Rokuta Station × Hot spring × Highly rated for customer service and hospitality at Hotel·Ryokan

We stayed here as a couple during the Obon holidays. Even though it was the hottest time of midsummer, Tenkawa Village was wonderfully cool—a top summer retreat in Kansai where we could stay comfortable without using the Room air conditioner and without breaking a sweat. We had long admired the charm of Dorogawa Onsen and had wanted to stay there at least once, and choosing Hanaya Tokubei was absolutely the right decision. The whole town has a lovely atmosphere, but Tokubei stands out for its especially distinctive and tasteful building. Because there are few guest Rooms with private indoor baths in the area, we stayed in “Higashi no Tenku” with an indoor bath. The view is mostly of the courtyard, so if you are used to resort-style Onsen facilities it may not exceed expectations. Still, considering this is traditionally an Accommodation used by ascetics, we felt it was a true luxury and enjoyed it. The meals were delicious Japanese cuisine featuring plenty of local ingredients, with thoughtful touches throughout that kept our Multiple Night Stay from ever feeling repetitive. We were completely full but couldn’t bear to leave anything behind—and finished every last bite. Spending time on the veranda at dusk with a beer in hand while watching people pass by was simply wonderful. After sunset, strolling around the area in yukata is also great fun. Wherever you walk, the lantern lights feel magical, and Tokubei lends out portable lanterns as well. It was like stepping back into a period drama. There were also foreign staff members, and they were genuinely kind and attentive—we truly appreciated it. This is an Accommodation we would love to visit again. Highly recommended if you are sightseeing in Dorogawa Onsen.

Perhaps because there was availability on a weekday, they upgraded us to a larger Room. We were very satisfied with the open, airy Room and the mountain views from the large windows in our corner Room. The meals were all delicious, with plenty of dishes, and we left completely full. It was our first time trying venison—it was tender and excellent. The bath and the entire property were clean and very pleasant.

This time, we stayed in the Jinshiro Room. As always, the in-room bath was incredibly relaxing. The meals were delicious too!

This was my second stay. Since it is away from central Nara City, the surroundings are quiet and you can relax. The drinks in the 8th-floor lounge while watching Mt. Unebi at sunset are wonderful. The Room has a unit bath, but I also recommend the spacious public bath nearby. This time, there were dishes from many countries, and everything was delicious. With Asuka and Fujiwara Palace designated as World Heritage sites, I expect more tourists in the future, but this is an Accommodation I would like to stay at again.

After enjoying rafting nearby, we stayed overnight. The Room was a spacious Japanese-style room, and we were able to relax comfortably. We had a breakfast-only Plan, so we had dinner at the Hotel restaurant. Since we made a Reservation at check-in, even though it was fully booked that day, we were seated smoothly. The baths are in a separate building behind the Hotel, and we also enjoyed the open-air bath. When we go rafting again, we’d like to stay at this Hotel! Thank you very much!

I am a senior resident of Osaka, and this was my first visit to Tenkawa Village. Thank you for taking such good care of us. From my 30s onward I was constantly away on long business trips, then worked overseas from my late 40s through late 50s. After retiring at 60, I was assigned alone to a domestic affiliate company—15 years living apart from my family in total. During that time, I left all childcare and household responsibilities to my wife. Now that I have reached my second retirement at 65, I wanted—at the very least—to make it up to her. Because she loves nature (gorges, limestone caves, views from high elevations, and more), and because seeing fireflies was her top wish, we chose Nishisei as a Ryokan with delicious cuisine in an area where we could enjoy firefly viewing as well as an Onsen. We stayed one night from July 10 to 11. We arrived a little early for check-in, but you kindly welcomed us right away. While sightseeing, my wife lightly twisted her ankle. When I mentioned it to the female staff member in charge, she immediately brought us a cold compress patch. After dinner, you also drove us to a spot where we could see fireflies. Just as we had heard beforehand, everyone in this area is truly kind—I felt genuine hospitality throughout our stay. The manager told us that it might be hard to know whether we would be able to see any fireflies due to the timing of the season; however, at the riverside spot he guided us to, there were what seemed like well over one hundred flying about—a sight that even surprised him! We were deeply moved by the incredible swarm of fireflies unlike anything we had ever seen before. My wife said that every part of this trip matched her tastes perfectly and that she enjoyed it immensely. Personally as well—the Onsen (a bit hot but wonderfully refreshing afterward), the delicious meals served in our spacious private dining room-style setting, and the dancing fireflies—everything impressed me greatly. Thank you very much for your wonderful care and hospitality.

I was able to get away from everyday life and truly enjoy my stay. The duck hot pot at dinner had a comforting broth, the rice was delicious, and the local sake Hanatomoe was easy to drink and paired perfectly with the meal. And the water is wonderful—I believe you mentioned that you use spring water from underground. We enjoyed so many blessings from the mountains and river and finished everything. Thank you for the feast. The Dorogawa Onsen bath was also soothing and relaxing. Thank you for everyone’s warm hospitality and thoughtful care.

When we arrived at the bus stop, Mr. Kuboji was there to pick us up by car. We hadn’t requested it, but since it was raining, his thoughtfulness made us very happy. The Room was spacious, and although three of us stayed, we were able to relax comfortably. The meals were delicious, and we had a wonderful time. The warm, home-like atmosphere was the best.

A quiet accommodation in Higashiyoshino Village. The very spacious Japanese garden is well-maintained. You can only hear the sound of cicadas. The accommodation is a historic building with a grand structure. Facilities such as water systems have been renovated for a comfortable stay. For dinner, we enjoyed shabu-shabu made with branded pork, which was tender and delicious without any scum forming. The private hinoki cypress bath allowed us to relax at our own pace.

The Room was clean, and the front desk staff were friendly. However, the toilet and washbasin felt uncomfortably close—like in a studio apartment. That said, dinner was excellent, so overall it was a satisfying stay. The portion size, quality, and atmosphere were all great.

This was my first time visiting Yoshino. The cherry blossoms had not yet started to bloom, but we were shown to a Room with a wonderful view of the Ryokan’s courtyard. I can imagine how spectacular it must be when the blossoms are in full bloom. The meals (dinner and breakfast) were very delicious. The Onsen was just right, and I could enjoy it as many times as I liked without feeling unwell from the hot water.

Thank you very much for a truly comfortable stay. The Room was even more spacious than we had imagined, and our grandchildren were thrilled from the moment they walked in, exclaiming, “So big! So clean!” Just before our stay, one of our party fell ill, and we ended up canceling once and then making a new Reservation at our grandchildren’s strong request. Despite the inconvenience, you handled everything so kindly, and we are truly grateful. I also misunderstood the evening bath cleaning time; when I finally came out after soaking at length, you asked with a wry smile, “Are you finished…?”—and once again your gentle response really helped us. With everything that happened, it honestly became quite a challenging trip, but my daughter—who had not been feeling well—seemed to feel better than when she arrived. She was delighted and said it felt like a therapeutic hot-spring retreat. Thank you for that. Above all, Kawakami Village itself—nestled between the Yoshino River and Mount Omine—was an incredibly soothing place. It was a wonderful trip that relaxed both body and mind. Thank you very much.

We are grateful to all of you for your kindness.

It wasn’t like the Hotels I’ve stayed at before or a fully equipped Ryokan, but it had a relaxing atmosphere and warm hospitality. There is no toilet or washbasin in the Room, so it may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility. There was a piano in the Room—are guests allowed to play it? The Onsen is spacious enough for two people to enjoy comfortably, and you can also use it as a private bath without making a Reservation. On the second day, checkout was at 12:00, so we could take our time. They also stored our luggage while we went to collect Gorogoro Water and visit Godaimatsu Limestone Cave, which made sightseeing much easier. The elderly gentleman kindly said, “It’s hot down below, so please take care of yourself.” After returning to Osaka, I somehow felt lighter and full of energy! It was a mysterious place—somewhere between the world below and heaven.