Unzen Hanzuiryo

Winding mountain road a fifteen minute walk or three minute drive from Unzen Jigoku. Staff were all very friendly. My spouse speaks some Japanese but they quickly switched to the English-speaking Assistant General Manager Amira for the rest of our stay, and he was wonderfully attendant and accommodating. Beautiful location, quiet, spacious. Gardens and paths are immaculately manicured. The two-level suite was equipped with a staff mini kitchen (probably meant for in-suite dining and less for guest use), and was well-decorated for a guest house with small attentions to detail (water splashed down the rock with the freshly cut chrysanthemum, inlaid furniture). The private garden was a welcome sight. The view from the restaurant during daytime is somewhat breathtaking in the autumn. Michelin dinner was wonderful and filling - well worth it if you will be coming all this way. They make your celebrations a little more special with handwritten calligraphy on beautiful long-fibered paper if you let them know in advance. Try the unique tomato wine, but they let you bring the bottle back if you don't finish, so we tried the smaller of the local wine & sake flights as well. Finding the hot springs through the partially underground corridors was a small and memorable adventure. We loved our stay and would definitely love to return one day.

best ryokan ever this place deserves 10 stars everything in order classic place with tradition you will get more than you can expect people are super friendly and well mannered

Style. Sukiya style traditional buildings by Kyoto carpenters and artisans Setting. Unzen @ 2296 feet altitude, a place of dynamic geology & interesting history Explore. Steamy Unzen downtown and Jigoku only 13 minutes walk away, gorgeous nature walks and sacred shrines nearby, I was lucky to catch the end of the cherry blossoms Rooms. Only 14 duplex villas. I was in room hibiscus 芙蓉 fuyo, enormous @ 2700 square foot of calming spaces and huge windows, no in room onsen but my room had a deep hinoki bath and room was just across the hallway from one of the hotel’s onsens (higashi no yu), and I was able to birdwatch @ the hotel. Once past the gate and checked in completed in the book-strewn reception, you can walk around and check out the serene hotel grounds or enjoy one of the two shared milky sulfur hot springs. Hotel’s lovely personable staff can also organize hiking expeditions Food & drinks Kaiseki locavore dinner in the main building. One of the dishes was a French course. Breakfast was served in my duplex downstairs, facing the garden and was a fabulous feast Prices. $474 Villa only (includes breakfast) $228 Kaiseiki dinner (before alcohol) Rating. 4/5 Older hotel of 33 years, peaceful private hideout. My only gripe: my room had a faint moldy smell that I think came from the heating system