Arai Ryokan

We booked a private traditional tatami room that was overlooking the river and the main vermillion bridge in Shuzenji onsen. Great place to enjoy the sights and people watching The ryokan as a whole is beautifully decorated and preserved. It really feels like Spirited Away We had a lovely 82 year old woman host us our whole trip, making our beds, serving us food. She wouldn't let us lift a finger despite my trying! We went in summer which was a bit challenging to properly enjoy the onsen but there are several and are comfortable. We tried the private onsen as we are travelling as a couple. There is one that is free and no booking required, there is a second private onsen that has an extra fee and requires booking but the ryokan wasn't particularly busy so was not required. I also tried the main open air onsen which was stunning! Would like to have had more time to explore. Dinner was delicious, I think it was around 10 courses! All beautifully served, lots of flavours. There is a menu that details the ingredients. I was absolutely stuffed afterwards. The breakfast was beautifully served. It had many different dishes in traditional Ryokan meal style. Some of it I was less familiar with but I tried it anyway. I think it had quite a seafood focused trend Overall the hospitality was very warm Shuzenji village is small and walkable. Beautiful river, bridges and small bamboo grove. Not many shops or restaurants nearby but you don't really need too much

There is quite rigid dinner and breakfast times. Dinner is 6PM or 6.30PM only, and breakfast 8AM or 8.30AM only. They will come into your room 30 mins before the meal is due to be served. I didn't mind but my partner was exhausted and sick so he didn't quite appreciate being woken up at 8AM but those are the rules I suppose. The one thing that left us with a bitter taste was some suboptimal customer service we experienced at checkout. Checkout is at 11AM, we had had our bags cleared from the room by 10.45AM and had a last wander through the ryokan on the way to the lobby to appreciate the architecture and feed the goldfish We paid our tab just before 11AM but the woman at the reception (who we had not met during our stay before) was very rude. I was having a nosy at the gift shop just next door because I wanted to buy some souvenirs but she insisted I needed to bay my tab first (only approx $15USD), which I did immediately. And then I asked to browse the gift shop and she said 'NO, you have 3 minutes and then you have to leave!' I was shocked. It seems that the warm hospitality ceases at 11AM on the dot. It was quite expensive as ryokans usually are. I wonder if we could have gotten a better deal elsewhere. Would have reviewed this as 9/10 if the receptionist was not rude

Authentic Japanese Ryokan experience with outstanding staff and amazing cuisine.

Beautiful and relaxing environment, amazing hospitality, excellent food!

Nothing - it was great!

Traditional Japanese style

The slippers were not comfortable and we ate in a dinning area that was very unpleasant.