Around Minakami Town Akazawa Ski Resort × Highly rated Hotel·Ryokan

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.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been looking for an Accommodation that doesn’t serve meals buffet-style, and we chose Ayameya Ryokan based on its great Reviews. Throughout the property—not only the Room, but also the baths, changing area, and toilets—everything felt impeccably clean. The meals were full of thoughtful touches, such as a creatively arranged chawanmushi and tempura enjoyed with miso. It was quite a generous amount, but it was so delicious that we finished everything. The breakfast rice porridge was also a welcome treat. The Onsen had soft, gentle water, and I was able to soak slowly as if it were a private bath without running into other guests. (The open-air bath felt a little lukewarm for me.) I’d been staying mostly at large Hotels lately, so this time I truly experienced how wonderful a Ryokan can be thanks to the cheerful proprietress and the attentive hospitality of all the staff. It became an unforgettable Onsen trip—simply the best! To the proprietress: please take good care of yourself, and I hope you also get chances to relax and be pampered from time to time.

I was a bit worried because the building is old, but the room in the main building was well maintained, clean, and full of classic charm. It felt airy and comfortable. The hallway restroom, on the other hand, was modern—like stepping into the present day. The first day was cloudy, but we explored the property and enjoyed walking around while feeling its history. We had fun spotting traces of films and Studio Ghibli here and there. Whenever we passed staff members, they kindly shared explanations and helpful tips. Their affection for the inn really came through, and it made me feel that this is how the place has been carefully preserved over time. The bath temperature was perfect—I could have stayed in for hours—and afterward I cooled off in the evening breeze while enjoying the view. It was a truly relaxing stay. Dinner was served bento-style, but everything tasted great: beautifully presented with a good variety, and more filling than it looked—very satisfying. The flavors were gentle with a clear dashi taste rather than overly strong seasoning like many modern hotels. Since it’s such a photogenic inn, lots of people came to take pictures in front of the main building—and I happily joined in too. A soothing place filled with history and character—this is an inn I’d love to visit again.

The area was very quiet, the Room was spacious, and the bath was large and relaxing. The meals were also delicious. We would love to stay again.

My wife and I stayed on a plan that included a private reserved bath. The large public bath was also great, right by the river, but the private bath was very spacious and relaxing. The mushroom hot pot was delicious as well. We would love to stay again if we have the chance. Thank you very much!

We stayed here with our family just after the Obon holidays. Hot springs and good food are part of the fun of traveling, but discovering a different region is another big pleasure. I hesitated for a moment between heading straight to the baths or joining the in-house tour, but joining was absolutely the right choice. Using a PowerPoint presentation, they gave an engaging explanation not only about the connection to an animated film, but also about the history of the inn and the area, and even how Niigata lies just beyond the mountains. The tour also included moving to places like the old accounting office and a bridge for further explanations—very fulfilling overall. I thought it was wonderful to have a program that satisfies intellectual curiosity (and it could even provide ideas for kids’ summer homework). The property consists of three separate buildings connected across varying elevations within the grounds. Our room had an open-air bath as well, and my only regret is that we didn’t have time to try every bath.

The Accommodation has a nostalgic, retro feel while still being very stylish and lovely. This time we stayed in the “Japanese Twin with Terrace” Room—tatami flooring, low beds, and a deck terrace. What impressed me most was how comfortable the bed was! I was told it’s a Nishikawa Muatsu mattress, and it truly felt amazing—I slept unbelievably well. The pillow was also excellent, and I completely fell in love with the bedding. I’d like to use the same one at home, so I would really appreciate it if you could tell me which type of Muatsu it is. The Onsen was wonderful as well. All three private baths had their own unique charm and were beautiful. The large public bath was also very relaxing—I ended up going in many times during our stay. As soon as you soak in the Onsen, your body warms up right away. The water feels soft, and your skin becomes moisturized and silky smooth. I also loved that bath towels were provided at the baths, so you can always use a clean one. Truly excellent therapeutic bathing. Unfortunately it rained this time—but because of that, we were able to take our time at the Accommodation, soak in the Onsen slowly, and enjoy doing nothing. We chose a Plan with 12:00 checkout, so we didn’t have to rush in the morning and could enjoy the Onsen until the very end. And then—the meals. Absolutely no complaints. Each dish was carefully prepared and beautifully presented. It was a meal where you can truly enjoy every course for what it is. And something I’ll never forget: draft Yebisu beer! After it arrived, the foam gradually rose up into a rich head—it looked delicious even before tasting. And when I tried it… it really was incredible. I honestly thought there aren’t many places where draft beer tastes this good—it moved me. This “Joshu Beef & Gunma’s Blessings / Three Free Private Open-Air Baths / 12:00 Checkout / A Nostalgic Holiday” Plan was absolutely perfect for me. Shima Onsen in the rain is wonderful too. Soak in the Onsen, eat well, drink well—and sleep incredibly well. In this charming retro Accommodation, I had an amazing time that relaxed both my mind and body. All of the staff were pleasant as well, and the overall atmosphere throughout the Accommodation felt very comfortable. We felt great from start to finish during our stay. The Onsen, meals, bedding—and above all else—the warm hospitality from everyone on staff. Everything felt so comfortable that this is an Accommodation I definitely want to stay at again.

I was very satisfied with the Hotel’s Facility, the staff service, and the dining options. In particular, the daily replenishment of drinks in the guest room, the spacious and comfortable large public bath, and the fireworks viewing area were excellent. However, the price was a little high. The only drawback was that the parking lot was a bit far away. I would definitely like to stay here again next time.

We had a wonderful time as a family. Thank you very much. We had stayed in Shima Onsen before, but this time we did a lot of research and chose Shima Tamura, which has both a Hotel and a Ryokan. There were so many baths that I wondered if we could possibly try them all, and it was exciting. Each one had its own character—such as a bath with the lovely scent of hinoki cypress and another where you can see a waterfall—and we truly enjoyed them. There was also a mixed-gender bath that I wanted to try, but you have to be completely nude in the changing area, so my family stopped me and I ended up being the only one who couldn’t bathe… I regretted not bringing a swimsuit. What also made me think, “If only I were really male…” were “Iraka-no-Yu” and “Mori no Kodama” on the 3rd floor by the river. Of course I couldn’t go in, but the men’s baths felt brighter and more open. From an opening above the women’s bath at “Iraka-no-Yu,” you can clearly see into the men’s bath! The rectangular hinoki pouring-bath (like a small rectangular hinoki tub) was wonderful as well. My husband said, “Iraka-no-Yu was my favorite!” The women’s bath was a bit dark, and it was disappointing that the hinoki pouring-bath (like a rectangular hinoki tub) had its lid on and couldn’t be used. At “Mori no Kodama,” the men’s bath is on the first floor with an unobstructed view of the waterfall right in front of you, while the women’s bath is on the second floor so it feels like viewing it from above. I wondered if rotating access might work… Of course, since “Mori no Kodama” on the men’s side can be seen from parts of the women’s side, I understand there may be difficulties—but if possible, I would have loved for women to enjoy that view up close too. We chose our Room in Suiryokan. It was spacious enough for our family to relax comfortably. Although we expected an older Accommodation, everything was very clean and well maintained, which made us happy. Often when an Onsen Accommodation has great baths, we end up disappointed with the Room—but at Tamura we could truly unwind. However, it was very disappointing that one of our Room bath towels smelled like cigarettes. Since I have asthma and am sensitive to cigarette odors, I left it in our Onsen basket (sorry). We used our own hand towel and bath towel instead. Other than that, everything was truly excellent. All staff members were kind and friendly, cheerful yet polite. Most of all—and this made us especially happy—even though we hadn’t mentioned my husband’s birthday anywhere beforehand, one of your dining staff thoughtfully arranged flowers in his sake cupware and offered heartfelt congratulations “from the proprietress,” doing everything she could to celebrate him. Thank you again very much. We would love to stay again many times in the future.

Although there is no large public bath, we were able to use five thoughtfully designed private baths for free as many times as we liked. The Room, the baths, and the post-bath lounge area were all very relaxing. It was great to have iced coffee in the post-bath lounge area—it was perfect for cooling down after a soak. The drinkable yogurt delivered to our Room in the morning was also delicious. One small downside to the meals was that the portions were large. Everything was so tasty that I wanted to eat it all, but I couldn’t finish—what a dilemma (lol). On the day we stayed, there was a town fireworks festival, and although it wasn’t huge, we enjoyed fireworks launched very close by.

It was wonderful. As an Accommodation that everyone would want to visit at least once, it truly lived up to its reputation. All of the staff were kind and provided courteous service. Thank you for a lovely trip. I imagine it must be very difficult to preserve this Ryokan for 200 or 300 years, but please continue passing Japan’s history on to future generations.

Everyone at the inn, starting with the proprietress, was friendly and kind without being overbearing—just the right amount of attentiveness, which felt great. We left the room assignment up to them, and we were given two Japanese-style rooms with plenty of space. The property isn’t new, but both the room and common areas were thoroughly cleaned and impressively spotless. The meals were delicious with a satisfying (but not excessive) portion size. The dining area had partitions that made it feel almost like a private room, so we could relax. Drinks also felt a bit more reasonably priced than at typical inns, which was much appreciated as we enjoy sake. There are four private open-air baths available to reserve on-site, and there’s no complicated procedure—just hop in whenever one is free. Lock the door and a light turns on to show it’s occupied; if the light is off, it’s available. One bath lets you soak while looking out at the mountains—the view was wonderful, and my skin felt silky smooth afterward. I couldn’t believe this level of luxury at this price! We also really appreciated the route to Lake Okushima that staff recommended—it avoids narrow roads, which can be a bit dangerous in this area. Truly a great place to stay.

The Room, baths, and meals were all wonderful. Both the in-room bath and the private Kashinoki-no-Yu Onsen were excellent. When I mentioned that the handle on the bath basket had come off, they responded immediately. As for the food, when I told them I have gout and can’t eat pork, they adjusted part of the meal. Every dish was delicious, and you could really tell how carefully everything was prepared. The soba was also great. All of the staff we spoke with in various situations were very pleasant, and it truly became a memorable trip. The view from the Room was amazing as well. There was a light mist over the mountains, and we enjoyed the beautiful scenery. It rained at night, but that actually made it even more relaxing with the sound of rain—I didn’t feel disappointed at all even though it rained. The American who traveled with me was impressed by everything and happily said they will definitely come again! I rarely write a Review no matter how much I travel, but Tsuruya was truly outstanding. If you’re considering a trip to Gunma, this is an Accommodation I would highly recommend—so I decided to write this Review. Next time, I’d love to enjoy the winter scenery along with the Onsen and meals. We will definitely visit again! Thank you very much.

We stayed in a room with a private open-air bath. The room was spotless and very spacious. The open-air bath was generously sized, and we were able to relax while listening to the sound of the clear river flowing below the inn. We stayed for two nights, and they changed the meal menu each day, so we enjoyed it without getting bored. Both the T-bone steak and filet steak were lean Joshu beef—low in fat yet incredibly tender—and my spouse and I were thrilled as we ate. We were also pleasantly surprised by how delicious the thick-cut bacon served with the salad was. We are grateful to all of the staff for their very courteous service. Both of us would love to visit again.

I first stayed here this July, and this time I visited again with a different friend. Last time, we enjoyed the chef’s omakase-style meal. I remember it was not only absolutely delicious, but also very generous in portion—I was completely full. This time we didn’t request any special dishes. It seemed to be the standard course, but it was truly wonderful! The amount was just right for me as well. My friend was also delighted and asked the proprietress whether there is a larger room available, as she would love to come back with her daughter’s family—six people in total. Next time, I’d like to upgrade the room a little and enjoy a more relaxing stay. I’m afraid to step on the scale now that I’m home (lol). Thank you very much to the proprietress and everyone for your wonderful hospitality.

After descending from the mountains on the second night of my two-night stay in Shima Onsen—somewhere I had long wanted to visit—I stayed at this Accommodation. It is located in a quiet area, and the beautiful views of the Shima River from both the Room and the baths, along with the excellent spring quality and comfortable temperatures, made me very satisfied. The three large public baths were each enjoyable. The proprietress’s picture-story show and talk, which she has continued for 33 years, were skillful, fun, soothing, and highly recommended. The staff were also polite and very pleasant, providing attentive hospitality throughout. This is one Accommodation I would like to stay at again.

The welcome coffee helped me unwind. The open-air bath was spacious, the Onsen water felt gentle, and the late-night rotation was a nice touch—overall, it was excellent. For dinner, the half-buffet Sukiyaki beef was delicious. I wish the free private bath had a bit more water flow, and I’d like it to be by Reservation. The karaoke room had a great view of Lake Akaya and a wonderful location. I’d also like to see more Hotel signboards along the road.

Baths and meals at Hanamaru. Sorry for traveling solo, but I’d love to visit again and again. I was truly able to relax. Thank you very much.

Although the exterior looks a bit old, once you step inside it is wonderful, and the front desk staff were very pleasant. The open-air bath in the Room was extremely relaxing, and I ended up using it many times.\nUnfortunately, we ran into a typhoon on the way back and had to leave without seeing anything, but I would like to visit again when the weather is good.

The staff were kind and attentive, and I truly appreciated their support. Not only at the front desk, but also when we brought dishes back they promptly collected them, quickly disposed of used slippers and bags, and returned everything neatly. Their greetings in the dining area were also courteous and consistent. Overall, it felt like they paid close attention to guests and provided thoughtful service. The guest room had well-maintained Facility features, and cleaning was thorough down to every corner. One point for improvement: while using the Onsen in the open-air bath attached to the room, bees and longhorn beetles sometimes flew in or came close. I think it would be helpful to install a movable insect screen (even just during summer). For meals, semi-private seating was available, so we could dine calmly. Also, when items ran out at the buffet, they were replenished quickly, which was great.