Akasawa Onsen Ryokan

Thank you for accommodating my food allergies—it was a great help. All the staff were always smiling and kind; thank you for your wonderful hospitality. The lukewarm Onsen was so relaxing, and I could soak for a long time.There are other Ryokan with cats, but the exceptional comfort here—so soothing it made me lose track of time—was truly special.For future guests: you may find a cat relaxing in the garden. Please drive in slowly when entering by car (ΦωΦ)

I stayed here after reading an article about a Ryokan with cats and an Onsen. I traveled solo for one night with No Meals Included. I checked in early and used the Onsen several times during my stay. Since this Accommodation doesn’t have many Rooms, I had it all to myself each time, which felt very private. I’m not very knowledgeable about hot spring quality, but the water felt silky and seemed to warm me up quickly. The open-air bath was quite lukewarm, which would probably be great on a hot day. (Unfortunately it was cold when I visited, so I didn’t stay long.) Even though it was No Meals Included, there are some local restaurants and a convenience store within walking distance (a bit far), so you can manage without trouble. I was able to spend plenty of time with the cats in the living room area. After soaking in the Onsen, I relaxed in the lobby/living space, and it was incredibly soothing—one cat slept right in front of me, and another always rubbed against me whenever it walked by. They also run a cat café, but for guests it’s included, which is a huge plus for cat lovers. The Room wasn’t luxurious by any means, but it had more than enough amenities and was kept very clean. Most of the staff are from overseas, and I had seen some Reviews mentioning communication issues, so I was a little worried—but that wasn’t the case at all. They did their best even if their Japanese wasn’t perfect, and when something seemed difficult to explain they made an effort to help however they could. I had no negative impression whatsoever; if anything, they felt more friendly and easygoing than some overly formal Japanese staff members might be. Overall—cats included—it was very affordable compared with nearby Accommodations even as No Meals Included; honestly good enough that it made me worry about how they make ends meet.