Hotel Sansuiso (Yamanakako/Oshino)

The meals were delicious and service was good. Some of the facilities are old.

The food was a real strength. Dinner had plenty to choose from, including sashimi and steak, and the dishes felt carefully made. Best of all, the rice was delicious. Breakfast was excellent too, with side dishes that went well with it. Staff were wonderful and gave me room to relax, whether in the lobby, serving meals, or laying out the futon. It was freezing when I left and my car had frost on it, so they rinsed the windshield with lukewarm water. That practical, down-to-earth care felt like it came from experience. The room's kerosene fan heater kept me warm on a cold day. I'd read other reviews mentioning condensation on the windows, but that's a natural thing and didn't concern me. Heaters were placed in key spots in the halls and elsewhere, and you could feel the thought they put into keeping the inn warm around the structure of the building. The bath was a bit lukewarm at first, but piping hot after dinner. I'd have liked it that hot from the start. There was also a drink vending machine on site, which came in handy. I found the stay very satisfying for the price, and would return if I were in the area. They'd clearly put care into the practical details of making guests comfortable.

The landlady was so kind. It seemed like our family was the only one on the floor, and she told us not to worry about noise from the little kids and to relax. Traveling with a 2-year-old daughter and 7-month-old son can feel stressful if you're worried about disturbing people, so that meant a lot. We were there in the off-season, of course, but the people running this place are considerate, and we felt comfortable staying here. The building has been well used and is old, but the hotel has a very human, warm atmosphere. The service was excellent, and the food was delicious. I highly recommend it! If your priority is taking great photos all around the property, a flashier, more luxurious hotel may suit you better.

The room was heated for us when we arrived at the end of October, which helped because it was very cold everywhere else. With all the screens shut and thick duvets, we managed to stay warm overnight. In the morning, the windows were soaked on the inside when we opened them. The hotel feels like it's from another era. The decor and furniture are old-fashioned, the pink hallway carpet is worn, and parts of the room wallpaper are stuck together. The men's and women's onsens were cold overall, and the baths weren't hot enough to make staying in them inviting. They were only open from 4 pm to 10 pm, with no morning hours. There were good points too: it was not far from the lake, though we couldn't see it through the trees, and the place was clean. The traditional dinner was very good. They also rented out new, high-quality electric bikes, and the people on site were kind, even though we were probably the only guests. We were alone at breakfast, and there were no other cars in the parking lot.