Ryotei Tanokura

Shoko-san made us feel settled straight away. She showed us the facilities as she took us to our room, served welcome matcha tea with yokan, took care of our meals, and saw us off to the shuttle bus, which was actually a large private car just for us. One friend was too unwell to come to breakfast, so Shoko-san prepared onigiris and pickles and brought them to our room. We're so grateful for her heartwarming care. We spent two nights in the Japanese-style maisonette, with two floors, two bedrooms, and a private onsen. Dinner and breakfast were included. There were three onsens available, with a fourth under construction during our stay. The meals were delicious and varied, omakase style, with a different specialty each day. We only learned afterwards that the restaurant had a Michelin star, which made sense given the care and delicacy of each dish. The ryokan is right in the tourist area next to Kinrin Lake, though a bit far from the train station. A free shuttle is available if you tell the front desk your travel plans. This was the most comfortable ryokan stay I've had in Japan and the highlight of our trip. Highly recommend for the lovely rooms, food, onsen choices, and genuine Japanese hospitality.