Owariya Ryokan

The price was fair and the landlady was kind. I had booked a plan with breakfast, but it wasn't served. They got it ready quickly, so it worked out, though I wish I'd confirmed the timing more carefully at check-in.

This was a quiet place to stay, set away from busy roads like National Route 13, on a business trip to Akita. The building is a little old but has Wi-Fi. It's a ryokan, so the bath, toilet, sink, fridge, and microwave are shared. Shops and restaurants, including convenience stores and supermarkets, are within about a 5-10 minute walk, so going without meals wasn't a problem. The washing machine costs 100 yen, but there's no dryer. For laundry, you'd need to take it to a nearby laundromat to dry, or use the laundromat for the whole job. I stayed one night without meals.

It was quiet, tucked away from the main street, and had the feel of visiting grandma's countryside home. The place is more of a minshuku than a ryokan. I had booked a room only through a website, but when I asked about breakfast on arrival, they happily arranged it. The rice and miso soup were delicious. We could shower in the morning, and since we were traveling with kids, we received cookies as a little parting gift. The landlady was kind and friendly. Remember to bring your own towels and toothbrushes!

For 6,200 yen I got a room and two meals. I was traveling alone and stayed in an 8-tatami Japanese-style room. It was an older property and not luxurious, but I found it much more relaxing than a business single room. The bath was spacious enough for one person to soak comfortably, and I could use it in the morning. Most guests seemed to be there long-term, but it stayed quiet and pleasant. Wi-Fi was fast and worked well. Highly recommend.