Around Shuzenji Rainbow Village × Flower-Viewing AccommodationHighly rated for rooms and amenities at Hotel·Ryokan

I have stayed in Shuzenji at Yagyu-no-Sho and at Sora next door, but this was my first stay at Asaba. 　The moment I arrived and stepped into the entrance, a pond and a Noh stage opened up before me—an overwhelming view. I also noticed the pleasant scent of wood and the crisp, refined air. I assume everything is kept impeccably clean. Our Room was in the second-lowest price range, but it still had a view of the Noh stage, and with two adjoining rooms it felt very comfortable. 　Both the staff member who guided us to our Room and handled check-in, and the attendant who served dinner and breakfast, were courteous yet pleasantly friendly, which helped me relax. Some luxury top-tier Accommodations have staff who make guests feel tense, but that was not the case here. 　Dinner made it clear that each dish was prepared with great care. The soft-shelled turtle winter melon soup and the horse mackerel sashimi were outstanding. However, as others have mentioned, since the grilled dish was sweetfish and the rice was also sweetfish rice, I would have preferred a sea fish for the grilled course. 　I used the large public bath about twice without running into anyone, so I could unwind in peace. The in-room bath was also very comfortable. I spent time in the salon before dinner on day one and after breakfast on day two; it was wonderfully quiet there, so I could relax while looking out over the pond and Noh stage. 　I would like to stay again in a different season.

Both the building and the garden are beautifully maintained—truly an Accommodation worthy of its status as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. At Tenpyo-no-Yu, we were able to relax and enjoy the Onsen while watching the carp. The cuisine may be creative, but in a way it felt fairly ordinary; despite the excellent wasabi served alongside, I didn’t feel the menu was designed to pair well with it. Perhaps because it had to be carried a long distance, some hot dishes arrived cooled, and there were so many items that we ended up leaving some, which was a bit disappointing. I thought it might be nice to have an upgraded course with smaller portions. There are many stairs, so it may be challenging for guests with limited mobility.

The front desk staff were very pleasant, and their explanation of the Room was clear and helpful. The Room and the open-air bath had a wonderful atmosphere, making it a relaxing and calming day. This has become my favorite Accommodation, and I’d love to come back for another leisurely stay!

We enjoyed the Reservation-only open-air bath, the cave bath, and having them privately. We expected it to be crowded during Obon, but we were lucky to enter the cave bath smoothly. In the morning, the large public bath also felt like we had it all to ourselves—another lucky moment. The meals were enjoyable both dinner and breakfast, with a wide variety of dishes. The eel was delicious. The Room was spacious and comfortable. One thing: both beds squeaked a lot, which surprised us. The mattress and bedding were comfortable, so that was disappointing.

The spacious grounds are surrounded by greenery, with numerous facilities that exceeded my expectations in size. The service was attentive, the food was delicious, and I felt the cost performance was excellent. This time I stayed alone, but next time I would like to visit with my family.