Nationwide × Accommodation with Tatami Japanese-Style RoomHighly rated for customer service and hospitality at Hotel·Ryokan

We stayed with you on a weekend in late September. With the weather swinging between hot and cool, days of rain, and even a typhoon, it really feels like anything can happen these days. So we decided: go where you want to go while you can, meet the people you want to meet when you can, and eat what you want to eat when you feel like it. And that meant—let’s go to WATANABE and enjoy autumn! By the time dinner started at 6:00 p.m., it was already dark outside the window. Looking up at the night sky reminded me how last year felt like summer all the way into October, and how we only started sensing autumn around mid-October. This dinner was another wonderful “WATANABE Special”—a luxurious and delicious course (including abalone salad and live Ise lobster with bouillabaisse sauce) that made me genuinely happy from start to finish. Boiled Toneri shellfish in seawater Mehikari fish fritters Herb toast topped with kampachi prosciutto-style ham Gougère filled with tartare of kombu-cured shrimp Snow crab and mushroom cake salé Red bell pepper mousse topped with Hokkaido sea urchin and consommé jelly Steamed abalone tabbouleh (couscous) with celery salad Ayu confit baked in pastry with tapenade and cucumber sauce Local turban shell & brown mushroom bourguignon-style dish Pan-seared white tilefish with peanuts, lightly curry-flavored Lemongrass granita Live Ise lobster with bouillabaisse sauce (assorted mushrooms) Homemade whole-wheat bread Japanese chestnut Mont Blanc dessert Madam’s petit fours and tea Every dish was delicious—especially for someone like me who loves fish roe/innards and being able to enjoy whole fish. Thank you for the wonderful feast both evening and morning. I’m always moved by the chef’s cooking, and soothed by Madam’s gentle smile. Thank you again for such a happy time. Today’s discovery: Madam makes that wonderfully chestnut-filled base of the Mont Blanc herself—amazing!

This is my favorite regular inn—my go-to place to reset both mind and body. This time again, the dinner I had been looking forward to was far beyond my expectations. The upgraded local fish sashimi was unbelievably fresh! I was especially happy that it included two rare types of local white fish: “Hoki-hata” and “Hige-dara.” The pleasant springy texture and rich umami of the Hoki-hata, and the refined, deep sweetness of the Hige-dara—I took my time savoring these special flavors that you can only encounter at this inn. The handwritten note listing the fish varieties also conveyed such warm hospitality. The napa cabbage macaroni gratin was outstanding—the homemade-from-scratch white sauce was perfectly balanced. Rich yet light with a gentle finish, it brought out the natural sweetness of the vegetables, and I couldn’t stop eating. The Izu seaweed soup also felt like it gently soaked into every part of my body. I feel fulfilled from within by the delicious food, then healed from without by the free-flowing natural hot spring water and suina massage therapy. Once you experience this luxurious private space, you truly become hooked. I left fully recharged once again—and I’ll be back for another boost!

This was my second stay. I stayed for one night with the goal of relaxing and unwinding away from everyday chores, work, and everything else. I really love the quiet, calming space—there’s everything you need and nothing unnecessary. The place is also very well cleaned, so I can stay comfortably without any stress. The meal (this time pork shabu-shabu) was very filling. This time I brought a little sashimi and some snacks, and had the somen noodles to finish the shabu-shabu as breakfast the next morning. The broth was incredibly delicious, and while both the meat and vegetables were great, the onions in particular were sweet and amazing. On the drive home, we ended up chatting excitedly about coming back again next autumn (laughs). In short, I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to spend a “luxury” getaway doing nothing but relaxing at a slow pace.

I took a bus from Tokyo Station, got off at Highway Oasis Furari, and walked a little over 20 minutes. The road is somewhat difficult to walk on, but it’s not a busy street. Bath: Private-use only, with an indoor bath and an open-air bath as a set. It was clean, a comfortable size, and the water temperature wasn’t too hot—really nice. Room: Traditional Japanese-style. The futon was already laid out, so I relaxed and lounged around. There’s also a toilet and washbasin. I visited on a very humid day, so there was that distinctive tatami-room scent—nostalgic. And since there were shoji screens, I naturally woke up with the morning light. Meals: Absolutely amazing—just as rumored. Everything tasted great. It was my first time trying squid-leg croquettes, and they were delicious. Breakfast had lots of options too, and I ended up getting seconds of rice without thinking. The after-meal coffee was also excellent. The sea is close by as well; I went before breakfast and started the day feeling refreshed. Overall, this Accommodation is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy lots of fish dishes. Everyone greeted me with smiles, so I could relax comfortably and freely throughout my stay. The high ratings were well deserved—I’d love to come again.

We had a wonderful and comfortable stay with our dog. The Room was clean, and the Facility was well equipped so we could relax with peace of mind. The staff were very kind, and we truly appreciate their warm hospitality. We made another precious memory with our dog—thank you so much. We would love to visit again with our dog.

My first trip to Karuizawa with my mother! This Accommodation is famous for being hard to book, and we happened to find an available date, so we made a Reservation right away!! We drove there in a rental car, and from the moment we arrived, the staff’s warm hospitality made us feel truly welcome. Everything about the Accommodation was wonderful. There are four private Onsen baths that don’t require a Reservation, as well as a large public bath and a cave bath. Surrounded by trees, it’s an Accommodation where you can feel time passing quietly. I’ve stayed at many Hotels and Ryokans before, but this was the first time I experienced such outstanding hospitality—including the food!! It’s easy to see why so many guests return again and again!

This was my first stay here. From the moment I arrived at the Hotel, the staff’s hospitality at the entrance was so attentive that it’s impossible to compare with other hotels. When I entered my Room, it was spotless—not a speck of dust—and I was truly impressed by the outstanding skill of the housekeeping team. In the evening, I used in-room dining and had grilled vegetables, soup, and focaccia. Everything was absolutely delicious and genuinely moving. If you stay here, I highly recommend trying in-room dining. This time I booked a Plan with breakfast included, so I enjoyed breakfast at the restaurant on the first floor. There were three options to choose from, and I felt it’s a menu loved by guests of all ages. I traveled here from Tohoku, and it took quite a bit of time and money—but this was an exceptional Hotel that still made me think, “I want to stay here anyway!” Thank you very much for taking such great care of me during my stay.

We stayed here with our dog again for the first time in three months, following our visit this June. Last time, the Italian food was so delicious that we decided to come back. Also, since you can dine together with your dog, you can relax and truly enjoy your meal. If your dog behaves well, they get a jerky treat as a reward—so our pup kept watching that staff member the whole time... We’d love to stay again.

Both the Room and bath, as well as the cuisine and customer service, were of a very high standard at this Accommodation. In particular, the private dining room was a wonderful space with a refined sense of style. The reflection of the waterway’s surface on the navy-blue wall inside was truly magical. I also felt it would be nice to raise the blinds a little at breakfast to enjoy it. The locally made cookies provided in the Room were also delicious. This is an Accommodation where I’d like to stay again, even in a different Room.

We stayed here over Silver Week to celebrate a birthday.\n\nAs this inn is known for its cuisine, we were most looking forward to the meals—and everything from start to finish was absolutely delicious. We booked the simmered golden eye snapper (Kinmedai) course because we specifically wanted to try it, and I highly recommend it at least once. The chef’s special sweets were also wonderful.\n\nThere is also a great selection of local sake. I didn’t have much of an image of Shizuoka sake before, but we enjoyed trying different ones by the single serving. The food was so good that we ended up drinking a bit too much.\n\nOur room was in a separate annex, and meals were served in a private dining room, so we rarely ran into other guests and could truly relax.\n\nWe also used the private reservable bath, and together with the bath in our room, we ended up bathing four times in total. The water temperature was perfect.\n\nAll of the staff were polite and attentive. We’d love to come back again as a treat for ourselves. We came to celebrate, but I ended up enjoying it just as much.

This hotel truly embodies exceptional hospitality. The service is attentive, courteous, and thoughtful—and the same goes for the dining. Not only are the flavors and ingredients outstanding, but it’s rare to encounter cuisine prepared with this level of care. I also loved the comfortable room, the hot stone spa, and the atmospheric semi-open-air bath. At all times, you can enjoy a pleasantly private space as well. By the way, on long drives the windshield tends to get dirty and obstruct your view, and although it bothers you, you often end up leaving it (maybe it’s just me?). I was impressed time and again by thoughtful touches like having it quietly wiped clean before departure. So-called “popular inns” often raise expectations too high before your stay, so in reality they can be disappointing more often than not. However, this was a rare hotel that made me want to visit with the stay itself as the purpose of my trip.

The private family bath was spacious and even had a waterfall feature, with the water at just the right temperature, so we could soak and relax. The atmosphere of the large public bath was also wonderful. The meals featured local ingredients, the portions were just right, and we were very satisfied! If you have mobility issues, going up and down to the first floor may be difficult, but it was a quiet place to spend time. We’d love to visit again after a hike in the mountains.

We had a truly wonderful stay. We stayed for two nights with our 1-year-old daughter. Dinner and breakfast were included, and the food was outstanding. They thoughtfully accommodated our child’s meals, taking her egg allergy and the size of the ingredients into consideration, and she was very happy. The staff also looked after her throughout, so we could enjoy our meal with peace of mind. The Room has special touches that help you forget the busyness of everyday life. Thanks to that, we were able to enjoy an extraordinary experience we don’t usually get to have. We would love to return again next time.

It was a wonderful villa. Mount Fuji was right in front of us, and we could see it clearly thanks to the great weather! The meals were all delicious, and we were very satisfied! We brought our dog along, and they had so much fun playing around. We would love to stay here again. Thank you very much!

It was a rainy day, so it was helpful that the Hotel was close to the station. All of the Hotel staff were pleasant and welcoming. For breakfast, I had salad, bread, and soup, and everything was delicious and satisfying. There were board games in the free drinks area, which we enjoyed. It was a great Hotel that I would like to stay at again.

Unfortunately it rained, but thanks to that we were able to relax at the inn on the day we arrived. As other reviews mentioned, the staff were wonderful—every single person greeted us with a smile and provided excellent service, so we had a very comfortable stay. The next day, when the rain let up, we were able to take a walk and enjoy Dogo Onsen. Above all, the meals were outstanding! Not only was the food delicious, but the tableware was beautiful as well—both my elderly father and I finished everything. It’s a bit far from Osaka so we can’t visit often, but this is an inn we would love to return to. Please continue being such a lovely place. The staff’s hospitality is truly top-notch!

From the moment we arrived until we left, the hospitality was truly wonderful and deeply impressed us. The proprietress quickly remembered my daughter’s name and even came to greet us at dinner, and the staff who served our meal had such warm smiles. We thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food. We were also able to relax and fully enjoy the Onsen. I was happy that we could take a photo with the proprietress when we checked out. We would love to visit again, and we appreciate your continued hospitality.

We stayed here to celebrate my husband’s birthday, and it turned into a truly wonderful stay. We don’t drink alcohol, and when we mentioned that, they kindly replaced the drinks in the Room refrigerator with non-alcoholic options. We really appreciated such thoughtful attention. At dinner, they also gave my husband a single rose as a birthday gift. We were deeply moved by this unexpected and lovely gesture, and it became a great birthday memory. From the open-air bath in our Room, we could look out over the lake—the view was absolutely stunning. Soaking in the open-air bath while enjoying the expansive scenery was incredibly relaxing, and being able to enjoy the Onsen at our own pace whenever we liked felt like a real luxury. Dinner was delicious as well—especially the pizza! It was so good that we ended up having two. If I had to mention one small concern, since it’s surrounded by nature there were quite a few insects. When we tried to use the open-air bath at night, many bugs (like stink bugs) had gathered there, so unfortunately we gave up bathing at that time. That said, I think that’s simply part of staying in such a natural setting. More than anything else, what stayed with us were the view from our Room, the Onsen, the food, and the staff’s warm hospitality. We were able to celebrate my husband’s birthday in a wonderful way and made lasting memories. Thank you very much.

This is a small luxury hotel with 55 rooms. Because of that, the staff pay close attention to every detail. They greeted me by name whenever we passed, and kindly listened to casual conversation—it's the kind of hotel that makes you want to come back again and again.

A calm Accommodation in a quiet, secluded area with hardly any traffic noise, where you can truly feel time pass peacefully. The meals weren’t overly large and the number of dishes was modest, but each one was carefully prepared and delicious. It was an adult-oriented Accommodation where you can genuinely relax and unwind.