Bozantei Kotobuki

We were pleased overall with our family stay. The meals were generous and tasty, with lots of wild vegetables that let us enjoy seasonal flavors. The inn staff were very kind, and although the building is old, it was clean and seemed well looked after. They'd replaced the tatami mats, which was nice, though they felt a little uneven. The sink by the entrance was awkward, since the door bumped into it when opened. The parking lot was also a bit far from the inn.

For a more travel-like experience, I'd choose this place over staying in the city. Ueda is about a 30-minute drive away. The plan includes breakfast and dinner, and the home cooking is delicious. The bath was lukewarm, though the water itself was good.

My father wanted to return to the Mugonkan Museum, which he'd visited years ago, so I looked for a reasonably priced ryokan nearby with a spacious private bath in the room. I mentioned when booking that he uses a wheelchair because a stroke left him with difficulty using his left arm and leg. On arrival, the man who greeted us explained kindly that there were handrails throughout the building and, given the layout, a wheelchair wouldn't be especially needed between the room and dining area. The handrails were useful and walking around wasn't a problem, but there weren't any in the toilet or bathroom of our room with the cypress wood bath, so it wasn't fully barrier-free. Dad was still able to use that bath and was delighted that it warmed him up nicely. We were very happy with the food, though the last rice was almost more than we could manage. As we got into the elevator, the person who had served us encouraged my father, who has trouble walking, to take a long, relaxing bath to help his legs heal. That warm goodbye left us feeling full and cared for. Breakfast had been set for 8:30 AM to fit my father's schedule, but my daughter and I usually eat earlier and were hungry, so we went down ahead of time. The lights and air conditioning weren't on, which made sense since we were early, so we switched them on ourselves. When the server came to put away the futons, we apologized for arriving early and possibly rushing them. They were very understanding. There were a few small inconveniences with the building and facilities, but the thoughtful service and meals left us more satisfied than we were at a certain luxury ryokan in Yamanashi last year. We'd definitely like to return if we get the chance.

The buses don't come often, which was the one drawback. The rooms are spacious, and despite being up in the mountains, there's a good range of ingredients and dishes. We enjoyed Shinshu salmon, local mushrooms, and regional green radish tempura. The inn staff were friendly and helpful too.