Shouen

The staff gave excellent service, but I found little else satisfying and won’t stay here again or recommend it. My room felt old and dusty, suited more to guests who enjoy a nostalgic atmosphere. I’d checked about the private bath ahead of time and was told I could reserve it on arrival, but then I was told it wasn’t available. The bar, which seemed like the one distinctive facility, was closed too. I expected the large public bath to have some nostalgic charm, but it had a completely modern design. I’d choose a newer hotel with hot springs instead.

We kept going back to the onsen. The water felt silky smooth, and the semi-open wooden tub was really cool and comfortable. The onsen has been completely renewed, so don’t be put off by the old photos online. The staff were sincere and very nice, too. We love music, and only found out just before checking in that the hotel had been recommended by Michelin 2019. It’s a really nice place.

I’ve been to Japan 9 times and usually stay at 4-5 ryokans per trip. Oomuraya was OK, but my traditional Japanese room was quite old and run down, and needed renovation. They had western-style rooms available, but staff wouldn’t move me to one even though my neck was hurting. They said I should have paid for an upgrade. At breakfast, I was also charged for every raw egg I asked for. In my experience they’re free, and they could at least have told me there’d be a charge.

The location is very convenient, close to Ureshino’s main street, and the staff were generally comfortable speaking with non-Japanese guests. Some had a strong command of English. The service was typical ryokan standard, so I have no complaints. We booked the Suisen room for two nights with our toddler. It was spacious, clean, well maintained, and as advertised. There was a faint damp, musty smell, and the age shows in the room and parts of the ryokan, which is over 100 years old. It was still very comfortable, and you could see its age as a rustic atmosphere.