Moritaya

One of the best nights I've ever had in Japan. The private onsen was great and so was the food. Also the staff tried their hardest to explain everything to me. They were very helpful.

Recommended for younger couples /friends. The ryokan service is more modernized and sleek e.g. staff favors giving privacy rather than being overly at hand. However they are right there when you need help with luggage etc. Some pluses: - Two big fluffy towels per person which is useful when you keep going back into the onsen bath. - Shoyeido Tagasode scent for the wardrobe, a nice touch - Tableware is unique, plating is picture-perfect, including sprig of seasonal flower. - Good sake selection. - Good view of the river framed by maple branches in the room, the bath, the private dining room even. - Service is sincere, kudos to the staff who helped us bring the luggage out and back to the car in spite of the rain, and for the staff who answered our questions about the food (learnt something new about the locally farmed trout). - New air conditioning easy to adjust and powerful. - Welcome drink selection is great: local sake, local wild fruit juice. A few small minuses: - Stairs. A little narrow and steep for those who are wary of heights. - No light blocking curtains and only Japanese paper shoji, so if you are a light sleeper you will be woken by morning sun. - There is an delonghi espresso machine but don’t bother drinking the coffee. Drink the goodnight tea bag in the room instead.

My room is on the ground floor. I don't know whether it is the cheapest plan of the hotel that I had booked, but I found that the toilet was smelly and the floor of the room was not clean enough. I could find some stains on the floor. Moreover, the only place that I could take a shower in my room was outdoor which is next to the hotspring, but there was no shower head provided so I had to use the wooden basin to store some warm water every time when I was taking a bath and it is extremely windy and cold outside! A little bit disappointed about the room.