Katsura Ryokan

The inn was clean and quiet, a really relaxing place to spend some peaceful time. The food was full of flavor, made with organically grown vegetables. The hot spring water was such good quality that it was even drinkable, and it warmed me right through.

The inn is quiet and relaxing, and I felt at ease staying there. The staff were very kind and attentive to little details, which helped a lot.

I picked this ryokan for my visit to Shikayu Onsen. It's a good fit for anyone who's tired of city life or dreams of a slower stay in the countryside. The internet connection is good and there's Wi-Fi, though this probably isn't the place for someone after high-tech comforts. The shared toilets and baths can be inconvenient, but they also come with plenty of birdsong and a nature-filled setting. You may hear the occasional car, and in the evenings during my stay, cicadas and frogs made it feel wonderfully nostalgic. The food felt like the welcome you'd get at your grandmother's house. Breakfast and dinner were brought to my room, and the vegetables were fresh, freshly picked, and revitalizing. The bath area is small, but the spring water is excellent, like one of Japan's three famous hot springs for beautiful skin. I hope to stay here again on my next trip to Shikayu Onsen ✨

This has the feel of a traditional rural hot spring inn, and I can see it appealing to some people more than others. The building sits on a slope with no driveway, so wheelchairs can't access it. There are no vending machines, so bring drinks and other essentials with you. The toilets are mostly Japanese-style. A few are Western-style, but none have heated seats or shower functions. The meals focus on variety, mixing Japanese and Western food. There were vegetables and boiled carp among the country-style dishes. Breakfast was a typical Japanese meal, and I enjoyed everything as an adult. It seems aimed more at middle-aged and older guests, with no dishes children would like. The bath is indoors only, with free-flowing spring water in a tub for four or five people, but it's lukewarm. In winter I cooled down quickly, even after 15 minutes. It's meant for several short therapeutic baths rather than one long soak to warm up. My daughter, who's in her second year of junior high school, said she'd never want to come back.