Nishimuraya Honkan

We had a truly exquisite honeymoon stay here. We spent two nights in the Botan suite, which was spacious, newly-renovated, and luxurious with its own private outdoor cedar wood bath. We came to Kinosaki Onsen at the tail end of matsuba (snow crab) season and enjoyed some out-of-this-world kaiseki dining in our room, and the staff even included a honeymoon gift for our first night's dinner which so special! Breakfast, both Western-style and Japanese-style, was also tasty and beautifully presented in the gorgeous dining hall. I would also recommend booking one of the 1-hour private bath sessions at the sister hotel (Nishimuraya Shogetsutei) – the ryokan will arrange a private driver to go to the sister hotel and our private bath session was unforgettable. We were absolutely spoiled by the staff here and their attentive service (shoutout to Kitazawa-san!), can't wait to come back for our next special occasion!

We were treated like royalty from the moment we arrived. The level of service was nothing short of extraordinary — attentive, thoughtful, and always one step ahead of our needs. As part of our honeymoon, this stay added incredible value to an already special occasion. Our room, complete with a private onsen and tranquil garden, offered the perfect setting for relaxation and intimacy. It felt like our own little slice of paradise. The chef’s recommendation kaiseki dinner was an unforgettable highlight — a beautifully curated meal that celebrated seasonal flavors with grace and precision. Every dish was a piece of art, rich in taste and tradition. One piece of advice: take time to explore the hotel’s garden. It’s more than just a backdrop — it’s a peaceful, contemplative space that adds depth to the entire experience. Walking through it felt like stepping into a living painting. The facilities and staff created an atmosphere of refined elegance that made our stay truly unforgettable. Every detail was subtle yet intentional, capturing the essence of Japanese luxury in its purest form. This wasn’t just accommodation — it was an experience we’ll carry with us for a lifetime.

To preface this review, a friend of mine highly recommended this hotel, so we decided to give it a try. For us, it was absolutely not worth the price tag and we would not recommend. That said, clearly, experience may differ as it was my friend’s best experience in Japan and one of the most disappointing for us. The good: - The internal garden is very well maintained and cute. Our Room faced the garden which we enjoyed, the sight was relaxing and pretty The bad: - For us, the food was the biggest deception. Sure there is a lot of food, but it’s mid. The presentations are cute, but all the dishes taste almost the same, and more importantly, the quality of the ingredients is disappointing. You can easily find higher quality food in a train station, and I’m not even exaggerating. For the price, this is unacceptable - The room was old, but not in a nice way. It could use some love. It does look traditional, but it does not feel premium Mixed: - The service was, let’s say, interesting. They clearly try and put a lot of effort in providing the best service they can, which we appreciated, but I must admit, it felt a bit fake and cold, which made it awkward. It feels like they are all performing in a theatre, following a tight script. Some people will definitely enjoy this, but in our case we would have preferred more authenticity and a warmer touch - The Onsens in the area are okay, very touristy, but again, this is something you either like or don’t. But they are not particularly wow Overall, I would definitely not recommend this hotel, especially not at this price range. I would say between 30 and 40k jpy would be a more appropriate price for the experience, but even at that price I wouldn’t go back