Ryokan Kotobukitei

My husband, his older sister, and her grandchild—three seniors—visited with our first-year junior high school son. My husband and I also stayed here seven years ago. The weather looked uncertain that day, so we moved our ropeway plans to the next day and arrived early. We were able to use the Onsen and relax until check-in, enjoying the Onsen at a leisurely pace. The food was beautifully prepared, and everyone was impressed. My koji class instructor uses the phrase “food that feels good on your stomach,” and this was exactly that. My sister-in-law is 83 and kept saying how delicious everything was; even though she said she couldn’t possibly eat that much, she finished it all. Breakfast was also enjoyable with both a bento option and a buffet. Our Room had been renovated and was very clean. All of the staff were young, energetic, and refreshing. Their language was polite as well, and we had a very pleasant two-day stay. I mentioned this while chatting with the staff—and then carelessly added that “everyone is cute,” which I now regret as an inappropriate comment about appearance.

Because I was traveling with my elderly mother (in her 80s, with lower back pain), I consulted in advance, and they provided a simple bed in the Room and also brought in a table for in-room dining. Normally you would go through the garden to the entrance via stairs, but a staff member came to pick us up by car at the parking lot, and we entered through the rear entrance on the 4th floor. Since our Room had a private bath, my mother could relax and soak with peace of mind. Even if the water was hot, she could adjust it with cold water and enjoy several baths. The meals were on the Standard Plan, but every dish was easy to eat, delicious, and more than enough in quantity. The trainee also explained each dish carefully and kindly offered to take photos for us. During our stay, we were able to spend a very relaxing time. Just one thing: there was a step down at the toilet entrance, so for an elderly person it felt a little unsafe—I wished it were flat or had a slope. This time we spent most of our time staying in the Room, but if we have another opportunity to stay again, I would like to enjoy the garden and the open-air bath as well.