lounge room. The green tea chocolates in the gift shop are worth trying. We spent three weeks in Japan, and this was one of our favourite ryokans. The food was beautiful, generous, and absolutely amazing. We tried lots of new dishes, and everything was delicious.