Uotoshi Ryokan

I don't post reviews often, but this ryokan deserved one. The standout was the service. The gentleman who runs it was warm, welcoming, and spoke English very well. When I asked how long his family had owned the place, he modestly said it had been only 80 years. He showed us around the rooms, which were full of history and culture. He personally drove us to the nearby snow monkey park for free and wouldn't accept a tip for any of his help. Breakfast was included and absolutely delicious. The place may not look like much from the outside, but it deserves more business. Give it a try.

The place is beyond repair: cracked walls, leaking taps, dirty rooms, and more. The host speaks good English, but his service toward guests was awful. We didn't feel welcome at all. Google's minimum is one star, which is already one too many for this place. Avoid it at all costs.

A quirky, beautiful hotel, and we loved staying here. The onsen was a delight, breakfast was out of this world, and the owner was so kind and friendly. Highly recommended!

The room and onsen were lovely, and we had a great time walking back from the monkey park through Shibo Onsen village. It's easy to get there without a car and a nice place to spend a couple of nights. There's also a coffee expert shop nearby with excellent coffee, plus quite a few good restaurants. The place feels wonderfully authentic. Meeting the owner was a highlight: he's friendly, genuine, and interesting, and happy to talk about his experiences. He's a master of Kyudo and let us watch a demonstration. He also kindly offered us rides to the snow monkeys park and the train station, and cooked a beautiful, delicious meal. Highly recommend!