Kawayu Kanko Hotel

The staff were welcoming, and the food was okay: our group had a set menu, followed by a buffet breakfast. The outside foot bath looked inviting, but we didn't have enough time to try it. This is an older-style hotel, and both the rooms and onsen area need refreshing. I understand sulfur is corrosive, but the corroded fittings really need replacing. Some investment in the furnishings is due too, including new curtains.

For a one-night stay, the experience was acceptable. The meals were more than I could manage, and the coffee was instant. The hot spring has a traditional design, while the room itself felt quite old-fashioned. The hotel sits in a small town between two famous lakes, and the car park right outside the entrance is handy if you're driving. Only one staff member spoke English, and the kiosk staff weren't always around.

The staff are friendly, but the place feels like a summer camp in the heat. There's no air conditioning, and the facilities are so old that the stay is quite uncomfortable.

The onsen was clean and had several different options. I liked that the water wasn't scorching hot, though my friend found it lukewarm and would have preferred it hotter. The taps were a little rusty, and the hair dryers could use replacing. We came just for the bath. The front desk staff were extremely friendly. Entry for a woman, including a body towel and small towel, cost 900 yen. I tried the sauna but couldn't tell if it was on. It was cooler than most, as though it had been running earlier and then switched off, and I couldn't find a dial or a way to turn it up. All in all, it's a standard onsen and worth visiting if you're nearby.